Based on the novella by Don Winslow, director and screenwriter Bart Layton’s Crime 101 has the look and feel of a 1940’s noir, complete with a long opening sequence, shot in dark shadows. Set in Los Angeles, Chris Hemsworth stars as Mike Davis, a master jewel thief who picks his targets from along U.S. Route 101, as it allows for a quick getaway. Carried out with the utmost precision, his thefts are never violent. Working with a seasoned fence, Money (Nick Nolte), Mike lives by the credo, no guns, no blood, no mess. Things go off the rails when he is grazed by an unexpected bullet.

Meanwhile, things aren’t going well for LAPD detective Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo) at home, his marriage to wife Angie (Jennifer Jason Leigh), is hanging by a thread. At work, Lou is under fire after his boss (Matthew Del Negro) dismisses his theory that the string of recent thefts is the work of only one man.

Sharon Combs (Halle Berry) is the disgruntled claims adjuster at a large insurance company who is upset with her boss (Paul Adelstein) who refuses to promote her even though she deserves to be. Sharon teams up with Lou to investigate the diamond robbery when the robbed jeweler Sammy Kassem (Payman Maadi) files a claim with her company.

Others in Mike’s orbit include Barry Keoghan (who’s making a career of playing sociopathic crazies) as Ormon, a hotheaded biker hired by Money to sabotage Mike. While his appearance is relatively brief, Keoghan steals nearly every scene he’s in.  Monica Barbaro is Mya; the woman Mike begins a relationship with.

Layton’s adaptation of the novella takes time to play out, effectively weaving the mechanics of a heist with the desperation of those involved. Tired of being overlooked, Halle Berry’s Sharon is a highlight, as we watch her try to navigate the moral ambiguity of working both sides of the law. The always dependable Mark Ruffalo is excellent as the beleaguered cop. The separation from his wife helps in understanding why the case is so important to him. So, too does Mike’s difficulty in opening up to the woman he’s falling for. The characters are more interesting precisely because they have lives outside of the main plot.

Presented in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio, this native 4K production with Dolby Vision looks very good on disc. There are only a few brief moments of softness, and that may be a stylistic choice. The image is free of flaws and offers pleasing delineation. Blacks are deep and inky throughout. Colors are vibrant, offering a palette that emphasizes amber and blue. There are no scratches or other anomalies.

The included Dolby Atmos soundtrack offers solid fidelity throughout.  Action sequences are bold and full. Quieter scenes are spread out nicely. Effects are lively, adding nice punch to the proceedings. Dialogue is clean, clear, and concise.

English, English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles are available.

There are no extras included.