Caught Stealing Review: Butler’s Career Best

Butler gives a career-best performance in Darren Aronofsky’s latest crime comedy, Caught Stealing, despite the film’s tonal inconsistencies.

The situation then takes a disastrous turn when a few men show up at Russ’s apartment, and Hank, unaware of what these threatening men are capable of, intervenes. From there, our protagonist is stuck in what feels like a no-win situation that he attempts to wiggle out of before even more collateral damage occurs.

When I first left my screening of Caught Stealing, it took me a while to pin down my final thoughts on the film. The story is far from perfect and attempts to juggle too many genres and moving parts. As a result, it can sometimes feel a bit messy and misguided, with tonal shifts that don’t always land. However, there’s still a lot to admire about the movie, and the more I reflected on it, the more I came to appreciate it. In a nutshell, if you can suspend a lot of disbelief and just embrace the journey, it’s a wild, fun, and exhilarating ride.

What elevates Caught Stealing and makes it so enjoyable is Butler’s immaculate performance, which is his best yet. While he has demonstrated impressive range in his previous projects, his commitment to Hank and the way he channels the character through the film’s gritty, violent, and comedic tone demonstrate what he’s capable of as an actor. When the story unfolds, we learn that a past tragedy prevented Hank from pursuing the career he had longed for, and he carries a significant amount of guilt and trauma due to his past experiences. As a result, he’s felt a sense of emptiness and unfulfillment, and Butler handles Hank’s more sensitive side with such care and nuance. On the other hand, when things go sideways, we see him transform into a formidable lead character who holds his own, which makes his arc all the more interesting and engaging.

Despite the dangerous situation Hank finds himself in and the violence taking place around him, there’s still room for humanity in Aronofsky’s latest crime comedy. After our protagonist’s girlfriend convinces him to look after his neighbor’s cat, Bud (played by a star in the making named Tonic), a beautiful bond forms between the pair, which really grounds the film. Although Hank is experiencing loneliness and trauma, he finds some comfort with his new four-legged friend, which brings an unexpected amount of tenderness to the story. It’s one of the sweetest, most enjoyable parts of the film, and reaffirms that animals really are the best healers. Hank also becomes Bud’s carer, which allows him to step up and take responsibility for something, an aspect of his life he has seemed to struggle with.

Up until this point, I’ve (rightfully) given Butler high praise, but the supporting cast also gives great performances here, even if I wish some of them had more screentime. Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onofrio portray a crime duo who deliver some of the funniest comedic moments seen throughout the film. As two fantastic actors, it’s a joy to see them star alongside each other on the big screen, even if their weight is diminished slightly due to sporadic appearances that don’t quite give us enough to make their characters appear as sinister as they’re meant to be. Zoë Kravitz shines alongside Butler, portraying Hank’s caring and sassy paramedic girlfriend, Yvonne, with the pair sharing electric chemistry.

Caught Stealing also excels at establishing its 1998 time period through the use of its costume design, soundtrack, and production design, which makes the viewer feel as though they’ve stepped into a time capsule and been sent back to the past. Praise must be given to cinematographer Matthew Libatique, who effortlessly captures the distinct look and feel of the ’90s through the film’s impressive and accurate visual style. The film immerses viewers in the experience, dropping them right into the chaos unfolding, and Aronofsky’s impressive camerawork makes every action sequence all the more exciting.

While there’s much to love about Caught Stealing, the film’s abrupt tonal shifts and plot inconsistencies cannot be ignored. There are many story details that don’t make much sense, and major moments that are not only unrealistic, but exaggerated to the point of absurdity. The story feels caught between a rock and a hard place as it tries to navigate part dark comedy and part gritty crime thriller. Throughout its runtime, it has moments where it succeeds in delivering both genres, though it isn’t always smooth sailing, as one often undercuts the other, especially during intended serious moments that revert to humor and creep into cartoonish territory.

Despite Caught Stealing’s glaring drawbacks, Butler’s mesmerizing performance was enough to make my immediate out-of-theater mixed reaction turn to a much more positive one once I had time to let my thoughts marinate. If you can overlook some implausibility and see the viewing experience as mindless fun, there’s much to appreciate while engorging in this high-octane thrill ride.

Caught Stealing will be released in US & Canadian theaters, in UK & Irish cinemas, and globally in theatres on August 29, 2025.