This publish comprises minor spoilers for “Caught Stealing.”
Darren Aronofsky is many issues. He is been working as a director in Hollywood for practically 30 years now, relationship again to his low-budget breakthrough 1998 debut function “Pi.” He is directed the likes of Natalie Portman (“Black Swan”) and Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”) to Oscars. Aronofsky has made among the most acclaimed and most divisive movies of the final 25 years, together with the legendarily divisive “Mom!” which earned a particularly uncommon F CinemaScore. However there’s one factor that Aronofsky has just about by no means been as a filmmaker: enjoyable.
That’s, till now.
After directing an adaptation of Samuel Hunter’s play “The Whale” for A24 in 2022, Aronofsky determined to noticeably change gears for his follow-up, which is now in theaters within the type of “Caught Stealing.” It is a breezy, tense, at instances attractive crime caper led by Austin Butler (“Elvis”) with a superb surrounding ensemble together with the likes of Zoe Kravitz (“The Batman”), Matt Smith (“Physician Who”), and even music famous person Unhealthy Bunny. Extra importantly than any of that although, Aronofsky, arguably for the primary time ever, has made a enjoyable film.
It facilities on a burned-out ex-baseball participant Hank Thompson (Butler) who’s working as a bartender in New York Metropolis within the ’90s. His life is easy, and he is making an attempt to navigate his budding relationship together with his girlfriend Yvonne (Kravitz). When Hank’s punker neighbor asks him to observe his cat, he unwittingly winds up tangled within the net of the town’s prison underbelly. Chaos ensues.
I beforehand touched on the funness of “Caught Stealing” in my assessment of the movie, however it’s one thing I felt compelled to develop upon. It is the factor that sat with me probably the most after having a ways from my preliminary viewing. Aronofsky is an unquestionably gifted filmmaker, however it could be troublesome to accuse him of typically making nice and/or historically fulfilling viewing experiences. He is not one for popcorn escapism. Thus, it is fairly outstanding how rattling good he’s at exercising that enjoyable muscle greater than 25 years into his directing profession.
Darren Aronofsky often makes films that problem audiences
“Requiem for a Dream” is a harrowing film and one in every of Aronofsky’s best. It is also unflinching and hard to observe. It is most likely a kind of “I beloved it and I will by no means watch it once more” films for many folks. “The Fountain” is a particular epic. Even those that adore it could not rightfully accuse it of being enjoyable, per se.
Then there’s Aronofsky’s character items. “The Wrestler” is a harrowing take a look at the game of wrestling with a outstanding efficiency by Mickey Rourke. It is also fairly rattling miserable. “Black Swan” is likely to be the closest factor to enjoyable in his filmography beforehand, however that is extra of a “enjoyable for sickos” train for the correct type of cinephile. For many viewers, it is a fairly messed-up and intense watch. His films usually really feel difficult not directly.
That brings us again to “Caught Stealing,” which feels way more akin to an early Man Ritchie crime flick like “Snatch” than it does the rest in Aronofsky’s earlier filmography. A lot of that’s owed to Charlie Huston’s novel on which it’s based mostly, with the creator additionally personally penning the screenplay. It isn’t like Aronofsky has by no means dealt with an adaptation earlier than, with “Noah” being his tackle a Biblical epic, however that is the primary time he is felt compelled to carry materials to life that has a way of pleasure in it. That lends itself to extra broad, old-school leisure as solely films can ship.
That is to not say that the movie is a pure pleasure journey or something like that. Hank goes via it. There’s a truthful quantity of demise and grizzly violence on the heart of all of it. There may be an excessive amount of private trauma. There may be some gnarly imagery. It certain as heck would not glorify violence both. However not in contrast to a Tarantino film like “Reservoir Canine,” it manages to be violent and seedy, whereas additionally being a extra conventional good time on the films. It is a new gear for Aronofsky, however it’s additionally one which audiences would absolutely welcome extra of sooner or later. Enjoyable Aronofsky is a refreshing change of tempo.
“Caught Stealing” is in theaters now.
