Hollywood Crime Film ‘Caught Stealing’ Fails to Impress

In the film industry, particularly in Hollywood, it has become commonplace for directors and screenwriters to recycle worn-out crime narratives. Critics and audiences alike have grown alarmingly accustomed to these frequently encountered clichés: the colorful mob bosses, the grimy backstreets, the abundance of narcotics and firearms, and the slavish adhesion to predictable plotlines, excessive violence, and tedious chase scenes. Each one of these films—though virtually identical in nature—seems to sink further into an abyss of mediocrity, becoming both more monotonous and distasteful with every offering.

Take for instance the film, ‘Caught Stealing’. Despite its high hopes and star-studded cast that includes actor Austin Butler best known for his work in ‘Elvis’, it fails to shine. Butler plays Hank, a bartender from the Lower East Side who unwittingly becomes embroiled in a drug trafficking plot. Hank’s story is not original and leaves one with a feeling of ‘been there, done that’.

Regrettably, ‘Caught Stealing’ is helmed by the revered filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, known for his tense psychological thrillers like ‘Black Swan’ and ‘The Whale’. His signature style often includes a rich exploration of the human psyche depicted through filthy, yet compelling, aesthetics. Unfortunately, in ‘Caught Stealing,’ Aronofsky’s ingenuity seems to have taken a vacation. There is a palpable void, where we would usually expect additional layers of psychological depth and complexity.

This film, set mostly in the areas below 14th Street, does not offer anything of intrigue; it is bereft of fun or excitement. The plot revolves around a group of ordinary-looking gangsters and a deceitful cop who are after a seemingly mundane object – a key to a storage unit filled with cash, owned by Hank’s friend Russ. The storyline has grown so common that it’s lost any novelty, making for an uninspiring watch.

The only character that gets some attention in the script is Hank. He was once an aspiring baseball player for the Giants, but a catastrophic, booze-fueled car crash put an end to that dream. Hank is haunted by the accident, plagued by nightmares, and cannot help but gaze at alcoholic beverages with longing. He tries to quit drinking after losing a kidney in an altercation but goes on a stripping spree during a wild relapse. The portrayal of this troubled character evokes more eye-rolls than sympathies.

Hank’s struggle with trauma and addiction, which could have been a powerful storyline, is dealt with superficially. Neither his backstory nor his character arc is engaging enough to hold the viewers’ interest throughout the film. Austin Butler does a commendable job portraying the anguishing character, infusing him with a certain gravitas, but due to an incomplete and underexplored character development, Hank fails to make a lasting impact.

Then there’s Hank’s girlfriend, Yvonne, about whom very little is known. She appears to be permanently exhausted, perhaps from jet lag, but isn’t given enough screen time to make any meaningful contribution to the story. And Russ, Hank’s friend, comes off more as a caricature of a British punk than a well-rounded character, sporting a mohawk reminiscent of those in ‘The Crown’, played by Matt Smith.

The film takes us back to the 1998 East Side, where the typical villains were Russians, Hasidic Jews, and Bad Bunny. With these quirky adversaries revolving around Hank, Aronofsky attempts to serve up a comedy—in his own distorted perception of the genre. But despite his efforts, it just isn’t laugh-inducing.

Several absurd ‘Scooby-Doo’ style zoom-ins on a cat—which ultimately gets mistreated by the Russians—seems to be thrown in for potential comic relief. But it fails to amuse audiences who are not inclined towards such harsh humor, perhaps amusing only those well-acquainted with Siberian comedy.

In a nutshell, ‘Caught Stealing’ amounts to a substantial waste of time and talent. While it promised an intriguing crime thriller, it delivers nothing but clichéd tropes and predictable plotlines wrapped up in a glossy Hollywood package.

Contrasting with Aronofsky’s disheartening offering, Guy Ritchie stands out as a beacon of hope in this genre. Routinely, Ritchie delivers well-cast, hilarious, and thrilling film content with edgy action scenes that leave audiences wanting more. Unlike the foreseeable ‘Caught Stealing’, there’s rarely a dull moment in his work.

Aronofsky, though an acclaimed filmmaker with a strong track record, seems out of his depth with ‘Caught Stealing’. It seems more appropriate for him to return to the realm he knows best, exploring the darkest corners of the human psyche in his films, and leave the daring, darkly comedic narratives of organized crime to the experts.