One thing all moviegoers can agree on is how bad movies have gotten in the last 5 years. Horrible acting by tired actors spitting out dialogue from unconscious scripts seems to be the norm. But now and then comes a movie that surprises the audience with something they weren’t expecting.
Crime 101 is set against the sun-bleached grit of Los Angeles. Crime 101 weaves the tale of an elusive jewel thief (Chris Hemsworth), whose string of heists along the 101 freeway has mystified police. When he sees the score of a lifetime, his path crosses that of a disillusioned insurance broker (Halle Berry) who is facing her own crossroads.
Convinced, he has found a pattern; a relentless detective (Mark Ruffalo) is closing in, raising the stakes even higher. As the heist approaches, the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, and all three are faced with life-defining choices–and the realization that there can be no turning back.
The film is just over two hours long. Another problem with movies lately, that is a discussion for a different time. However, in the two hours that you are sitting there, you pay attention to the constant plot. Like the movie Crash, Crime 101 has our characters constantly running into each other. This would typically reduce the movie’s effectiveness, but Crime 101 does an excellent job at keeping you engaged in the story, not the unbelievable things.
What should be appreciated about Crime 101 is that you have not seen it before, so you are refreshed, and you do not know what is going to happen next. The acting was solid, and the characters are all dealing with a life that no longer seems worth living.
The movie’s amazing soundtrack can only be appreciated in the theater (Unless your surround sound at home is banging). The music helps keep you engaged and evokes the feelings that the characters in the movie are feeling as they attempt to deal with their unhappy lives.
Their unpleasant existence in the film mimics life for a lot of people right now. How nothing seems to make them happy. Sex, money, status, and career achievements just exist like your latest car payment. It’s only there because you need it. However, given the opportunity, you would walk away from it all in a heartbeat.
Crime 101 does a good job at blending the world that exists today with the world everyone wishes they lived. The movie ends with everyone eventually getting what they wanted. And for those who go see this film, they will feel the same thing as the screen goes black. “Man, they finally made a movie worth watching.”
Crime 101 gets a 4.5 out of 5 stars.
