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Crime 101 (2026)


Crime 101 (2026) is a crime thriller that checks the basic boxes of what should work, but the writing never tightens enough to make it compelling. It hits familiar beats, runs longer than it should, and never quite earns its tension. It feels like a good movie outline stretched into a full runtime.

Bart Layton, known for American Animals and The Imposter, directs, and his uneven filmography shows here. The structure is serviceable, but the pacing drags and the scenes lack urgency. The direction is competent without being memorable, and the film never finds a sharp identity.

Chris Hemsworth, known for Thor and Extraction, plays the reclusive criminal at the center of the story. He tries to lean into a quieter, more internal performance, but he does not fully sell the damaged foster child mentality the script is aiming for. The performance feels like an attempt rather than a transformation.

Mark Ruffalo, recognized for Spotlight and The Avengers, feels like he is on autopilot. His cop character falls into the usual sloppy, worn down investigator pattern, and he does little to elevate it. It comes across as phoned in compared to his stronger past work.

Halle Berry, known for Monster's Ball and John Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum, gives the best performance in the film as an insurance specialist aging out of relevance. She brings weight and credibility to the role, even if the character type feels familiar and has shown up in other recent films like Send Help.

Overall, the film is watchable but bloated, with uneven performances and writing that never sharpens enough to stand out. Also, someone get Barry Keoghan accent lessons. Result: C+

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