Review: ‘Caught Stealing’ is a Crowd-Pleasing Showcase for Austin Butler

Throughout the summer, moviegoers have been bombarded with the trailer for Darren Aronofsky’s latest film, Caught Stealing. Whether it was Superman or I Know What You Did Last Summer, glimpses of this star-filled crime-thriller would show up and probably left many wondering if it was going to be any good. Thankfully, Caught Stealing is a top-tier crime flick that keeps viewers thoroughly gripped from start to finish and sews in some fun surprises. 

It’s great to see Aronofsky return to the underground New York City atmosphere that gave his early films, Pi and Requiem for a Dream, such a captivating pull. He’s so good at peeling back the surface to find these strange yet intriguing stories wrapped in dingy color palettes and criminal underbellies. It evokes that type of grounded darkness Aronofsky’s known for, making Caught Stealing a bit of a return to roots that matches the grim nature of the narrative. Based on Charlie Huston’s 2004 book of the same name, the film follows former baseball player Hank (Austin Butler) as he scrapes by in NYC as a bartender. Unfortunately, Hank’s life is turned upside-down after he’s ensnared into his punk neighbor Russ’s (Matt Smith) criminal antics. Caught Stealing is the type of story that Aronofsky thrives with: a high stakes dive into an unflinching criminal world led by a deeply flawed yet understandable character. 

Although Butler brings an unmistakable, underdog-like charm, there’s an underlying trauma within Hank that consumes him. While he was once primed to play for his beloved San Francisco Giants, one car crash completely changed Hank’s life, and it haunts him at every turn. Aronofsky utilizes some slow-revealing nightmares and Hank’s desperate bond with his mother to immerse viewers into his lingering pain. Plus, there are small details, like Hank’s continued obsession with the Giants’ playoff potential and his unyielding alcoholism, that further show his past staying with him. It all mixes into this gutting view Hank has of himself as a persistent failure that taps into the best of what Aronofsky does with his characters. 

Oddly enough, some of the darkest parts of Caught Stealing are where Hank beats himself up over things that go wrong. He’s reached such a personal low that he ties everything bad back to himself—which is why he struggles to get close with anyone. So, when he’s sucked into this dangerous underworld, he rips himself apart emotionally and it leads to some harsh reckonings that hit at a universal loneliness. It fits perfectly with Aronofsky’s vision of exploring the darkest parts of ourselves, and Butler delivers some raw heartbreak that makes these realizations a real gut-punch. Aronofsky’s signature brutality spews into the action and story as well, since Caught Stealing can be pretty gruesome at times. There’s plenty of visceral bloodshed that’ll catch you off guard, including a one-punch knockout that’ll leave viewers in awe. These criminal characters are unrelenting in their pursuit of Hank and pull no punches when it comes to anyone who gets in their way—even each other. Plus, Caught Stealing has some pretty wild twists and turns that leave a stinging impact. Even as someone who saw the trailers dozens of times, the film does a great job of subverting expectations and creating consequences with palpable tolls. 

Hank is always knocked back on his heels and it’s why Caught Stealing maintains a genuine sense of thrill throughout. Yet, unlike maybe Requiem for a Dream, Aronofsky doesn’t let the darkness of his vision overtake the entire experience, and he actually crafts a genuinely fun crowd-pleaser in the process. Despite Hank going through such dark situations and hitting rock bottom, his story builds towards a hopeful arc that viewers will tether to. Admittedly, Caught Stealing doesn’t have the deepest narrative and maybe gets a little clogged up by all the character-building, personalities, and thrills it tries to balance. But, there are great themes of self-healing and forgiveness that shine through—especially during the intense final act that sees Hank face his flaws and endure real change. Aronofsky also helms some chase sequences and white-knuckled combat that leaves your heart-pumping and results in some hard shots that evoke the loudest crowd reactions. Not to mention, this cast is just having so much fun with this wild batch of characters that it’s hard to wipe the smile off your face.

Smith is a pure blast of rebellious energy as Russ and has never looked and sounded so badass in that punk aesthetic. Zoe Kravitz and Regina King play surprisingly pivotal roles in Hank’s story, delivering the care or rebuke he needs to push forward. And, Vincent D’Onofrio and Liev Schreiber are the perfect mix of hilarious and daunting as a pair of Hebrew hitmen who can’t be underestimated. At the center of it all is Butler, though, as Caught Stealing is a true star vehicle for the thriving up-and-comer. He’s truly up for everything that Aronofsky throws at him, whether it’s emotional scenes that dig deep in Hank’s most persisting faults or more action-y escapes that rely on Hank’s craftiness to get by. It’s possibly one of his best performances to date and the entire last stretch sees him bring a confidence and adaptiveness to Hank that audiences will love. 

Caught Stealing is an absolute gem from Aronofsky that defies expectation and quite possibly culminates in his most easily likeable film to date. Whether it’s the star-studded cast led by a potentially career-best performance from Butler or the distinct mix of dark and hoppy thrills, Caught Stealing is the kind of crime-thriller with a palpable edge audiences always want to flock to. 

Caught Stealing opens in theaters Friday.