Crime 101 - 4K Blu-ray Review

[Michael Scott]

Crime 101



Movie:
4K Video:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:
Final Score:


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Movie
Based on the novella of the same name penned by Don Winslow, Crime 101 is a slow-burn crime thriller that takes a little inspiration from Crash, and yet still tries to forge its own path amidst a whole heap of crime thrillers. And while it may never exactly be the massive hit that it was aiming to be, it certainly does a decent job at what it does. Starring a large ensemble cast of high-profile actors, the film definitely swings for the bleachers, and strangely ALMOST makes it there.


The basic premise revolves around a string of heists done up and down the 101 in Southern California, with beleaguered Davis (Chris Hemsworth) taking all the risk while his partner “Money” (Nick Nolte) sets up the deals so that Davis can smash and grab them. Only thing is, the police are hot on his tail after a jewel heist worth $3 million clues them in to the fact that he is the single perpetrator of a whole host of heists that they’ve been trying to close. Add in an insurance agency who wants to get their money back, and you have the setup for a thriller that should knock your socks off. If it ever gets going.

Crime 101 is relevant in today’s cyber-infused world, where everything but the heist itself can be done with just a few keystrokes and some palms being greased. It used to be where thieves would have to stalk and case joints personally to get in, but now all it takes is a digital paper trail and vroom, we’re off to the races. And the story genuinely leans into that motif with gusto. Only problem here is, things just don’t ever really get off the ground. The film is heavily talky and definitely a slow-burn thriller, but even with that in mind, I still feel like there was just so much wasted potential. The story just keeps unfolding and unfolding, to the point where I was hoping we’d actually get to a massive and exciting payoff. Only for that payoff to never REALLY come (sure, we have a bit of a finale, but it just doesn’t resonate with the rest of the story).

Like Crash, we have multiple intersecting stories going on, and many of them have a lot of potential. Halle Berry’s quirks as an up-and-coming partner to her firm are going well, only for Chris Hemsworth’s little romance in the middle of the film to completely take the wind out of any dramatic sails. Not that I have anything against a good romance, but it was NOT needed in this film and felt a bit hamfisted and cheesy as well. The potential for the rest of the intertwined tales is there, but for some reason never gets off the ground. If I had to sum up the entire film in one sentence, it would be “well, it was sooooooooooooo close”. And at almost 2.5 hours, that feels like we really should have gone somewhere in that amount of time.




Rating:

Rated R for language throughout, some violence and sexual material/nudity




4K Video: Video:

Taken from an 8.6 digital source, and then transferred to a 4K master for the home video release, Crime 101 definitely has the pedigree going on. Though it is heavily stylized with a flat-looking image that features tons of sepia and teal color grading going on. The results are rather flat and dulled, with not a whole ton of overly bright and heavily saturated colors. Primary shades of red, green and blue do pop a little, and fine details are superb throughout. But what really stood out to me was the sheer depth and punch of the black levels. Blacks are deep and inky, with this silky look that really stands out. No signs of crush or banding anywhere, and except for the creaminess of the sepia and teal grading, things look fantastic.






Audio:

Despite being a crime thriller, Crime 101 is a very talky affair, with a lot of emphasis on the front 3 speakers in the room. There’s some action here and there (such as the opening robbery sequence where Hemsworth’s Davis robs the jewels, and when he makes his escape), but VAST stretches of the film are simply spent talking in boardrooms, whispered back-room deals, and hashing things out in the police station. The atmos mix is subtle, but still there, as it brings in ambient score elements through the rears and overheads. And when things get spicy out on the freeway, things are a rocking. The LFE is punchy and tight, but knows when to slide into the background and let itself out the back door. But at the same time, when things get roaring, the bass is no exception.

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Extras:

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Final Score: ​

All said and done, Crime 101 is a very watchable film, with a great cast and an interesting storyline. It just sadly has difficulty bringing all of those bits together into a cohesive narrative that doesn’t feel both bloated and underdone at the very same time. I enjoyed good bits of the movie, and Chris Hemsworth in this type of role is very much appreciated. The 4K UHD disc looks solid, sounds great, but sadly no extras (though not surprising considering this was an Amazon/MGM production and we usually don’t see extras on those discs).




Technical Specifications:

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry, Barry Keoghan
Directed by: Bart Layton
Written by: Bart Layton, Don Winslow
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 HEVC
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Core), English DTS-HD MA 5.1, French DD 5.1, French (Canadian), Spanish DD 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Englsh, French, Spanish
Studio: Alliance Entertainment
Rated: R
Runtime: 140 Minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: June 30th, 2026

Recommendation: Entertaining Watch