Crime 101 (2026)

Documentary director Layton makes his narrative debut with this tight and rather intelligent caper drama. The cast is strong and Layton impresses with his film making style. He finds wonderful little flourishes which remain on the subtle side but add to the power of his story telling. Sometimes the script has a few weak moments but all together this is an impressive debut that makes me hope he'll do more fiction films in the future. 

The cast all do well even if they are all playing exactly to type. Hemsworth is the loveable anti-hero, Keoghan is reigned in psychopath, Berry is the career woman being passed over for her gender and age, and Ruffalo is the beaten down cop with integrity. They all do what they can with the roles but the main weakness of the film is how archetypal each are. Still the cast brings a power to their scenes together. Barbaro is a scene stealer, proving that her Oscar nomination wasn't a fluke.  

What impressed me most was Layton's ability to toggle between his well filmed and gripping action sequences and the emotional punch of his dramatic scenes. His set pieces are well thought through, and they keep you on the edge of your seat while also grounding you in the moment and the impact the incidents are having on the characters. And when he transitions into the personal moments you feel like it is cohesive so we don't feel the adrenaline is a distraction. 

Layton paints LA as rather dystopian, never pushing this idea into our faces too hard but making it clear there is something rotten in paradise. He is commenting on the American dream and its failures without wearing these ideas on his sleeve. So while the story may not have completely held together Crime 101 is a very watchable and moving film and the promise of a film maker with something to say and a beautiful way to say it. 

PS. perhaps if you are going to cast Jennifer Jason Leigh and Nick Nolte you should them more to do. 

Crime 101

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry, Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Nick Nolte, Tate Donovan, Devon Bostick, Payman Maadi

Writer/Director: Bart Layton