Caught Stealing Review

Directed By: Darren Aronofsky
Written By: Charlie Huston; Based on his book of the same name
Runtime: 107 minutes
MPA Rating: Rated R for strong violent content, pervasive language, some sexuality/nudity, and brief drug use.

Austin Butler – Hank Thompson
Zoë Kravitz – Yvonne
Matt Smith – Russ
Regina King – Detective Roman
Liev Schreiber – Lipa
Vincent D’Onofrio – Shmully
Benito A Martínez Ocasio – Colorado
Yuri Kolokolnikov – Aleksei
Nikita Kukushkin – Pavel
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai – Dale
Griffin Dunne – Paul
Action Bronson – Amtrak
Carol Kane – Bubbe

When Darren Aronofsky came out to preview his new crime thriller, Caught Stealing, last March at CinemaCon, it immediately sparked intrigue. Aronofsky attempting a witty New York crime comedy, starring Austin Butler, backed up by an impressive ensemble including Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, and Matt Smith? Plus Vincent D’Onofrio and Liev Schreiber portraying a pair of Hasidic hitmen? The film looked much different than anything Aronofsky has previously directed and definitely piqued interest. Unfortunately, the trailer oversells the experience of Caught Stealing, and the movie ultimately fails to reach the level of its premise.

The story follows blue-collar bartender Hank Thompson (Butler). A former up-and-coming baseball prospect, Hank now gets by tending bar in New York City. Hank is displaced from his small-town roots in California, as a horrific car accident ended his hopes of a career in the major leagues, and he moved to the other side of the country to run away from his problems instead of confronting them head-on. Hank enjoys a casual romance with New York paramedic Yvonne (Kravitz), who cares for Hank and wants to take their relationship further. However, Yvonne can tell that Hank harbors and is struggling to overcome some emotional demons.

Unfortunately, Hank soon runs afoul of some Russian mobsters attempting to break into the home of his cockney punk-rock neighbor, Russ (Smith). Russ is out of town for the weekend to tend to his ailing father, and asks Hank to cat-sit his pet feline, Bud. Russ’ extralegal activities have teed off some serious characters, and now, Hank becomes embroiled in a multi-sided conflict involving a New York City narcotics detective, Roman (King); two psychotic Hebrew hitmen (D’Onofrio and Schreiber); a sadistic gangster (Ocasio, a.k.a. “Bad Bunny”); and Russian mobsters. If Hank wants to get out of this scrape alive and protect his loved ones and Bud, he must finally confront his trauma.

While Aronofsky stepping outside of his darker, more cerebral, and intimate dramas could have been exciting, Caught Stealing never finds its groove. Aronofsky does not seem to gel with Charlie Huston’s material. The film certainly features some nice building blocks, specifically, a solid cast of actors, impressive cinematography by Matthew Libatique, and some immersive New York City locales. The New York setting serves the plot well, as it truly emerges as a lifelike character. The late 1990s provide a strong backdrop to the story. It’s a time of significant change for the city. Caught Stealing not only looks like a film set in the 1990s, but it also resembles a movie shot in the 1990s.

The pacing of the movie runs remarkably weird. It’s a 107-minute feature, but the experience feels twice as long. The supporting characters appear undercooked. Aronofsky throws in one incredibly shocking moment, but it wastes one of the film’s better characters and jettisons the stakes too early. The scene does establish the consequences of the deadly game Hank has been drawn into, but it’s difficult to care about any outcomes following that big reveal. Additionally, the most likable character in the movie is Bud the Cat. Although Bud is adorable, the film lacks more charming characters. Schreiber’s Lipa and D’Onofrio’s Shmully provide some unhinged, violent energy, but most of their material gets shoved into the second half.

The cast performs solid, if unspectacular, work. Smith has a fun performance as the underworld crime accountant, Russ. At least Butler possesses the charisma and presence to pull off the leading role. Aronofsky’s feature plays like a crime thriller meant to be wittier with a bit more of a comedic bent, even a darkly comedic one, but lacks that extra layer of signature wit that could have made the experience considerably more memorable. With the dull pacing, the rest of the movie comes off disjointed and clunky.

Caught Stealing has its moments, but Darren Aronofsky couldn’t fully grasp the witty crime caper tone and style. The film ends with an animated closing credit sequence that shows far more flair and excitement. That vibrant style in the closing credits should have been present throughout the rest of the film.

6.0

The final score: review Average

The 411

Caught Stealing is not a total disaster, but Darren Aronofsky struggles shifting outside of his usual comfort zone. He does not quite have the knack for a witty, comedic crime thriller mash-up. The film certainly has its moments, stunning locales, solid production values, cinematography, and some decent performances. However, it never truly elevates into exceptional viewing. The film features a fun, vibrant, and almost whimsical animated closing credit sequence showing more flair and creativity that is absent throughout much of the film. Caught Stealing certainly needed a bit more of that unique, punk-rock style integrated into the rest of the movie.