For director Darren Aronofsky, the authenticity of his newest film’s portrayal of New York’s electrifying nightlife was confirmed under rather unorthodox circumstances involving a minor urination incident. The incident occurred a year back during the filming of ‘Caught Stealing’ close to some urban housing in a famous New York district, known for its loud and artsy inhabitants and energetic nightlife.
The actor Austin Butler sheds light on the peculiar situation involved during the filming process. In the film, he embodies a down-on-luck former baseball athlete who is pursued by various dangerous characters from the criminal world.
The setting, the East Village, is almost personified in the movie. Filming took place during the nocturnal hours, contributing to an atmosphere of complete pandemonium. The motif that East Village belongs to everyone is a common theme explored in the narrative.
The East Village, at the time, was considered the hippest place to be, done no harm by the fact it was the only spot serving underage individuals. The cast would often find themselves in the East Village getting into all sorts of interesting situations.
The film, ‘Caught Stealing’, is set for release on August 29. Butler’s character, Hank Thompson, is doing his utmost to steer clear of trouble, but it seems to be chasing him relentlessly.
Thompson was once a budding sportsperson during his high school years, but his athletic career never took off. To make ends meet, he is now working behind the bar at a local dive but keeps his hopes up with a few promising aspects of his life, notably his blooming relationship with Yvonne.
Hank is determined to prove to Yvonne that he is a dependable and trustable figure, especially in times of adversity. This could be the reason he doesn’t refuse when Russ, his punk neighbor, asks him to look after his feline companion while he’s away.
However, things take a twist when two tough men spot Hank exiting Russ’s residence and mistakenly identify him as the punk friend. They suspected Russ to be in possession of a hefty amount of criminal money, and now Hank seems to have inherited this dangerous misinterpretation.
Hank’s fate worsens when he gets entangled with two Jewish mobsters, Lipa and Shmully, portrayed by Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onofrio respectively. These Orthodox brothers might appear cordial and respectful, but their strict religious adherence does not necessarily translate to a respect for the legal code of New York.
In their perspective, they believe they are on the just path. These brothers may be pressuring Hank, but they also introduce him to the sympathetically warm-hearted, Carol Kane, who fills the role of the classic caring Jewish mother. She thinks Hank needs putting some weight on.
Aside from that, ‘Caught Stealing’ showcases Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, widely known by his stage name Bad Bunny, as Colorado. He plays the role of a zealous member of the Puerto Rican gang, further showcasing the range of underworld characters Hank has inadvertently attracted.
Problematically for Hank, the film is packed with prominent actors which further exacerbates his dilemma. The presence of Ocasio surprised everyone on the set because he sparked a particularly large frenzy, much to the delight of the film’s producers.