Darren Aronofsky has one way or the other 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 that may win over those that haven’t loved his different work, even when it feels slightly 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 every of 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 pictures and colours paying homage to Wes Anderson, to pumping in 90s musical touchstones, and together with figuring out pictures of Kim’s Video and the Twin Towers within the background, Aronofsky — a Polish-Jew from Manhattan Seashore — makes use of this film as a car 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 life after having an opportunity at a Main League Baseball profession ruined. He winds up within the prison enterprises of his condominium neighbor (a extremely entertaining Matt Smith) and should survive dealings with varied wild criminals together with a smooth-talking Puerto Rican (Unhealthy Bunny), violent and eccentric Russians, and outwardly-polite Hassidic Jews. As one may guess, a lot of that is fairly entertaining and humorous. Seeing Aronofsky sort out overt comedy is a shock, however a welcome one to make certain. It’s neat to see a proficient filmmaker flex his wings and take a look at one thing completely different, demonstrating his abilities with out the hangups that a few of his different work creates.
But regardless of all of the hijinks, Hank’s arc is finally fairly predictable. He’s been carrying guilt all through his life, and because the movie tells us, he has a method of operating from his issues. To no shock, his involvement with the criminals helps train him that he can’t run away from every part. Whereas the lead efficiency from Austin Butler is incredible, proving once more that Butler has nice lead vitality, with out metacontext about Arnofsky the movie is a bit weak and sloppy on the storytelling entrance.
The solid 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 targeted on these characters.
Caught Stealing is sort of pleasant for what it’s, and viewing it by the lens of what led Aronofsky to turn out to be 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 nicely sufficient. It does present the opportunity of new horizons for Aronofsky, if he chooses to embrace them.
Inform us your ideas on Caught Stealing beneath and rank it on Flickchart now!
