The flat-out truth is we need fresh ideas on the big screen and that’s exactly what we get with Caught Stealing. Derived from the book of the same name by Charlie Huston, people are coming to find out that turning to novels for film ideas just might be the move, as they often possess stories audiences would love to watch unfold. Reading books has recently seen a surge as it is now seen as a fun, trendy thing to do, so why not take these exciting stories and give movie lovers of what they’ve been missing out on.
Set in 1998 in the busy streets of New York, Hank (Austin Butler) finds himself in a bad situation that has nothing to do with him. What can be seen as a truly unfortunate case of “wrong place, wrong time”, he is accused of being associated with his neighbor, Russ (Matt Smith), and it’s all downhill from there as several bad guys all want to draw information out of him. The only problem is Hank doesn’t know what they are looking for, as he is as clueless as can be. Caught Stealing takes us on a wild ass ride that will keep you wondering what’s going to happen next at every turn.
Everything Worked Together So Well
There are a few ingredients that make the film a project that is truly a chef’s kiss. For starters, the steamy chemistry between Hank and Yvonne (Zoë Kravitz) will have you smiling at the screen without even realizing you’re doing it. Her character is versatile: one who can throw back a few brews with her man at a dive bar, but has her life together enough to wake up on time to go to work as a paramedic. The buildup of the emotional connection between Hank and Yvonne is the reason that we can relate to some of the later moments on a deeper level. Director Darren Aronofsky’s choice to include a tragic backstory for Hank really contributed to the story because the flashbacks allowed you to feel his pain. Knowing he had the potential to go to the MLB, then later seeing the way he swung a bat, was a really hot moment that was much appreciated.
While there are so many chaotic moments that you’re intrigued at every turn, the few comedic moments add an extra layer. Smith is bound to be a fan favorite as he brings the funny with his punk-rock vibes and a mohawk that makes him almost unrecognizable. The film feels like one big chase where you ultimately feel extremely bad for Butler’s character and just want him to get through the situation. He’s electric in every form of the word, and whoever his wardrobe stylist was, they saw the vision and executed it properly, very well done. Having New York as a backdrop was a great choice, and there is even an ode to a particular NY landmark, which warmed my heart so much.
The rest of the cast did their thing as well, including Regina King, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D’Onofrio, Nikita Kukushkin, and Bad Bunny. I want to point out that, while some rappers or musicians land small roles in films just by their fame, Bad Bunny is a fairly good actor in the several roles he’s picked up lately (he was thought to initially be a cameo, but he was in damn near half of Happy Gilmore 2 last month).
Caught Stealing will spike your levels and keep the adrenaline rushing through you until the very last moment. I’d go on record saying that I believe Butler has true star power as an actor with versatility, movie star quality, and star power. He’s charming, smooth, attractive, and yet he was able to believably portray rough around a rough-around-the-edges bartender who got his butt kicked left and right, but still managed ot hold his own. Oh, I can’t forget the cat that was a scene stealer in every single shot!
Caught Stealing hits theaters August 29th!
