There’s a lot to like about Caught Stealing. It’s got a dynamite cast, it’s got a snappy script with some great dialogue, and there’s some beautifully shot sequences. However, that is also juxtaposed against an endlessly dark story and a general feeling of anxiety without a release for the audience. Caught Stealing is directed by Darren Aronofsky and written by Charlie Huston, the author of the book that its based on. The film stars Austin Butler as Hank, a former baseball player who lives in New York next door to Russ (played by Matt Smith). One day Russ has to leave suddenly, and Hank has to watch his cat. That quickly turns into a living nightmare for Hank when thugs come looking for Russ.

Pavel (played absolutely dastardly and as annoying as possible by Nikita Kukushkin) and Aleksei (played by Yuri Kolokolnikov) beat the crap out of Hank and put him in the hospital. Hank wakes up with his girlfriend Yvonne (played by Zoe Kravitz) in the hospital and the story goes off from there. There’s plenty of twists and turns, Puerto Ricans, Russians, Hebrews, cops, and much much more. With a 90s setting, there’s plenty that the film doesn’t have to explain, which is nice. It was a different time, and the movie makes sure to let you know that the World Trade Center is still standing on multiple occasions.

It also stars Regina King, Griffin Dunne, Dominique Silver, Action Bronson, George Abud, Liev Schrieber, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Benito Martinez Ocasio (Bad Bunny).

So let’s dive into the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Caught Stealing.

The Good Of Caught Stealing

Caught Stealing features several fantastic performances. Austin Butler is a superstar already, but this movie shows off how special of a talent he is. He’s vulnerable, he’s an asskicker, he’s relatable (even with rippling muscles and washboard abs), and he’s got a heart. There’s a reason why almost every character in the movie says, “Well you look like you’re not a killer” to him. He gives a multilayered performance that really hits a great tone.

The two best characters in the movie are Liev Schrieber and Vincent D’Onofrio though. The two Jewish (mafia? hitmen? criminals?) guys that they play are the most intriguing and interesting characters in the whole thing. Their motivations are simple, they want their money back, but the way they go about things is as awesome as it gets from movie characters. The scenes that they’re in are far and away the best of the film.

Outside of that, the soundtrack and setting really feel like characters in the film as well. New York is always an interesting place for a movie because of the different boroughs and the people of the city, but here there’s less borough hopping.

The action scenes are also fast-paced and hard-hitting. But the real highlight is the lighter side of the film. It’s few and far between, but Caught Stealing feels so much better when it’s not busy being as serious as possible. Every scene with Matt Smith is a delight and absolutely hilarious.

The Bad And Ugly Of Caught Stealing

Yes, I know it’s part of the storyline for Caught Stealing, but the film just feels like an anxiety attack throughout. There’s not enough time to let the audience catch their breath. It’s also just incredibly dark and unrelenting. Between Hank getting put in the hospital, the fate of some of the characters, and the subject matter, it’s just not a lighthearted movie. It kind of wants to present itself like that, but it doesn’t succeed. It needed less serious content and more whimsy. The trailers are presenting it like that, and the final film is not.

However, my biggest problem with the film is that one of the worst characters doesn’t get their comeuppance. Spoiler alert, a guy kicks the cat (offscreen, thankfully, but you do see them with a limp and a little bandage on their leg). The guy that does it, does not get any sort of comeuppance. If James Cameron was directing this movie, the guy would get ripped in half or something similar.

Outside of that, Caught Stealing is a fine movie, but it has some issues. Those issues aren’t deal-breaking in the slightest, but just temper your expectations. There’s some fun to be had, but it’s in very short bursts.

A movie like this had the potential to be an all-timer, but it falls short of that.

Caught Stealing releases in theaters on August 29th.

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