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There is nothing quite like New York City in the \u201990s. The abundance of payphones, the short-sleeve T-shirts layered on top of the long-sleeve T-shirt combo<\/a>, the grungy look \u2014 these images evoke nostalgia for a bygone era. When this aesthetic is set in the familiar playground of New York, it creates the perfect setting for a gritty narrative. The cultural mecca of NYC offers a familiar environment where dangerous plot twists and risky business are fair game. Most of all, it is the ideal setting for Darren Aronofsky\u2019s (\u201cRequiem for a Dream\u201d) newest crime comedy, \u201cCaught Stealing.\u201d<\/p>\nThis fall, Aronofsky, director of gritty dramas like \u201cBlack Swan,\u201d \u201cRequiem for a Dream\u201d and \u201cThe Whale\u201d took a lighter, yet in some ways more thrilling, tone. Starring Austin Butler (\u201cElvis\u201d) and Zo\u00eb Kravitz (\u201cBlink Twice\u201d) as doomed lovers roped into a money-laundering extravaganza, \u201cCaught Stealing\u201d takes viewers on a chaotic, fast-paced journey all over the streets of late-1990s New York City.\u00a0<\/p>\nThe film opens with Hank Thompson, played by Butler, a man drifting aimlessly through life. Hank works at a small bar while dealing with a bad case of alcoholism himself. His passion is baseball, and his sullen attitude is the result of a car accident that ruined his athletic career in high school and killed his best friend. But this dreary moping turns upside down when his neighbor, Russ (Matt Smith, \u201cThe Crown\u201d), leaves Hank with a cat, a litter box and the key to getting $4.5 million. But Hank is not the only player in this game. Two enemy parties are left behind in Russ\u2019s wake, both willing to do anything and kill anyone to get their hands on the money. Hank runs around the city, fleeing angry Hasidic gangsters and even angrier Russian mobsters and, in the midst of it all, becoming an unwilling culprit in a major criminal scheme.<\/p>\nWith characters singing on top of pool tables and steamy moments between Hank and Yvonne (Kravitz), the first 30 minutes of \u201cCaught Stealing\u201d are a truly delightful time. Butler, who has finally shaken off the Elvis accent<\/a>, captivates viewers with his charisma. This role highlights his range; Butler can not only impersonate a global superstar, but also give a complex, accurate portrayal of an average guy. Aronofsky\u2019s entertaining and lively first act offers the audience a digestible narrative. And, best of all, it presents a set of interesting characters with the potential to develop. Hank is a lost soul in need of purpose and closure from his high school trauma. Yvonne attempts to break down Hank\u2019s walls, but can\u2019t motivate him enough to make a serious change. And Russ, the eccentric neighbor, has just accidentally brought the two into his world of criminal escapades. It is the perfect recipe, and a promising set-up (or so I believed) for an action-filled, thrilling flick.<\/p>\n
This fall, Aronofsky, director of gritty dramas like \u201cBlack Swan,\u201d \u201cRequiem for a Dream\u201d and \u201cThe Whale\u201d took a lighter, yet in some ways more thrilling, tone. Starring Austin Butler (\u201cElvis\u201d) and Zo\u00eb Kravitz (\u201cBlink Twice\u201d) as doomed lovers roped into a money-laundering extravaganza, \u201cCaught Stealing\u201d takes viewers on a chaotic, fast-paced journey all over the streets of late-1990s New York City.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The film opens with Hank Thompson, played by Butler, a man drifting aimlessly through life. Hank works at a small bar while dealing with a bad case of alcoholism himself. His passion is baseball, and his sullen attitude is the result of a car accident that ruined his athletic career in high school and killed his best friend. But this dreary moping turns upside down when his neighbor, Russ (Matt Smith, \u201cThe Crown\u201d), leaves Hank with a cat, a litter box and the key to getting $4.5 million. But Hank is not the only player in this game. Two enemy parties are left behind in Russ\u2019s wake, both willing to do anything and kill anyone to get their hands on the money. Hank runs around the city, fleeing angry Hasidic gangsters and even angrier Russian mobsters and, in the midst of it all, becoming an unwilling culprit in a major criminal scheme.<\/p>\n
With characters singing on top of pool tables and steamy moments between Hank and Yvonne (Kravitz), the first 30 minutes of \u201cCaught Stealing\u201d are a truly delightful time. Butler, who has finally shaken off the Elvis accent<\/a>, captivates viewers with his charisma. This role highlights his range; Butler can not only impersonate a global superstar, but also give a complex, accurate portrayal of an average guy. Aronofsky\u2019s entertaining and lively first act offers the audience a digestible narrative. And, best of all, it presents a set of interesting characters with the potential to develop. Hank is a lost soul in need of purpose and closure from his high school trauma. Yvonne attempts to break down Hank\u2019s walls, but can\u2019t motivate him enough to make a serious change. And Russ, the eccentric neighbor, has just accidentally brought the two into his world of criminal escapades. It is the perfect recipe, and a promising set-up (or so I believed) for an action-filled, thrilling flick.<\/p>\n