Caught Stealing

Did I just watch the American version of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels? Anyway.. I fucking loved it!

Fantastic action. Fantastic cinematography. Fantastic acting. Fantastic casting. God what a fucking great movie.

Oh and fantastic cat ;)

Caught Stealing is a fast-paced and stylish action thriller with a great atmosphere and solid story. It’s a really fun ride that keeps you hooked from start to finish. It deserves more attention and honestly it's even better than Bullet Train, which I also enjoyed.

>"Now, execution murder—that's the Drucker brothers style. Lipa and Shmully. The hasids."

And:

>"You run away from what you're afraid of, then it owns you."

Absolutely electric. Cinematography is chef's kiss.

2 big questions:

Did people say booty call in 1998?

And, is Darren Aronofsky one of my favorite directors?

“Caught Stealing” is the kind of thriller that takes everything great about the genre and delivers it with surgical precision, never giving the audience a chance to relax. Darren Aronofsky proves once again that he knows how to squeeze intensity out of every frame, turning what starts as a simple story (an ordinary bartender caught in a whirlwind of violence and chases) into an unpredictable cat-and-mouse game where every move matters. The movie not only entertains but also carries an emotional urgency that stays tied to its protagonista, a man completely out of his depth, yet somehow always two steps ahead of danger when it counts.

The story is built with an elegance you rarely see in modern thrillers. Based on Charlie Huston’s book, the script is lean, direct, but still layered. Hank, played by Austin Butler, is introduced as a regular guy, a baseball fan, devoted to his mom, with no predisposition for the chaos that’s about to consume his life. That emotional base is key: we care about him, and that amplifies every punch, every twist, every desperate escape. His backstory as a once-promising player whose career was cut short by an accident isn’t played for cheap melodrama but instead lingers as a quiet echo in every decision he makes: a man who’s already lost a bright future and is now fighting, quite literally, not to lose his life.

Technically, “Caught Stealing” is a treat for anyone who loves meticulous filmmaking. Aronofsky, alongside cinematographer Matthew Libatique, crafts a jittery, urban look, heavy on shadows and sharp contrasts, perfect for a thriller that lives in dark alleys, cramped apartments, and explosive confrontations. The camera sticks close to Hank, often with nervous, almost documentary-like movements that make us feel his vulnerability. Meanwhile, Andrew Weisblum’s editing is razor sharp: it breathes when it needs to, letting tension build, and then snaps into overdrive when urgency takes over, throwing the viewer onto an emotional rollercoaster without ever losing clarity.

The cast is another huge asset. Austin Butler doesn’t just carry the movie, he elevates it. His Hank is vulnerable, reactive, sometimes dazed, but with a spark of wit that keeps him from ever being just a victim. Zoë Kravitz brings charisma and warmth to Yvonne, even with limited screen time, while Matt Smith shows up almost unrecognizable as Russ, the domino that pushes Hank straight into hell. Regina King gives real weight to the cop breathing down Hank’s neck, while the villains (a mix of Russian and Hasidic gangsters played with just the right dose of macabre humor by Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onofrio) strike the perfect balance between threat and absurdity, giving the story a darkly ironic touch without ever undermining the stakes.

Setting the story in the late ‘90s isn’t just nostalgic window dressing, it’s a narrative tool. Without smartphones or GPS, every hunt for information becomes physical, every phone call a precious resource, every meeting a calculated risk. On top of that, the soundtrack doesn’t just set the scene, it nails the vibe of the era, making everything feel dirty, dangerous, urgent: stripped of modern conveniences, the violence hits harder, rawer, almost handmade. Even the moments of humor, like the impromptu Shabbos dinner with the gangsters’ grandma, played by the always delightful Carol Kane, are carefully directed to ease the tension without ever breaking the film’s dark tone.

“Caught Stealing” is more than just an efficient thriller, it’s a masterclass in narrative and technical precision, a movie that understands the value of pacing, emotional weight, and organic tension. It’s violent, sure, but never gratuitous; it’s fun, but it never forgets how high the stakes really are. Darren Aronofsky proves that even in an overstuffed genre, it’s still possible to create something fresh, vibrant, and visceral when you trust the perfect combo of a tight script, an inspired cast, and steady, fearless direction. A modern thriller with a classic soul, the kind that painfully reminds you that sometimes the seatbelt is anything but optional.

It was unexpected to come across a new film in a genre that seemed to have disappeared, but it was nice! An ordinary guy in NY accidentally gets caught up in a showdown between the Russian/Jewish mafia/cops over money. No one will joke, and a non-stop race for life begins. I don’t know what everyone doesn’t like about it. Brutal, cool, and a cat

Amazing cast. Good story line. Kept me interested. Yes it is a MUST-WATCH!

The "90s-2000s era Tarantino-esque, Guy Ritchie crazy crime caper" genre is my favorite genre.

“Caught Stealing” is not only a film set in the 90s, but it also feels like a film that came out in that decade. And I mean that in a very positive sense. It’s a crime thriller in the style of Guy Ritchie’s earlier works, which you hardly ever see in cinemas these days. There are a lot of colorful characters and a protagonist who is thrown into the middle of the action by a series of coincidences. It also gets really dark at times, with “Caught Stealing” not quite maintaining the fun atmosphere of the trailers throughout. But it’s still a wonderful ride, and Austin Butler is a strong lead. I therefore give the film a strong recommendation.

“You run away from what you’re afraid of, then it owns you.”

I’m happy to say that I enjoyed this one as well. I went to go see three movies today and I was a solid three for three. This felt a bit different than what I’m used to from a Darren Aronofsky movie. I actually liked that it was something unlike his other movies. It was very entertaining and a lot of fun throughout. I’m not the biggest fan of Zoë Kravitz normally but I actually liked her here. Austin Butler was great and played a very likable character. Plus we also had that adorable cat sprinkled in throughout the entirety of the movie. I liked the backdrop and old school feel of this movie. It was very grimy and grungy. I really liked the idea of setting the movie up in the 90s and telling the story from there. The little bit of action that we do get was solid. I loved all of the baseball talk and obsession. As a baseball fan that was very much appreciated. I really enjoyed a lot that happened in this movie. I’d definitely recommend checking this one out.

* Triple Feature at AMC Crestwood 18