This put up comprises minor spoilers for “Caught Stealing.”
Darren Aronofsky is many issues. He is been working as a director in Hollywood for almost 30 years now, courting again to his low-budget breakthrough 1998 debut characteristic “Pi.” He is directed the likes of Natalie Portman (“Black Swan”) and Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”) to Oscars. Aronofsky has made a number of the most acclaimed and most divisive movies of the final 25 years, together with the legendarily divisive “Mom!” which earned an especially 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 wonderful 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 straightforward, and he is trying to navigate his budding relationship along with his girlfriend Yvonne (Kravitz). When Hank’s punker neighbor asks him to look at his cat, he unwittingly winds up tangled within the net of town’s legal 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 broaden upon. It is the factor that sat with me essentially the most after having a ways from my preliminary viewing. Aronofsky is an unquestionably gifted filmmaker, however it could be tough to accuse him of usually making nice and/or historically pleasing viewing experiences. He isn’t one for popcorn escapism. Thus, it is fairly exceptional 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 difficult to look at. It is in all probability a kind of “I cherished it and I will by no means watch it once more” films for plenty of 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 have a look at the game of wrestling with a exceptional efficiency by Mickey Rourke. It is also fairly rattling miserable. “Black Swan” may be the closest factor to enjoyable in his filmography beforehand, however that is extra of a “enjoyable for sickos” train for the best form of cinephile. For many viewers, it is a fairly messed-up and intense watch. His films usually really feel difficult in a roundabout way.
That brings us again to “Caught Stealing,” which feels rather more akin to an early Man Ritchie crime flick like “Snatch” than it does anything in Aronofsky’s earlier filmography. A lot of that’s owed to Charlie Huston’s novel on which it’s based mostly, with the writer 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 trip or something like that. Hank goes by it. There’s a truthful quantity of loss of life and grizzly violence on the middle of all of it. There may be a substantial amount of private trauma. There may be some gnarly imagery. It positive as heck does 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.
