Darren Aronofsky has by some means directed his most commercially-friendly and simple movie whereas concurrently paying homage to his profession and all of his influences. Such is the compelling paradox of Caught Stealing, a crime-comedy that makes you do a double-take when seeing Aronofsky’s identify, till you begin to see all of his seedy hallmarks. The result’s a movie which may win over those that haven’t loved his different work, even when it feels somewhat shallower by comparability.
Caught Stealing includes a colourful cadre of characters and peppy dialogue, seeming to pay homage to Quentin Tarantino. That is one in all many ways in which this movie looks as if a love letter to rising up as a filmmaker within the 90s and being concerned within the inventive revival of 90s indie cinema. From photographs and colours harking back to Wes Anderson, to pumping in 90s musical touchstones, and together with understanding photographs of Kim’s Video and the Twin Towers within the background, Aronofsky — a Polish-Jew from Manhattan Seaside — makes use of this film as a automobile to sign all of the issues that formed him.
Whereas a window into Aronofsky’s thoughts and background is attention-grabbing, Caught Stealing‘s precise narrative and character arc are a tad pedestrian. It focuses on a younger man, Hank, drifting by way of life after having an opportunity at a Main League Baseball profession ruined. He winds up within the legal enterprises of his condominium neighbor (a extremely entertaining Matt Smith) and should survive dealings with numerous wild criminals together with a smooth-talking Puerto Rican (Dangerous Bunny), violent and eccentric Russians, and outwardly-polite Hassidic Jews. As one would possibly guess, a lot of that is fairly entertaining and humorous. Seeing Aronofsky deal with overt comedy is a shock, however a welcome one to make certain. It’s neat to see a gifted filmmaker flex his wings and check out one thing totally different, demonstrating his expertise with out the hangups that a few of his different work creates.
But regardless of all of the hijinks, Hank’s arc is in the end moderately predictable. He’s been carrying guilt all through his life, and because the movie tells us, he has a approach of working from his issues. To no shock, his involvement with the criminals helps educate him that he can’t run away from every little thing. Whereas the lead efficiency from Austin Butler is improbable, proving once more that Butler has nice lead power, with out metacontext about Arnofsky the movie is a bit weak and sloppy on the storytelling entrance.
The forged and script are largely humorous and entertaining sufficient for that to not matter. Vincent D’Onofrio and Liev Schreiber have restricted screentime as Jewish gangsters, however they’re so splendidly affable of their roles that they go away a big impression. The distinction between their makes an attempt to comply with shabbas whereas nonetheless committing violent acts is amusing, and the performances are sturdy sufficient to make one need for a spin-off centered on these characters.
Caught Stealing is sort of pleasant for what it’s, and viewing it by way of the lens of what led Aronofsky to change into the filmmaker he’s helps elevate it. It’s not a film that may wow you or redefine the crime comedy, however it does its job properly sufficient. It does present the potential of new horizons for Aronofsky, if he chooses to embrace them.
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