by Josh Sewell
Crime 101
(Rated R for language throughout, some violence and sexual material/nudity. Now playing in theaters.)
Michael Mann’s cops-and-robbers masterpiece “Heat” has inspired countless other films and television shows since it hit theaters three decades ago (man, I’m old). However, last weekend’s Crime 101 might be the most direct homage I’ve seen in a while.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, to be fair. Everyone involved – behind the camera and in front of it – understands they can’t top it, so they might as well tip their caps. The result is a thoroughly engaging, deeply solid Dad Movie.
The crime thriller is based on Don Winslow’s novella of the same name, in which a skilled jewel thief (Chris Hemsworth) teams up with a disillusioned, high-end insurance broker (Halle Berry) for the proverbial “one last score.” At the same time, a reckless competitor (Barry Keoghan) and a dogged detective (Mark Ruffalo) are both closing in. As the heist approaches, the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, and everyone faces life-altering choices.
Crime 101 is a straightforward story with no frills, and writer-director Bart Layton relies on his immensely talented cast, along with the baggage they bring from previous roles, to elevate the material. Hemsworth doesn’t get a ton of dialogue over the course of the film’s 140-minute runtime, but his character’s stoic body language says a lot with very little.
Ruffalo is basically the same disheveled cop he’s played many times before (Collateral, Zodiac, Task, etc.), but there’s a reason he keeps being called on to do it. The same goes for Keoghan – you’re telling me he’s good at playing unhinged psychos? No way!
Berry, on the other hand, is the best she’s been in years because Layton actually gives her a part with substance instead of just relying on her for eye candy. I’m really hoping other filmmakers take notice. It would be great if this was the start of a career resurgence for her.
Unfortunately, other talented actors like Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Nick Nolte don’t have much to do in their limited screen time. Their roles are either too small to register, or the film jettisons them prematurely. Overall, though, Crime 101 is a blast to watch – especially on the big screen, where Erik Wilson’s terrific cinematography can really shine.
Grade: B+
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die
(Rated R for pervasive language, violence, some grisly images and brief sexual content. Now playing in theaters.)
Gore Verbinski directed some of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters of all time (including the original Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy), but he’s on the outside looking in after a string of flops. Fortunately, his new sci-fi dark comedy Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die (written by Matthew Robinson) proves why he was so in demand for so long. It’s too bad that more people aren’t seeing it.
The film kicks off on a bizarre night in a crowded diner, where a disheveled man (Sam Rockwell) in a plastic suit barges in. He claims to be from the future and is there to recruit a team that will help him save the world from an AI-induced apocalypse. After some cajoling, an assorted bunch of patrons (including Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry and Juno Temple) take him up on the offer and chaos ensues.
Although Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is way too long at 134 minutes – mainly because there’s a big assortment of subplots, some more successful than others – but for the most part it’s fun and creative. The overall weirdness and strong work from the cast help the movie push through its weaker moments.
While everyone in the core group is solid, Rockwell and Richardson are the clear MVPs. Rockwell is usually cast in supporting roles, so it’s always nice to see him as the lead. That’s particularly true here, since the unnamed protagonist’s seemingly bonkers mission and increasingly erratic behavior allows him to play to his oddball strengths.
Richardson has been on my radar since 2016 (when she had back-to-back killer performances in Split and Edge of Seventeen), so I’m pumped that her star has continued to rise over the last decade. Her role here is a tricky one thanks to some third-act revelations that could’ve invoked eye rolls if handled poorly. Instead, she makes them work thanks to her strong camaraderie with Rockwell.
Grade: B
Home Entertainment Spotlight
The Summer Book
(Not rated. Now available on DVD and VOD.)
Adapted from Tove Jansson’s novel, this drama – filmed on 16mm in natural light – centers on nine-year-old Sophia (Emily Matthews), who spends the summer after her mother’s death at her family’s seasonal home in the Gulf of Finland. Her father (Anders Danielsen Lie) remains numbed by grief, while her grandmother (Glenn Close) guides her towards young adulthood. Bonus features include behind-the-scenes featurettes; conversation with director Charlie McDowell; Jansson’s home movies; image gallery; and theatrical trailer.
(Rated R for language throughout, some violence and sexual material/nudity. Now playing in theaters.)
Michael Mann’s cops-and-robbers masterpiece “Heat” has inspired countless other films and television shows since it hit theaters three decades ago (man, I’m old). However, last weekend’s Crime 101 might be the most direct homage I’ve seen in a while.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, to be fair. Everyone involved – behind the camera and in front of it – understands they can’t top it, so they might as well tip their caps. The result is a thoroughly engaging, deeply solid Dad Movie.
The crime thriller is based on Don Winslow’s novella of the same name, in which a skilled jewel thief (Chris Hemsworth) teams up with a disillusioned, high-end insurance broker (Halle Berry) for the proverbial “one last score.” At the same time, a reckless competitor (Barry Keoghan) and a dogged detective (Mark Ruffalo) are both closing in. As the heist approaches, the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, and everyone faces life-altering choices.
Crime 101 is a straightforward story with no frills, and writer-director Bart Layton relies on his immensely talented cast, along with the baggage they bring from previous roles, to elevate the material. Hemsworth doesn’t get a ton of dialogue over the course of the film’s 140-minute runtime, but his character’s stoic body language says a lot with very little.
Ruffalo is basically the same disheveled cop he’s played many times before (Collateral, Zodiac, Task, etc.), but there’s a reason he keeps being called on to do it. The same goes for Keoghan – you’re telling me he’s good at playing unhinged psychos? No way!
Berry, on the other hand, is the best she’s been in years because Layton actually gives her a part with substance instead of just relying on her for eye candy. I’m really hoping other filmmakers take notice. It would be great if this was the start of a career resurgence for her.
Unfortunately, other talented actors like Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Nick Nolte don’t have much to do in their limited screen time. Their roles are either too small to register, or the film jettisons them prematurely. Overall, though, Crime 101 is a blast to watch – especially on the big screen, where Erik Wilson’s terrific cinematography can really shine.
Grade: B+
(Rated R for pervasive language, violence, some grisly images and brief sexual content. Now playing in theaters.)
Gore Verbinski directed some of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters of all time (including the original Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy), but he’s on the outside looking in after a string of flops. Fortunately, his new sci-fi dark comedy Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die (written by Matthew Robinson) proves why he was so in demand for so long. It’s too bad that more people aren’t seeing it.
The film kicks off on a bizarre night in a crowded diner, where a disheveled man (Sam Rockwell) in a plastic suit barges in. He claims to be from the future and is there to recruit a team that will help him save the world from an AI-induced apocalypse. After some cajoling, an assorted bunch of patrons (including Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry and Juno Temple) take him up on the offer and chaos ensues.
Although Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is way too long at 134 minutes – mainly because there’s a big assortment of subplots, some more successful than others – but for the most part it’s fun and creative. The overall weirdness and strong work from the cast help the movie push through its weaker moments.
While everyone in the core group is solid, Rockwell and Richardson are the clear MVPs. Rockwell is usually cast in supporting roles, so it’s always nice to see him as the lead. That’s particularly true here, since the unnamed protagonist’s seemingly bonkers mission and increasingly erratic behavior allows him to play to his oddball strengths.
Richardson has been on my radar since 2016 (when she had back-to-back killer performances in Split and Edge of Seventeen), so I’m pumped that her star has continued to rise over the last decade. Her role here is a tricky one thanks to some third-act revelations that could’ve invoked eye rolls if handled poorly. Instead, she makes them work thanks to her strong camaraderie with Rockwell.
Grade: B
Home Entertainment Spotlight
(Not rated. Now available on DVD and VOD.)
Adapted from Tove Jansson’s novel, this drama – filmed on 16mm in natural light – centers on nine-year-old Sophia (Emily Matthews), who spends the summer after her mother’s death at her family’s seasonal home in the Gulf of Finland. Her father (Anders Danielsen Lie) remains numbed by grief, while her grandmother (Glenn Close) guides her towards young adulthood. Bonus features include behind-the-scenes featurettes; conversation with director Charlie McDowell; Jansson’s home movies; image gallery; and theatrical trailer.
Reach out to Josh Sewell at joshsewell81@gmail.com or on BlueSky @joshsewell.bsky.social
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