Caught Stealing, the latest crime/comedy/thriller from Darren Aronofsky (of Black Swan 2010), is an adequately engaging, well-acted film. It’s just not for me.
Starring Austin Butler, Liev Schreiber, Zoë Kravitz, Bad Bunny, and Regina King, I wasn’t entirely convinced I’d like Caught Stealing even at trailer stage. Still, after hearing a few friends say they enjoyed it, I pressed play.
Post-viewing, I can see why it worked for others. Set in 1990s New York City, it follows Hank (Butler), a young man who becomes entangled in a dangerous struggle to survive, thanks to a criminal acquaintance.
Part of the reason it didn’t fully work for me is the inevitable comparison to some early Guy Ritchie films (Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch (2000)…), which I enjoyed far more.
I also spent a good chunk of the runtime feeling genuinely irritated by the cat owner’s selfishness and complete disregard for Hank’s well-being. On top of that, some of Hank’s decision-making left me frustrated, because his sense of self-preservation often seemed non-operational.
That said, a definite highlight, aside from the solid performances is the song that opens the film, Doom by IDLES.
Watch Caught Stealing if you’re curious. You may find that it’s for you.
Happy Film Loving,
G
