Imagine the worst possible day of your life. Then, imagine it all started because you agreed to do one seemingly harmless, but ultimately horrific, favor for a friend. This is the premise of director Darren Aronofsky’s latest release, the dark comedy crime movie “Caught Stealing.”
After agreeing to look after his neighbor’s cat, Hank Thompson (Austin Butler) finds himself entangled in the vicious underground crime scene of New York City in the ’90s. As Thompson is caught in the increasingly violent crossfire between various gangs and an ongoing police investigation, the plot devolves into utter chaos.
Unfortunately, the resulting relentless action scenes feel both predictable and wholly unnecessary. The script uses every plot device — from Bud the cat to Thompson’s love for his mother and baseball to a traumatic childhood memory — to the point of exhaustion. With bloody violence and fast-paced action around every corner, the movie never slows down enough to let the audience truly appreciate the characters or the gorgeously gritty shots of 1998 Manhattan.
While each death trumped the previous in the caliber of its bloodiness, I grew increasingly disinterested with the violence as it continued. I was certainly disgusted, but I had no real stake in any of the characters’ deaths, and would have been much happier without the constant reminders of my embarrassing queasiness.
The escalation in tension felt completely formulaic, and there came a point in the film where I was truly concerned it might never end. It incessantly regurgitated the same general concept of introducing Thompson to a new conflict that resulted from some unfortunate choice he’d made, ultimately raising the stakes. Given the number of times this happened, the ending should have been devastating, but it felt surprisingly hopeful. However, this was not an entirely pleasant hopefulness, as it made me question whether much of the film (and most of its deaths) had even been important — either to the plot or to Thompson’s development.
Though much of the film is dedicated to action, and some to comedic antics, its best moments are those in which it delves into addiction and tendency toward self-destruction. Aronofsky excels in depicting Thompson’s internal battle as he struggles to fight his alcoholic urges while his entire world comes crashing down. While the action might purport to be nervewracking, no sequence rivals the sheer tension of Thompson’s relapse.
Beyond its incredible forays into the topic of addiction, “Caught Stealing” also excels due to its cast. Butler is a complete powerhouse as Thompson. He balances the emotional subtleties of grief and rage that have long been repressed by the sweet innocence of a golden mama’s boy. Though the constant onslaught of traumatizing events prevents Thompson from ever truly coping with any of his losses, Butler masterfully portrays his troubled character as he navigates his own personal hell.
Thompson’s girlfriend, Yvonne (Zoë Kravitz), perfectly compliments Thompson, and the actors could not have better chemistry. Unfortunately, the lack of development of Kravitz’s character makes her feel contrived and convenient, which is an unfortunate waste of Kravitz’s immense talent.
Matt Smith also delivers a solid supporting performance as the quirky, punk British man who lives next door. The performances from the various criminals — including Nikita Kukushkin and Yuri Kolokolnikov as brutish Russians, and Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onofrio as eerily violent Hasidic Jewish brothers — are universally strong.
Perhaps the best performance comes from Tonic, who plays Bud the cat. Bud’s presence, though overplayed to a befuddling degree, was greatly appreciated, and Tonic delivered an excellent portrayal of the sweet and occasionally miffed feline.
A complete departure from Aronofsky’s prior filmography, which includes the nail-biting psychological thrillers “Requiem For a Dream” and “The Black Swan,” “Caught Stealing” is surprisingly lighthearted (albeit extremely gory). While it is certainly refreshing to see Aronofsky exploring comedy, the movie ultimately falls flat without his signature penchant for torturous tension.
Despite the plot’s weakness, the stellar performances and the script’s success in handling both comedic and deep content renders “Caught Stealing” an enjoyable watch. And don’t worry — the cat does not die at the end.
