Caught Stealing Review: Austin Butler Stars in Wild Crime Movie
Caught Stealing is Darren Aronofsky stepping into new territory, trading his signature psychological intensity for a leaner and more playful crime thriller. It is not the operatic descent into darkness of Requiem for a Dream or the feverish paranoia of Black Swan. Instead, this is Aronofsky’s attempt at mainstream entertainment, a film that balances tension and humor while paying tribute to the city that shaped him. In his own words at the premiere, it is “a love letter to New York City,” and that love is palpable in every frame. Shot entirely on location, the movie captures the grit and character of late 1990s New York with an energy that feels both nostalgic and electric.
At the center of the story is Austin Butler as Hank Thompson, a New York City bartender. He’s a charming screwup with a mild drinking problem and a tendency to get in over his head. When his punk-rock neighbor, played by a very entertaining Matt Smith, asks him to watch a cat for a few days, he finds himself thrown into the orbit of gangsters and lowlifes who all want something from him. Butler is perfectly cast. He is convincing as the everyman whose bad decisions keep piling up as his situation spirals further out of control. There is something deeply relatable about his performance, and it makes the character easy to root for.
One of the film’s greatest strengths is its unpredictability. Just when you think you know where the story is heading, Aronofsky and screenwriter Charlie Huston throw in another turn that keeps the tension alive. The everyman angle works especially well here. Hank is not some criminal mastermind or action hero. He is just a guy trying to stay alive while the world collapses around him. That grounded perspective makes the escalating danger more engaging and often more humorous. Watching an ordinary person react to extraordinary situations is what gives the movie its pulse.
That said, the story itself feels familiar. Earlier this year, the film Novocaine tackled a similar premise of an everyman caught in an absurdly dangerous web of crime. The difference is that Novocaine leaned into its surreal gimmick of a man who cannot feel pain, while Caught Stealing plays things more straightforward. The lack of a high-concept hook makes Aronofsky’s film feel a bit more conventional, even as it remains consistently entertaining.
The choice to set the movie in 1998 is an interesting one, though it does not add much to the experience. There are a few period-specific details like payphones and the occasional shot of the Twin Towers, but the core of the story could have easily been told in the present day. It is not a distraction, but it feels like a surface-level aesthetic choice rather than something that meaningfully enhances the narrative.
What keeps the film afloat is its sense of fun. Aronofsky, long associated with bleak and intense dramas, delivers his most lighthearted film to date. There are genuine laugh-out-loud moments sprinkled throughout, often at Hank’s expense as he scrambles to keep up with the chaos. The humor never undermines the danger, but it gives the story a breezy quality that keeps it engaging from start to finish. Even when the film takes darker turns, there is an underlying playfulness that separates it from the director’s earlier work.
The movie is also full of colorful side characters, each with quirks that make the world feel larger and more alive. There are moments where you wish the script committed even more to the outrageousness of its setup. When it does lean into its wilder impulses, the film comes alive. Smith doesn’t have too much screen time, but he really chews up the scenery in full British form when he shows up. Regina King gives a strong performance as Detective Roman, a character who has a lot more going on underneath the surface than you initially expect. Zoë Kravitz is the icing on the cake. Truth be told, I didn’t even recognize Vincent D’Onofrio and Liev Schreiber at first in their villainous roles, but they’re both great.
There is one superb setup and payoff at the end, all tying into both a traumatic event Hank suffered in the past that continues to haunt him and a little character detail introduced in the opening act. If the movie had leaned into more instances of that, it would have been much better. Overall, Caught Stealing is not a groundbreaking crime thriller, but it is a consistently entertaining one. It is a film that understands exactly what it is trying to do and delivers just enough style and personality to stand out in a crowded field. The mix of humor, tension, and unpredictability keeps the movie engaging, even when the story treads familiar ground.
For longtime Aronofsky fans, this lighter, more mainstream approach may come as a surprise, but it is a welcome change of pace. The director retains just enough of his darker tendencies to keep the stakes real, while embracing a more playful, accessible tone that makes this his most commercially appealing project yet. Butler proves himself a strong lead, carrying the story with a performance that is equal parts charm and desperation.
Caught Stealing may not reach the artistic heights of Aronofsky’s best work, but it does not need to. It is a smart, well-paced, and fun ride through a version of New York that feels authentic and alive. The film’s unpredictability and strong performances make it worth watching, even if it never quite fully embraces the outrageous potential of its premise. It is not perfect, but it is a solid, decent entry in Aronofsky’s eclectic filmography.
SCORE: 6/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 6 equates to “Decent.” It fails to reach its full potential and is a run-of-the-mill experience.
Disclosure: ComingSoon attended the world premiere for our Caught Stealing review.
Source: Comingsoon.net