REVIEW: Crime 101 (2026 Film) - Starring Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, and Halle Berry

Review by Jon Donnis

Bart Layton's Crime 101 arrives with serious intent. Adapted from Don Winslow's novella, it plants its feet firmly in sun-blasted Los Angeles and follows a trio locked in quiet collision. A jewel thief who prides himself on precision. An insurance broker tired of being overlooked. A detective who refuses to let a theory die. It is classic crime material, and Layton treats it with steady hands.

Chris Hemsworth plays Mike Davis, also known as James, as a man who has reduced crime to a system. He avoids violence, plans obsessively, and escapes along the U.S. Route 101 with mechanical calm. The opening diamond job, with its decoy delivery and $3 million in genuine stones, is staged with crisp efficiency. The editing is tight, the movement clear, the geography never confusing. When a bullet grazes him during the robbery, it lands as more than a flesh wound. It is the first crack in a carefully managed life.

Mark Ruffalo gives the film its heartbeat asColumbo like Detective Lou Lubesnick. Dismissed when he argues that one disciplined operator is behind a string of robberies, suspended when he refuses to help cover up a police shooting, Lou carries on regardless. Ruffalo plays him as weary but stubborn, morally bruised yet not broken. There is something quietly compelling in the way he lingers over details, chasing a trace of blood back to Mike's juvenile record and birth name. He feels human. Fallible. Driven.

Halle Berry's Sharon is just as important. Long undervalued at her firm and edged aside by colleagues, she is at a crossroads before Mike ever approaches her. When she finally agrees to help him target Steven Monroe's illicit $5.5 million diamond purchase at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, it feels less like a sudden turn and more like a slow surrender. Berry brings a cool intelligence to the role, especially in the scenes where Ormon's violence forces her hand and she turns to Lou for help. Her frustration is palpable, and it grounds the film's larger mechanics.

Barry Keoghan's Ormon is chaos personified. Brought in by the fence Money after Mike calls off a Santa Barbara robbery, he represents everything Mike tries to avoid. He is impulsive, vicious, and impossible to control. The contrast between the two men adds real tension, particularly once Ormon begins tracking Mike and threatening those around him. The high speed confrontation and the hotel suite showdown both benefit from that unstable energy.

Technically, the film is polished. The cinematography makes strong use of harsh Californian light and wide urban sprawl. The choreography of the heists is precise, and Layton builds towards the final robbery with care. The sequence in the wedding suite, with Lou posing as a courier and Mike seizing the cash at gunpoint, is handled with admirable control. The interruptions, the shifting power, the sudden violence, all land cleanl

Yet for all its craft, Crime 101 never quite escapes the shadow of other crime films. The structure is familiar, the beats predictable. Even the final reversals unfold in ways that feel carefully arranged rather than shocking. The ending is the least compelling stretch. It ties threads together efficiently, but the emotional punch is softer than it should be.

The running time does it no favours. At over two hours and fifteen minutes, the film occasionally feels its weight. Subplots involving Mike's romance with Maya and Lou's estranged marriage add texture, yet they also stretch the pacing. A leaner cut might have sharpened the impact.

Still, there is real pleasure in watching a grown-up thriller mounted with this level of seriousness. The cast is strong across the board, including Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Nick Nolte. Layton shows confidence with scale and tension, and the film remains engaging even when it is not surprising.

Crime 101 is not especially original, and it may not linger in the mind for long. Even so, it is well made, well acted, and consistently watchable. A solid 8 out of 10 feels about right.

Out In Cinemas Now

PREVIEW: Kidnap (2017) Halle Berry Takes Justice into Her Own Hands for the first time on digital platforms

Preview by Jon Donnis

Halle Berry takes audiences on a relentless, heart-pounding ride in Kidnap, a thriller that first hit cinemas in 2017 and is now available on digital platforms. Directed by Luis Prieto and written by Knate Lee, the film originally made waves at the box office, grossing over $34 million worldwide against a modest budget. While it received mixed reviews from critics, audiences praised its non-stop tension and Berry's gripping performance, making it a standout entry in the action-thriller genre.

Berry stars as Karla, a single mother whose ordinary afternoon at the park turns into a nightmare when she witnesses her young son, Frankie, being snatched by a stranger. With no time to wait for help, she jumps into her car and gives chase, determined to rescue her child at any cost. What follows is a high-speed pursuit filled with near misses, escalating danger and a mother's unwavering determination to defy the odds.

The film also features Sage Correa as Frankie, Chris McGinn as the sinister abductor and Lew Temple as her dangerous accomplice. Berry carries much of the film on her own, delivering a raw and emotional performance that keeps the tension building throughout. The story unfolds almost in real time, making every moment feel urgent and claustrophobic as Karla pushes herself to the limit.

While Kidnap may not have been a critical darling upon its initial release, it struck a chord with thriller fans who enjoy intense, fast-paced storytelling. With its gripping action sequences and emotional stakes, the film remains a thrilling watch. Now available on digital platforms, it is the perfect time to experience or revisit this nerve-shredding chase.

Watch now on Prime Video - https://amzn.to/4htgaxm

and at Apple TV - https://apple.co/42SifP0