‘Crime 101’ is a middle of the road LA heist movie, with ‘Heat’

Corey Hawkins (left) and Mark Ruffalo in a scene from “Crime 101” (Amazon MGM Studios) [AP Photo]

Bart Layton’s “Crime 101” is essentially a “Heat” pastiche that never approaches Michael Mann’s classic but delivers a baseline level of slick, sun-drenched entertainment. After all, Los Angeles heist movies have built-in appeal. Chris Hemsworth looks sharp in tailored suits. And audiences rarely tire of disciplined criminals executing well-planned getaways.

Hemsworth plays Mike Davis, a solitary thief who operates exclusively along the 101 freeway, targeting high-value properties near exit ramps using insider tips. Like Robert De Niro’s Neil McCauley in “Heat,” Mike is methodical and attachment-averse, slipping past cameras before hiding his tinted car in anonymous garages. On his trail is Detective Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo), who has spotted a pattern in the robberies, though his department shows little enthusiasm. His boss wants clean clearance stats, and his ambitious partner (Corey Hawkins) worries Lou’s fixation could hinder his own career.

The parallels don’t stop there. Mike has a romantic connection with a woman (Monica Barbaro) unaware of his criminal life. A volatile thief (Barry Keoghan) lurks on the margins, lacking Mike’s polish. And Mike promises his contact (Nick Nolte) that one final job will set him free. The structure feels less like homage than checklist.

Adapted from Don Winslow’s novella, “Crime 101” doesn’t aim to reinvent the genre. It plays as a polished throwback, leaning comfortably into familiar tropes. Cinematographer Erik Wilson gives the film a cool, luminous finish; in the opening scene, particles of dead skin float in morning light as Mike prepares for a job, an image of aesthetic control.

The film announces its theme early: “Today is a beautiful day of opportunity,” intones a voiceover. Nearly every character wrestles with desire — for money, status or escape. The idea is clear, perhaps overly so.

Hemsworth is convincing in action sequences but saddled with a thinly sketched backstory — a former foster kid raised to steal, now living hermit-like in Malibu. Ruffalo, by contrast, adds dimension to the familiar rumpled detective archetype, his impending divorce shading the performance with melancholy. Halle Berry, as an insurance broker perpetually denied partnership, injects welcome vitality and nearly steals the movie.

Ultimately, “Crime 101” feels stuck between admiration and imitation. As it edges toward a finale that echoes “Heat” almost beat for beat, it raises an unintended question: can a movie cosplay another movie? If you’re going to steal, the film suggests, steal from the best — but doing so invites inevitable comparison.

“Crime 101,” an Amazon MGM release is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for language throughout, some violence and sexual material/nudity. Running time: 140 minutes.★★★★