Caught Stealing

Cat-sitting for your neighbour while he’s out of town — what could possibly go wrong? Oh, you know, just a casual plunge into a dangerous criminal conspiracy, complete with breakneck citywide chases as you try to escape death by the skin of your teeth. Simple, really.

Born from the gritty underbelly of 1990s New York City, Aronofsky’s fusion of a suspense-thriller riddled with dark humour comes alive in Caught Stealing. The film centres on ex-baseball prodigy Hank Thompson (Butler) who unexpectedly finds himself journeying on a chaotic descent into a dangerous struggle for survival after agreeing to watch Russ’ (Smith) cat. Butler, accompanied by a star-studded cast (Kravitz, King, Bad Bunny etc.), breathes a palpable electricity into this adaptation of the novel by Charlie Hudson. Together, they transform the crime genre into a playful yet razor edged game of cat (quite literally) and mouse.

Director Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, The Whale) steps away from his acclaimed psychological realisms and opts for a lighter tone, characterising Caught Stealing as “just a crime caper”. He is reunited with his longtime cinematographer Libatique who brings his signature kinetic camerawork and moody lighting to the film’s most absurd moments.

Caught Stealing will certainly catch your attention with its blend of crime and chaotic energy.

Ayo Kale