From what’s been revealed thus far, “Caught Stealing” looks to be the most commercial, story-driven movie filmmaker Darren Aronofsky has ever delivered. His previous work, though critically acclaimed, was less narrative-driven and rarely succeeded at the box office. Since emerging on the scene with his breakout 1998 Sundance hit “Pi,” Aronofsky has been lauded for his unconventional, experimental methods. Movies like “The Wrestler” and “The Whale” were recognized more so for their complex character portraits than their suspenseful plots.
The closest thing to mainstream Aronofsky has done before this point was 2014’s “Noah,” a retelling of the story involving the biblical hero and his building of the ark to survive an apocalyptic flood. That feature was a notorious flop.
Additionally, the genre of “Caught Stealing,” albeit a psychological thriller, is far less heavy than most of the director’s previous output. Which has been bogged down by intensely tragic figures(“Requiem for a Dream”), and perplexing allegories related to humanity, God, and the universe at large (“The Fountain” “Mother”).
For once, it might be possible for audiences to take a collective breath with this filmmaker, and enjoy a movie for its captivating story,y and leave without the heavy weight that often accompanied his previous work. Time will tell whether that’s really the case.
The movie stars Austin Butler, Matt Smith, Zoë Kravitz, Liev Schreiber, Bad Bunny, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Griffin Dunne, Carol Kane, Regina King, and Vincent D’Onofrio. Aronofsky is the director and producer, with Charlie Huston writing. Additional producers are Jeremy Dawson, Dylan Golden, and Ari Handel.
Based on the 2004 novel by Charlie Huston, “Caught Stealing” follows Hank Thompson, a down-and-out former baseball player, who gets involved with the criminal underworld of New York in the 1990s.
Synopsis:
Burned-out ex-baseball player Hank Thompson unexpectedly finds himself embroiled in a dangerous struggle for survival amidst the criminal underbelly of 1990s New York City, forced to navigate a treacherous underworld he never imagined.
Sony Pictures will release “Caught Stealing” in theaters on August 29, and you can watch the first look trailer below.
