Caught Stealing

Synopsis: When his punk-rock neighbour asks him to take care of his cat for a few days, New York City bartender Hank Thompson suddenly finds himself caught in the middle of a motley crew of threatening gangsters who all want a piece of him. 

Movie Review: 

"Caught Stealing" is directed by Darren Aronofsky and is adapted from the book of the same title. This film is an entertaining, wild, and action-packed experience, marking it as one of the most crowd-pleasing films of Darren's career. However, I found myself somewhat disappointed with the movie, despite enjoying it overall.

Austin Butler portrays Hank Thompson, a burnt-out former baseball player who now works as a bartender and becomes entangled in a criminal conspiracy from which he must escape. Butler excels in this role; his charm, wit, and likable personality make audiences root for him as he attempts to outsmart the criminals who wish to see him dead, showcasing his potential as a rising star in Hollywood.

Zoe Kravitz delivers a wonderful performance as Yvonne, Hank's girlfriend. Their chemistry is both romantic and steamy, adding an emotional depth that made me invested in their relationship.

Matt Smith plays Russ, a quirky punk rocker who steals the spotlight, although I wished he had more screen time, as he was consistently hilarious in his appearances.

Regina King portrays Detective Roman, delivering one of her stronger performances as a character filled with twists and turns that enhance her intrigue.

Both Liev Schreiber (as Lipa) and Vincent D'Onofrio (as Shmully) play Jewish hitmen who provide commendable performances, though at times they seem out of place in the gritty setting of 90s New York, occasionally resembling cartoonish figures.

I occasionally struggled with the film's tone; it attempts to be a grounded crime thriller but sometimes veers too far into a chaotic Guy Ritchie-style gangster film, which does not always succeed. While there were no poor performances, I found most characters, aside from Hank, to be unlikable, which diminished my concern for the side characters.

Overall, "Caught Stealing" is a well-directed action thriller featuring strong performances, and I would rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Director: Darren Aronofsky 

Cast: Austin Butler, Zoe Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Griffin Dunne, Nikita Kukushkin, Yuri Kolokolnikov, Will Brill, D’Pharaoh Won-A-Tai, Action Bronson, Laura Dern With Vincent D’Onofrio and Liev Schreiber