Film: Crime 101

Crime 101 centres on Davis (Chris Hemsworth), a super‑slick jewel thief who harms nobody, leaves no DNA, and executes every job with spotless precision. He works for a sleazy character, played by Nick Nolte, who delivers his usual gruff, half‑inaudible performance. Davis’s immaculate track record has become an obsession for local cop Lou, who has made catching him his personal mission.

Into this mix comes Sharon (Halle Berry), a senior insurance executive (age 53) whose much older male bosses keep a firm glass ceiling over her head despite promises of promotion.

All three characters have grievances with their employers, and the film plays with the question of who might team up with whom and where their sympathies will ultimately land.

According to this film, criminals now use expensive-looking reusable coffee cups to pass stolen goods around, which I will think about every time I use my own (well‑worn) one

Crime 101 is surprisingly entertaining, though it might have been more interesting had the story centred on Sharon rather than Davis, but Hollywood does love a glamorous criminal.

A couple of things grated. Halle Berry doesn’t get a “starring” credit despite appearing in almost as many scenes as Hemsworth. A quick dive down the rabbit hole reveals that “and” or “with” credits have little to do with screen time and everything to do with status (and, apparently, an agent’s negotiating skills). And I’m increasingly bored with that one Rolling Stones track that seems contractually obliged to appear in at least one major film every year.

Otherwise, it’s a good old‑fashioned, if slightly modernised, crime caper.

7½/10