Oscar-nominated director Darren Aronofsky is not a name that usually comes to mind when one thinks of “fun.” While Requiem for a Dream is a masterpiece, The Wrestler and Black Swan are good, and mother! and The Whale are deeply thinking, none of them truly invite themselves to be “popcorn fare.”
Which is precisely why the first trailer for his new film, Caught Stealing, is so shocking. Directed in 1990s New York by Rob Schmidt and based on Charlie Huston’s novel of the same name, the film stars Austin Butler as Hank, an ex-baseball player whose life spirals out of control after he has committed to caring for his punk-rock friend Russ’s (a wild-haired Matt Smith) beloved cat. What starts as an easy favor soon finds him caught up in a bloody battle with some criminal gangs, to the dismay of his girlfriend, played by Zoë Kravitz.
Sounds crazy? It is, in a good way. While Aronofsky’s last attempt at Hollywood leading man status (Noah, which tanked) was not quite so, Caught Stealing does seem to be a hyperactive whirlwind. Paced to the punk anthem Should I Stay or Should I Go?, the trailer has a stylish, hyperactive look similar to those of early Guy Ritchie films.
The film offers searing chemistry between Butler and Kravitz, a hilariously over-the-top performance by Smith (wearing a mohawk and a car with an ‘RSS HOLE’ plate), and a solid supporting cast that includes Bad Bunny, Liev Schreiber, Regina King, and Vincent D’Onofrio. There are going to be wild car chases, a baseball bat as a weapon, and a grimy, funky depiction of 90s NYC.
Here’s the official synopsis: Hank Thompson (Butler) is an ex-high school baseball hero who’s given up the game. Life’s not so bad, he’s got a great girlfriend (Kravitz), works at a dive bar, and his favorite team is on a roll. But when his punk next-door neighbor Russ (Smith) needs him to watch the cat, Hank finds himself stalked by a nasty group of gangsters. The twist? He doesn’t know what they want from him. He must now think quickly and survive long enough to realize what he has gotten himself into.
So, what’s the mobsters’ business with Hank, then? Will Russ’s beloved cat survive the chaos? And more importantly, if Matt Smith can pull off a mohawk, can we all have one too? We’ll see on August 29 when Caught Stealing opens in UK cinemas. We’ll catch you in the front row, let’s go!
