Plot Summary: An elusive thief, eyeing his final score, encounters a disillusioned insurance broker at her own crossroads. As their paths intertwine, a relentless detective trails them hoping to thwart the multi-million dollar heist they are planning.

Director: Bart Layton

Writers: Bart Layton, Don Winslow

Runtime: 2 hours 20 mins

• Chris Hemsworth as Davis
• Mark Ruffalo as Lou
• Barry Keoghan as Ormon
• Halle Berry as Sharon

Review by: Samuel

What I Liked:

The tone and atmosphere are immediately set. This is a true crime thriller through and through. The film avoids the trap of modern quippy action movies in that it doesn’t have a comedic bone in its body (which works for the better). The first scene shows how carefully Mike plans and executes his heists and even though things seem under his control the pacing, dialogue, and sense of urgency add a layer of tension to the film that never fully subsides during the runtime. From the beginning, you feel as if you are waiting for things to suddenly go wrong. My heart was pounding with anticipation beginning with that first heist, and I loved the feeling. It even gets to a point where the simple sound of a glass breaking on screen is enough to make you jump out of your seat (which I seriously did). 

That level of tension is a credit to director Bart Layton, who also does his job visually. He delivers a sleek, cool, and well-shot film. There are two car chase scenes ion the film and both are superb highlights of his talent. He (and his director of photography) utilize wide angles that allow the audience to actually see the action rather than being lost in shaky cam or fast cuts that are STILL a thing for some reason. It captures the essence of films like a “Baby Driver” or Steve McQueen’s “Bullitt” – which is actually referenced by characters in the film. 

Speaking on those characters, the action and tone are great, but the narrative here is the biggest star. As the synopsis above states, Hemsworth plays the thief, but he’s a gentlemen thief who never huts anyone and tries to steal from those who can take it- i.e. the insured. Berry works as an insurance agent who offers policies to the ultra rich and Ruffalo is a detective trying to catch Hemsworth.

Each of the characters we follow are somewhat isolated in the beginning, and seeing their lives is a bit of a slow burn but it’s one that pays off because: 1) it does force you to think who’s the villain here? Is it Mike the non-violent thief? Or the corrupt police department and the sleazy insurance firm? And 2: WHEN they finally intersect, your eyes, hearts, and minds are singularly focused on what is about to happen because the setup was superb and you are in dire anticipation of the eventual reckoning.

What I Disliked:

While Chris Hemsworth plays the role exactly as written, the character of Mike Davis is almost too guarded. He is so reserved and quiet ( even with his love interest) that it’s difficult to connect with him on a human level. You find yourself rooting for the success of the heist rather than the man himself.

Perhaps the most disappointing though is the ending. Despite an incredible build-up and a thrilling third act, the ultimate resolution feels slightly less climactic than the rest of the film suggests. It’s a solid ending, but after such high-octane tension, it doesn’t quite hit you in the gut the way you’d expect.

Images Courtesy of IMDB