Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Director Darren Aronofsky’s latest outing features a whirlwind of unpredictability. Hank Thompson is a former baseball player stuck in a rut. He works late nights at a local bar, drinking away his sorrows and attempting to forget about his failed baseball career. After he is tasked with watching his roommate’s cat, he gets caught in a scuffle between two crime organizations his roommate is involved with. He must navigate his way through the criminal underworld of New York City in order to survive. Will Hank get his way out of this mess? Or is he forever embedded into the world of crime?
Positives:
For better or worse, Darren Aronofsky has always delivered a memorable filmgoing experience. I’m happy to say that “Caught Stealing” is one of his strongest efforts in recent years. It is one of the most unpredictable films of the year, twisting and turning like New York’s many side streets. There were numerous circumstances where the events that unfolded completely caught me off guard. This added to this tumultuous situation Hank has gotten into. Each character he encounters or sticky situation he deals with keeps audiences on the edge of their seat the entire time. I was so curious where the story would go due to the unpredictable nature. Hank is thrust into an unforgiving world that he has no experience dealing with. I never felt a lull throughout the runtime as the pacing is strong enough to keep the viewer engaged the entire time. Credit to Darren Aronofsky for diving into different material than he’s used to. It pays off by being his most relatable film to date.
The cast is loaded here. Austin Butler is establishing himself as a new leading man in Hollywood, playing Hank with more depth than expected. His trauma experienced during his baseball career is explored throughout the film as he encounters each criminal organization. This adds perspective to his decision making throughout the film and helps audiences connect with him by the film’s conclusion. Matt Smith also gives an appropriately eccentric performance as Hank’s delinquent roommate. Also giving good performances are Regina King, Zoe Kravitz, Liev Schreiber, and Vincent D’Onofrio. The film balances a serious tone while inserting humor throughout the story. This provides levity to Hank’s situation, finding the ability to laugh in even the most ridiculous of circumstances. I enjoyed how the film immersed the viewer in a grimy atmosphere, where a city full of decay and crime is the norm. This helps us understand the type of world these characters inhabit, effectively conveying the unforgiving nature of the situation. This is a surprisingly effective film that is much better than expected.
Negatives:
It’s difficult to describe some of the story issues without going into spoilers. Without saying too much, there are some pieces of Hank’s backstory and relationship with others that feels shortchanged at times. If we were able to dig a bit deeper, then his story might resonate even more. While it was better than most modern movies, the humor throughout the film felt jarring during some of the tenser sequences. The tone would shift from a life or death situation to making light hearted references. Minor quibbles with the film but nothing drastic enough to take away from the unique story being presented.
Conclusion:
“Caught Stealing” is a surprisingly solid entry to Darren Aronofsky’s filmography. It’s a wildly entertaining story that manages to surprise audiences left and right. It’s not afraid to kill off important characters and make shocking reveals as the story goes on. I’d say this is more mainstream than most of Aronofsky’s other filmography. So if audiences want to give this a try this is a good introduction to his style. This is certainly worth checking out as it feels fresh, inventive, and exciting.
