“Caught Stealing” is an efficient film. Not some fashionable basic we must be hyperbolic about; only a good film. In one other time, that may have felt barely much less particular than it does proper now. In 2025, we’re nonetheless on this cycle the place nearly every part needs to be a franchise, or it will get dumped to streaming the place it’ll disappear into the abyss.
In that means, a film aimed toward adults with a fantastic solid from an important director, feels extra particular than it used to. This type of factor did not was uncommon, it was the norm. However now it is uncommon and, in consequence, Darren Aronofsky’s newest feels particular, even when it isn’t some type of enduring masterwork like “Requiem for a Dream” or any of the director’s different heralded movies. Moderately, he is teamed with Austin Butler and author Charlie Huston to ship a rattling good time on the films, plain and easy.
The movie facilities on Hank Thompson (Butler), a former high-school baseball phenom who cannot play anymore, now working as a bartender in New York Metropolis, having fun with his new relationship with Yvonne (Zoe Kravitz). When his punk-rock neighbor Russ (Matt Smith) asks him to deal with his cat for just a few days, Hank inadvertently finds himself caught in the course of a number of totally different teams of gangsters. Hank’s easy life then devolves into chaos as he is mixing it up with criminals and attempting to maintain himself out of jail.
“Caught Stealing” is predicated on the guide of the identical identify by Huston. He was clearly the proper particular person to adapt his guide to the display screen, because the story does not waste one’s time. The characters are simple to like (or hate), it is well-paced, and it is participating from the soar. It is also remarkably easy.
Darren Aronofsky faucets into his interior Man Ritchie
That is to not say there aren’t twists and turns alongside the way in which — it is a crime caper in any case. It is simply that the film Sony marketed to us by means of the trailers is exactly the film that has been delivered. Do you need to see Austin Butler operating by means of New York Metropolis whereas attempting to flee some dangerous stuff? Do you need to see nice actors getting the prospect to shine in offbeat roles? That is what you will get. We get so accustomed to misleading or intelligent advertising and marketing that one thing this easy is sort of jarring. There aren’t any gimmicks right here. It is a enjoyable, extremely irritating, and at occasions very horny crime flick.
These conversant in Aronofsky’s work have a sure expectation. Be it the enduring depth of “Black Swan” or the daring madness of “Mom!” there may be typically a seriousness to his films. He is not precisely a purveyor of popcorn cinema. Coming off of the Oscar-winning “The Whale,” Aronofsky determined to do one thing very totally different and present us a facet of him we have by no means seen earlier than. This facet of him is enjoyable. It is energetic. It is extremely entertaining.
If his identify weren’t on the poster, one could be hard-pressed to peg “Caught Stealing” as an Aronofsky joint. It is a reminder that we comprise multitudes and Aronofsky, creatively, is not any exception. This feels nearer to early Man Ritchie movies like “Snatch” greater than it does any of Aronofsky’s earlier works. It is type of outstanding to see a man this late into his profession flexing such a distinct muscle so confidently.
To not make it seem to be there is not drama within the film as a result of there completely is. Hank goes by means of it and since the viewers involves care about him, his struggles hit house. However despite the fact that there’s a wholesome dose of dramatic stress, this appears like Aronofsky having enjoyable for as soon as. No person would accuse “The Wrestler” of being enjoyable. This film is a variety of issues, and enjoyable is one among them.
Austin Butler leads a pitch-perfect ensemble solid in Caught Stealing
A film like this does not have a variety of fancy particular results to cover behind. It lives and dies by the characters. Aronofsky managed to assemble a ridiculously nice ensemble that carries the film, led by Butler, the man who went all-in for “Elvis”; an actor who goes additional arduous and excessive when the state of affairs requires it. In “Caught Stealing,” Butler commits to the function of Hank admirably, completely embodying an everyday man who has some outstanding issues occur to him. It brings him all the way down to Earth a bit in a really charming, at occasions tragic means. There’s a film star high quality to Butler and it is nearly unattainable to think about anybody else on this function. However “Caught Stealing” is actually is an ensemble piece and all the chess items on the board are organized magnificently.
Zoe Kravitz continues to say herself as an attention grabbing scene stealer, who performs completely off of Hank’s stubbornness. As a pair, they sing. Vincent D’Onofrio and Liev Schreiber are notably entertaining because the Jewish gangsters Shmully and Lipa — it is arduous to recall these two actors ever having extra enjoyable on display screen. One of many main surprises is music famous person Dangerous Bunny because the robust man Colorado who’s an absolute blast to observe. It is not stunt casting. To not point out Matt Smith, who many people know from “Physician Who,” going full drug dealing punk rocker in an against-type flip that’s most welcome.
For as a lot good as there may be in “Caught Stealing,” there’s by no means that second the place it by some means rises from good to nice — however hey, that is okay. It is simply good and stays good till the credit roll, which is greater than sufficient. Not each new film must be an occasion. Generally, you simply need to watch a good-looking man attempt to get out of hassle whereas taking good care of an ornery, fluffy cat. We may use extra fashionable films like “Caught Stealing.”
/Movie Score: 7.5 out of 10
“Caught Stealing” hits theaters on August 29, 2025.
