Crime 101 Debuts as Heist Thriller in Theaters

Bart Layton's "Crime 101" has arrived in theaters as a deliberate throwback to classic heist thrillers, centering on a methodical jewel thief pursued by a determined Los Angeles detective. The film, adapted from Don Winslow's novella and released by Amazon MGM Studios, stars Chris Hemsworth as the enigmatic criminal Mike Davis and Mark Ruffalo as the detective tracking him, with a runtime of 140 minutes and an R rating for language, violence, and sexual content.

Set against the sprawling backdrop of Southern California, the story follows Mike, a solitary operator who targets high-value scores near exits along the 101 freeway. Raised in the foster system and trained from a young age to steal, he lives a reclusive life in Malibu, relying on insider tips to execute precise jobs while evading surveillance. His methods echo the tactical precision of iconic criminals in earlier films, as he slips away in a window-tinted car and stores it out of sight. Mike confides in his sole contact, played by Nick Nolte, that this will be his final heist before retiring.

Opposing him is Detective Lou Lubesnick, portrayed by Ruffalo, who has pieced together a pattern in the robberies despite...