'Crime 101' Is an Old-Fashioned Heist Film That Pays Off

"If there's anything I miss in pop culture, it's the presence of ordinary movies. I don't mean blockbusters like Avatar or cultural events like Barbenheimer or Oscar contenders like One Battle After Another. I'm talking about the routine, well-made entertainments that, for nearly a century, used to open in theaters every week. You'd go see them because the story sounded good or you liked the stars or you just wanted to enjoy something as part of an audience."

"Chris Hemsworth plays Davis, a virtuoso jewel thief who pulls off clockwork robberies in neighborhoods along the 101 Freeway. A study in terse masculinity - Davis is a Steve McQueen fan, it's worth noting - this control freak gets knocked off his bearings by running afoul of his mentor (played by a menacing Nick Nolte) and by getting involved with a charming publicist (Monica Barbaro) who wants him to open up."

"The dialogue is intelligent and often witty; the stars seem like stars; the tension keeps building. And now that filming has largely abandoned LA, it's a treat to see a movie that once again captures the many textures of the city, from its taco stands and snaking freeways to its yoga-mat beaches, billionaire mansions and encampments on the streets. Layton lets us see how the whole plot is driven by the abyss separating the entitlement of LA's haves from the struggle of its countless have-nots."

Crime 101 centers on Davis, a virtuoso jewel thief played by Chris Hemsworth, who stages precise robberies along the 101 Freeway. The character embodies terse masculinity and control until conflict with his mentor (Nick Nolte) and a relationship with a publicist (Monica Barbaro) unsettle him. The film features intelligent, witty dialogue and sustained tension while vividly portraying Los Angeles—from taco stands and snaking freeways to beaches, mansions, and street encampments. The narrative highlights the gulf between the entitlement of the city's haves and the struggles of its have-nots, forcing characters to confront a broken world and question their moral codes.

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