Darren Aronofsky’s critically acclaimed ‘The Whale’ back in 2022 has been followed up by ‘Caught Stealing’, a highly anticipated crime thriller starring Austin Butler (Elvis) and Zoe Kravitz (The Batman). Butler plays burned-out ex-baseball player Hank Thompson, who unexpectedly finds himself embroiled in a dangerous struggle for survival amidst the criminal underbelly of 1990’s New York, forced to navigate a treacherous underworld he never imagined. A change of pace for Aronofsky, Caught Stealing impresses with its punk-rock attitude, stellar performances and high energy plot.
The most impressive element of Caught Stealing is the overall tone and vibe of the film. Fully immersing you into late 90’s New York with ease, it exhibits high energy from start to finish that’s incredibly hard not to get on board with. This is further exacerbated by the excellent punk rock soundtrack that matches the tone of the movie perfectly, many songs created by band Idles, that you’ll undoubtedly be tapping your foot along to. The gritty and grimy feel draws you in from the start, with the high octane plot ensuring you remain engaged throughout. The cherry on top is the costuming, hair and make-up featuring denim, chains, leather jackets and in Matt Smith’s case, a neon mohawk. Unapologetically edgy and cool, with as many drugs, alcohol, punches and baseball bat hits that you can tolerate, Aronofsky certainly achieves the mood that he’s going for.
What helps this plot resonate and be quite likable, despite the fact it’s hard to agree with anything that’s going on here, is that a good, normal character is placed at the centre. It might be full of gangs, criminals, money heists and drug taking, but smack bang in the middle is Hank, accidentally involved in this criminal underworld whilst being haunted by trauma from his past. Ensuring he calls his Mum everyday, works hard behind the bar and reassures girlfriend Yvonne that he’s reliable and worth her time, Hank is an outsider in this world and is simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. Not only does this give us someone to genuinely root for, but allows us to imagine ourselves in this situation. The crime plot is quite simplistic – man owes large amounts of money to a big crime boss with Russians and backwards cops working for him – but the punk theme and ‘average joe’ lead character give it the edge it needs. The simple approach to the plot allows the supporting elements to shine all the more, making the movie as digestible and succinct as it is.
The character of Hank wouldn’t work as well if a good performance wasn’t behind it, and as we’ve come to expect, Austin Butler is excellent here. He navigates the past trauma and current alcohol addiction of the character well, whilst also occasionally dipping into a fun, silly side that his roles don’t often allow. This may be the best he’s ever been at portraying emotion, and just his facial expressions here speak one thousand words. He’s impressive. Largely starring opposite is Zoe Kravitz, the pair sharing believable, sexy chemistry in their shaky yet lovable romance. Matt Smith (Last Night in Soho) has been a large focal point of the marketing and hype, due to his Sex Pistols-esque appearance, and though he doesn’t get as much run-time as one would expect, he chews up the scenery and steals every scene he’s placed in. The catalyst for Hank becoming involved in a world of crime, Smith’s Russ is unapologetically filled with anarchic attitude, but when it comes to ensuring his feline friend Bud is looked after, he certainly has a soft spot. The supporting cast is made up of greats, all of which making a mark; Regina King (Boyz n the Hood), Griffin Dunne (An American Werewolf in London), Liev Schreiber (Asteroid City) and Vincent D’Onofrio (Full Metal Jacket) being the obvious standouts. It’s a true ensemble.
There are areas of the crime plot that feel familiar, and a lack of screen-time for a few of our talents but overall, Caught Stealing is a punk-rock gem filled with edgy attitude, banging tracks, excellent performances and perhaps one of the cutest on-screen cats audiences have ever seen. Austin Butler’s screen presence pairs beautifully with Aronofsky’s craftsmanship to create a wildly likable yet equally grimy look at the criminal world of New York, delivered in a way we haven’t quite seen before.
