In Caught Stealing, Darren Aronofsky delivers a witty, adrenaline-charged romp through 1998 New York, anchored by a captivating turn from Austin Butler. Playing Hank Thompson—a washed-up high-school baseball standout turned dive-bar bartender—Butler brings both vulnerability and grit to a character whose quiet life careens into mayhem thanks to an innocent favor: cat-sitting.
What begins as a routine task unfolds into an unexpected descent into the criminal underworld; one moment, Hank is nursing beers and dreams of normalcy, the next he’s dodging menacing gangsters all because of a mischievous feline. Aronofsky’s direction balances brisk action with dark comedy, offering jolting physicality and sly humor that feels fresh against the backdrop of a gritty cityscape.
The script—adapted by Charlie Huston from his own novel—keeps momentum taut, pairing fist-pounding suspense with small, human moments that anchor Hank’s plight. Butler’s physical and emotional commitment sells the crazy premise with earnest charm. Whether you’re in it for the chase, the laughs, or the oddly scene-stealing cat, Caught Stealing delivers with energy and heart.
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