Caught Stealing
- Ben Pivoz
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Darren Aronofsky has made some deep, insightful, introspective movies in his career. He is responsible for Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler, Black Swan and other awards darlings. His latest, the crime thriller Caught Stealing, was not made with those same lofty aspirations. It is a simple, enjoyable genre exercise, with a solid plot, decent action and laughs. Aronofsky is purely in entertainment mode here, and he’s pretty good at it. This is a violent, funny story, with a likable protagonist, a colorful supporting cast and great pacing. He has basically made an action movie that focuses enough on character so we care when he gets beaten up. Which is good because that happens a lot. It is summer entertainment on a smaller scale and a fitting way to send us into the fall.
In 1998 New York City, Hank works at a bar and spends his evenings with his girlfriend, Yvonne. One night, his loudmouth British neighbor, Russ, asks him to keep an eye on his cat while he goes across the pond to see his sick father. The next day, two Russian goons, looking for Russ, viciously assault Hank, beginning a nightmare he doesn’t understand. Now, Hank must find a way out of Russ’ mess, or die trying.
This version of New York is grimy, ugly and dangerous. Hank isn’t safe anywhere, whether he is in hiding or out in public. He is dealing with people who are only concerned about their money. Anything else is in the way. Hank is not a bad guy. His demons have his life on a treadmill, but he enjoys his job and truly cares for Yvonne. His greatest loves are his mom and the San Francisco Giants. The baseball metaphors are the most awkward part of Caught Stealing (based on the 2004 novel by Charlie Huston, who adapted it into this screenplay). Hank was a baseball prodigy whose dreams were tragically dashed as a teenager, so baseball still holds a gigantic place in his life. His obsession with the Giants, and inner sadness at what he lost, feels forced and the eventual resolution is a bit hollow.
Austin Butler is quite good as Hank. Knowing that this has been adapted from the first book in a trilogy about the character, I would definitely be interested in seeing him reprise the role. Butler is charming as a guy who limps through life without purpose. He’s nice, smart and friendly, yet it would be so frustrating to actually care about him. Yvonne (played by the lovely Zoë Kravitz) clearly feels very strongly toward him, while being exasperated by his stubborn refusal to be responsible for himself. Their relationship is sweet and amusing. Butler and Kravitz have good chemistry together.
The screenplay does a good job of using Hank as a sort of slacker straight-man to the weirdos he encounters and Butler fits the part perfectly. Matt Smith is tremendously entertaining as Russ, the loud, vulgar, anti-authoritarian criminal who inadvertently pulls Hank into danger. Liev Schrieber and Vincent D’Onofrio are funny as two deadly Hasidic Jews. Bad Bunny (going by his real name: Benito Martinez Ocasio) shows up as an eccentric crime boss, leading a pair of extremely odd, violent Russian henchmen. Regina King is a quirky detective on Hank’s case, in a strange performance that is kind of a waste of a powerful actress. None of this feels like a writer’s conceit; the actors are allowed to create three-dimensional characters, making this even more fun to watch.
Caught Stealing (101 minutes, without the end credits) is a mixture of tones. There is comedy, drama, action, adventure, scary villains, brutal deaths and a cute cat. Though this could have been a massive clash, Aronofsky makes it work, assembling the pieces in a way that enhances the disparate elements. It is quality entertainment.
3¾ out of 5
Cast:
Austin Butler as Hank Thompson
Zoë Kravitz as Yvonne
Matt Smith as Russ
Regina King as Detective Roman
Liev Schreiber as Lipa
Vincent D’Onofrio as Shmully
Benito Martínez Ocasio as Colorado
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Screenplay by Charlie Huston
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