Darren Aronofsky's grimy New York noir turns a simple cat-sitting favor into a brutal, darkly funny fight for survival.
Darren Aronofsky isn't exactly the filmmaker you'd expect to deliver a punk-noir cat-sitting caper, and yet "Caught Stealing" might be one of his most entertaining curveballs to date. Adapted from Charlie Huston's own novel, the film follows a former high school baseball star, Hank Thompson (Austin Butler), whose once-promising future collapsed after a career-ending accident. Now he's pouring drinks in a grimy New York bar, trying to stay afloat with the help of his supportive girlfriend (Zoë Kravitz) and the distraction of his beloved baseball team clawing its way toward a playoff berth.
Everything in Hank's life goes sideways the moment his eccentric neighbor, Russ (Matt Smith), a beat-up punk rocker with questionable hygiene and even shakier judgment, asks him for a simple favor: watch his cat for a couple of days. Hank agrees, because what could go wrong? The answer arrives almost immediately in the form of an alarming parade of criminals, mobsters, and unhinged opportunists who show up at Hank's door demanding something he's never even heard of. Before long, he's bloodied, hunted, and completely baffled. With no clue why he's become the city's most unlucky target, Hank is forced to outrun, outthink, and out-survive a pack of violent lowlifes who all seem convinced he's holding the key to something much bigger.
Aronofsky directs with a looseness and black-hearted sense of humor that feels miles away from "Requiem for a Dream" or "The Whale". Yet his signature tension - tight, suffocating, and escalating - remains completely intact. The film moves at a sprint, laced with sudden bursts of violence, bizarre detours, and moments of bleak hilarity that shouldn't work but absolutely do.
Butler proves once again that he's incapable of giving a half-hearted performance. He plays Hank with a weary charm, a guy who's been knocked down so many times that one more kick to the ribs barely surprises him. Opposite him, Liev Schreiber and Vincent D'Onofrio nearly walk away with the entire film as the Hebrew brothers, two merciless enforcers whose scenes crackle with menace and pitch-black comedy. Matt Smith, as the catalyst of this disaster, is the exact kind of chaotic energy the story thrives on.
One of the film's secret weapons is its textured, grimy, lovingly recreated version of late-'90s New York. It's not glamorous. It's sweaty, loud, cramped, and teeming with danger around every corner. The city becomes a character all its own, echoing Hank's panic and desperation as everything unravels.
The Sony Blu-ray presents the film with an impressively crisp 1080p transfer, maintaining Aronofsky's grainy, retro aesthetic without sacrificing clarity. New York's neon-washed nights and cluttered interiors look sharp, and the DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio mix keeps the chaos alive across every channel-gunshots, crowds, roaring subways, and the constant swirl of city noise.
- "Aronofsky: The Real Deal" - Director Darren Aronofsky teams up with writer and novelist Charlie Huston to dive into how the project began, the challenges of adapting the story, and the tricks they used to keep viewers on their toes.
- "Casting Criminals, Chaos, and a Cat" - The cast and crew break down their roles, share insights from the set, and talk about shaping the film's offbeat ensemble.
- "New York Story" - A tribute to the city itself, highlighting everything from quirky neighbors to iconic local treats, showcasing how Caught Stealing captures the spirit of New York.
- "I Don't Drive" - An inside look at how Austin Butler crafted the physical side of Hank Thompson, a former baseball standout turned reluctant survivor.
"Caught Stealing" is a brutal, bloody, darkly funny descent into criminal madness, powered by a stellar cast and Aronofsky's unexpected flair for pulpy action. It's unpredictable, relentlessly paced, and full of twists to keep viewers guessing throughout.
Whether you're a fan of Aronofsky, noir-tinged thrillers, or simply want to watch Austin Butler sprint through 1998 Manhattan while trying not to get murdered over a cat, this is a ride worth taking.
Grade: B+
