More than seven years after the brilliantly fresh American Animals, Bart Layton returns to the big screen with another stylish crime thriller. More exciting than its title suggests, Crime 101 is a slick and entertaining effort that throws back to a bygone era.

The film weaves together the lives of three characters as they become embroiled in a jewel heist in different ways. Crime 101 primarily centres on Mike (Christ Hemsworth), a jewel thief who steals from couriers and specialist delivery people through precisely planned, non-violent heists. He is cool, calm and collected, out for the money to get out and little more. Ostensibly working for the big bad of the operation, Money (Nick Nolte), their relationship begins to fracture as Mike steps back from a job deemed too risky, and Money sends somewhat loose cannon, Ormon (Barry Keoghan), out instead, equipped with all of Mike’s intel without offering him a penny. We also meet Sharon (Halle Berry), a disillusioned high-end insurance executive, discriminated against at work for her age and gender who finds her path crosses with Mike, presenting an opportunity to get out. All the while, the pattern of Mike’s hits all take placing along the 101 freeway, attracts the attention of Detective Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo), who follows his nose in spite of his commanding officer’s protests.

All of this sets up a slick crime caper with an engrossing blend of high-stakes deals, thrilling heist scenes and moral dilemmas. Borrowing from the likes of Heat, the way the film introduces the separate members of the ensemble in their own lives prior to their paths crossing gets you invested in each of them as people, refusing to slot any character into the box of hero or villain. Each character is facing their own troubles and we are given insight into each of their personal lives so they become more than just ‘the thief’, ‘the cop’ or ‘the executive’. It is very effective at getting you invested and keeping you guessing as to the decisions each character will make and where the film will go. It gives the film a feel of the 80s’ and 90s’ breeds of crime drama, where both elements of the genre are given equal weighting amounting to a much more satisfying viewing experience. There are tense conversations, shifting dynamics and more for each character to contend with than the main plot at hand making this feel like a much more rounded out world.

None of that to say that the action doesn’t come and that the heist scenes aren’t gripping. There are intense confrontations and a couple of exhilarating car chases as well as twists and turns that keep you guessing. All of it is put together in a stylish package with slick filmmaking that visually puts it a cut above the rest. It is well paced, maintaining audience interest and making for absorbing viewing. It builds momentum as the plot progresses and the stakes rise both financially and personally, both on the job and off it. It perhaps is tied up a little too nicely at the end, a little out of step with the grit the film has before it, but remains, for the most part, emotionally satisfying.

The cast is excellent across the board. Hemsworth is able to flex muscles outside of the superhero cage, delivering an involving performance as the insular Mike, slowly brought a morsel out of his shell as he begins a relationship with Maya (Monica Barbaro – also great, a charismatic personality in contrast to Mike’s reserved nature). There is sometimes a frustration in the lack of depth shown, with the film feeling a little non-committal to either the hard-man bit or the ‘secretly-deep’ tough guy. Regardless, Hemsworth keeps the audience on side in spite of his criminal activity. It is great to see Berry in a role that offers confronting dilemmas and allows her to highlight the unjust reality of being a woman past a certain age within many industries. Ruffalo is fantastic too, as always believable as the rugged, run-down cop who still maintains faith in his position. Keoghan injects some more grit into the proceedings as somewhat of a livewire in contrast to his counterparts. All work well to flesh out the world at hand.

It’s the kind of star-studded mid-budget film that I desperately hope makes a comeback. Whilst the plot isn’t exactly groundbreaking, this is a sleek and stylish piece of cinema with a great cast and depth to its story that elevates it above many other genre pictures.