NEWS

Starring Chris Hemsworth as Mike Davis, Halle Berry as Sharon Colvin, and Mark Ruffalo as Detective Lou Lubesnick, "Crime 101" sees master thief Mike Davis attempting to pull off a multi-million dollar heist while being pursued by Detective Lubesnick. In order to make this work, Davis enlists help from Colvin, who, despite reservations, ultimately agrees.

An engaging film, "Crime 101" goes beyond the typical cop-pursues-thief story and explores themes of identity and morality, showing us three characters guided by rules that they soon realize no one else is playing by. Colvin and Lubesnick, jaded by their current situations, get pulled into a complicated situation created by Davis. Davis, after being a thief for a while, is starting to not only lose interest in his work but also wants to be less of a social recluse. Colvin, after being an insurance broker for over a decade, is tired of being denied the respect she deserves and the advancement she's earned. Finally, Lubesnick has been after Davis for years to no avail while also struggling with his failed marriage and disenchantment with the police force. After much disappointment in their lives, they start to question whether they may be willing to cross certain lines to finally achieve their goals.

Hemsworth, Berry, and Ruffalo give very good performances, adeptly revealing the emotional and moral struggles of their characters. However, clocking in at 2 hours and 20 minutes, the film is stretched a bit more than it needs to be. While simmering along with occasional boiling points, the story slowly builds to a climax that feels more like a small hill rather than a mountain. Still, "Crime 101" manages to keep the audience interested and engaged.

6/10