Caught Stealing

I caught an advanced screening of Caught Stealing (2025) in theaters this evening. The storyline follows a California transplant living in New York who agrees to watch his neighbor's cat while the man is away caring for his sick father. Soon, a series of strangers begin showing up at his apartment, demanding to know his neighbor's whereabouts, and subjecting him to brutal beatings and torture in the process. What are they after-and can he find a way to help them before he, and everyone he knows, ends up dead?

This picture is directed by Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream) and stars Austin Butler (Elvis), Zoë Kravitz (The Batman), Matt Smith (House of the Dragon), Liev Schreiber (Scream), and Regina King (The Harder They Fall).

The story is clever and unpredictable, often feeling like a Guy Ritchie crime caper-but rooted deeply in a gritty, authentic New York setting. The cast delivers elite performances, and the plot is packed with sharp twists and turns. The cinematography and camera angles are equally impressive, enhancing the tension and style throughout.

The action is top-tier: abrupt fight scenes, thrilling car chases, sudden bursts of gore, and intense shootouts that all land with impact. Even the subplots, particularly those tied to the chases and crashes, are smartly executed. The ending is immensely satisfying, and the soundtrack is brilliant.

In conclusion, Caught Stealing isn't perfect, but it's an unpredictable and worthwhile rollercoaster of violence, intensity, and action. I'd score it a strong 7.5-8/10 and strongly recommend it.

Caught Stealing is a wild, almost slapstick crime thriller that feels like a Coen Brothers movie set in the gritty, pre-gentrification New York of the late '90s. I loved how the film captured the city's vibe, from the seedy bars to the run-down apartments.

Austin Butler does a great job grounding the chaos with his "wrong place, wrong time" character. But honestly, the standout for me was the cat, Bud. It's a hilarious and surprisingly important part of the story, and the animal acting is a highlight.

I went in expecting another dark psychological drama and came out thoroughly entertained by a fast-paced and witty caper.

An amazing film - a whole lot of fun from start to finish. It felt like the director drew inspiration from some of his previous work, like Requiem for a Dream and The Wrestler, as well as from other iconic action/thrillers not directly connected to him, such as Terminator 2, Heat (1995), and even aspects of the John Wick series. I really loved how inspired it felt. The food market sequence was fantastic and will definitely be talked about for a long time. The twists and turns kept me on edge throughout, and I already want to rewatch it just to take it all in again. The cat was amazing, too. Definitely recommend!!!

If you watch the movies of Darren Aronofsky ("Black Swan", and "The Wrestler") you know that they are often dark and look at the bad things of life. With this entry "Caught Stealing" set in late 1998 in New York City, it's a deep dive into a scary and complex underworld, where no one is whom them seem. Ex baseball player Hank(Austin Butler) who's now down on his luck and earning a living behind the bar and not the plate, and his life changes drastically all of a sudden one day when he's given a cat, soon he has a group of criminals hot on his tail. Thru it all no one is whom or what they seem as the film takes twist and turns with action, car chases, and blood and violence. The wild card character of the film is shady police detective Roman(the super great Regina King). The movie has also some funny moments and Hank has plenty of flashbacks of pain, sugar and spice and plenty of eye candy is given from Zoe Kravitz as she gives a sexy turn with her time on screen as Hank's sexy exotic girl Yvonne(loved the scenes of her in that orange/ red colored like bra, and the nipple rings were A okay!). Overall this may not be a classic from Darren still it's an entertaining thrill ride that after plenty of crashes ends with a man and his cat who have clawed the way to a new life to live happily ever after!

Caught Stealing works because it hits so many notes with precision. It's an evocative snapshot of 1990s New York, especially the East Village, and a sharp, propulsive gangster tale. The film's disparate threads turn and tumble unpredictably until, in the final act, they snap together like the tumblers of a combination lock. The result is a structure that feels both inevitable and surprising. Unflinching in its darkness and violence yet consistently alive with humor, it channels the crackling energy of a classic crime caper without ever slipping into derivation.