Writer/Director: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Austin Butler, Matt Smith and Zoe Kravitz
‘A Captivating Thriller’
When it comes to the greatest books ever written about people that are caught stealing, it’s worth discussing “Caught Stealing”. Ever since its publication in 2004, Charlie Huston’s book has become a literary classic readers adore. On a personal level, I find themes of crime explored in the book relatable. At an early age, I formed a lasting bond with a housekeeper that suffered from alcoholism causing damage. Dedicated towards every household chore, he was a person my family would adore. Fond of taking knives out, he cared about my family without a doubt. Despite the fact he was loved, my housekeeper had the parasite habit of alcoholism he kept hidden in plain sight. Nothing in the world gave him as much satisfaction as spending all day drinking. An alcoholic, he began stealing as a way to cope with a severe addiction which was tragic. My grandparents were left horrified when they found their servant had committed theft. I recall an incident in which he stole my grandparents’ alcohol. The shocking discovery that our housekeeper was a thief caused my grandparents to face grief. Seeking forgiveness, my housekeeper sought to mend past mistakes with awareness. However, my housekeeper’s dreams faded when he passed away from Cancer. In the wake of his sad death, my family endured heartache. No matter how hard my family tried, we could never accept a housekeeper that died. It was hard to not feel sadness after the death of a housekeeper from illness. Years later, I treasure a housekeeper that changed my family forever.
As someone treasuring memories of a housekeeper that loved stealing, I adored “Caught Stealing”. Released in 2025, Darren Aronofsky’s movie honoured an iconic book about stealing. Packed with breathtaking production, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best movies of the year. At the centre of it all is Austin Butler, who embodies a thief facing disaster. Although “Caught Stealing” is riveting, it isn’t a flawless film. It suffers from uneven pacing. Nevertheless, it will satisfy fans of crime thrillers.
Set in 1990’s New York City, “Caught Stealing” tells the story of a clever thief with a talent for stealing. Austin Butler portrays Hank Thompson, a small-town thief that suffers from alcohol addiction. Haunted by a past of failure, Hank is ashamed he never got to become a baseball player. Assisted by his girlfriend Yvonne (Zoe Kravitz), Hank turns towards a life of crime without getting caught stealing. However, Hank’s life changes when he’s targeted by frightening mob bosses causing disaster. Facing grieving, Hank questions his devotion to stealing.
Darren Aronofsky is fascinated with the themes of drug addiction. A fantastic filmmaker, Aronofsky has often made engaging movies about drug addicts facing disaster. His award-winning movie “Requiem for a Dream” captured the lives of drug addicts struggling to achieve their dream. With “Caught Stealing”, however, Aronofsky created his first crime thriller. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to adapt a beloved book about criminals caught stealing facing adversity but he succeeded tremendously. Evoking Mike Figis’ “Leaving Las Vegas”, Aronofsky uses montages to capture hardships faced by alcohol addicts that are dangerous. For instance, montages elevate the heavy drinking scene. During this unforgettable scene, Hank engages in a heavy drinking binge at night causing tension. It brought back memories of a housekeeper that often engaged in heavy drinking against the wishes of my family. Montages are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” suggested, montages elevate music biopics about famous singers. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through breathtaking visuals, Aronofsky captures effects of heavy drinking.
Another admirable aspect of “Caught Stealing” that merits appreciation is the production. Evoking Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”, Aronofsky uses the production of an apartment to capture hardships that alcohol addicts are facing. Throughout the movie, Hank’s apartment showcases his personality as an alcohol addict facing adversity. For instance, the apartment location elevates the home invasion scene. During this unforgettable scene, Hank faces tension when he is caught stealing things in his apartment by the police. It reminded me of my housekeeper’s conflict when he was caught stealing jewelry leaving my grandparents emotionally devastated. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Rob Simonsen’s commemorated music is key to the movie’s success. It gives the movie tense atmosphere capturing painful burden that alcohol addicts bear. Through stunning production, Aronofsky creates a compelling portrait of addiction.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Caught Stealing” is a crime thriller that’s engaging. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses flashbacks to capture criminals haunted by incidences of car crashes causing tension. Evoking Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather: Part Two”, Aronofsky effectively uses flashbacks to capture the traumatic childhood of a former baseball player. Throughout the movie, flashbacks showcase Hank’s traumatic memories of his car accident causing injuries. For instance, flashbacks elevate the car accident scene. During this harrowing scene, Hank recalls memories of a car accident that ended his baseball career suddenly. It reminded me of my grief when my housekeeper died from terminal illness leaving family devastated. Flashbacks are tricky techniques. As Robert Zemeckis’ “Forrest Gump” suggested, flashbacks elevate coming-of-age movies. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Aronofsky captures criminals that experience a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Austin Butler delivers one of his greatest performances as Hank Thompson. Butler achieved appreciation playing famous musicians in biopics. With “Caught Stealing”, however, he took on his most complex role. It’s challenging portraying a thief that engages in criminal activity but he succeeded tremendously. Evoking Ray Liotta in Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas”, Butler embodies an alcoholic criminal that faces dilemmas. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, grief and depression of a criminal that engages in alcohol consumption. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most promising young actors working in Hollywood today.
While the movie is mainly a stunning showcase for Austin Butler, the supporting cast is also excellent and worthy of recognition. Zoe Kravitz is captivating, capturing misery of a woman that falls in love with a thief in a doomed romance facing adversity. Matt Smith is spectacular, capturing the anxiety of a criminal that becomes target of mobsters causing disaster. Lastly, Regina King merits appreciation. As a hot-headed female cop, she is unforgettable.
Despite its extraordinary performances, however, “Caught Stealing” can’t entirely honour an iconic book about thieves that are caught stealing. If there’s a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks engaging pacing. Aronofsky’s decisions to integrate subplots that involve Jewish Rabbis into the movie is bold and innovative but hinders the pacing. Due to this faulty decision, scenes focusing on the exploits of Jewish hitmen aren’t always as engaging as Hank’s journey to find identity. As Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List” suggested, subplots about Jewish Rabbis elevate Holocaust movies. Moreover, the film lacks a compelling ending. It’s an ambiguous ending without resolution that fails to bring the movie to a satisfying conclusion. Whereas this ambiguous ending elevated Bryan Singer’s “The Usual Suspects”, it clashes with the tone of this movie. Therefore, “Caught Stealing” can’t quite honour a legendary book that readers adore.
Nevertheless, fans of crime thrillers would definitely appreciate “Caught Stealing” and so will movie-goers seeking enjoyable entertainment. A captivating crime thriller, it honours a legendary book about criminals facing disaster.
A powerful portrait of hardships that criminals caught stealing face, it’s a captivating reminder that stories of thieves that struggle to find their place in the world are definitely worth telling in memorable movies audiences commonly embrace.
As strong as Hank’s desires to avoid getting caught stealing, it has incited me to move on several years after the heartbreaking death of a commemorated housekeeper that suffered from a bad habit of drinking leaving my grandparents worrying whose inspiring words of wisdom motivated me to pursue my passions for filmmaking.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 