Aronofsky's ‘Caught Stealing' Trailer: Chaos, Cats & 90s Crime
Darren Aronofsky doing comedy? The man who made us fear ballet (Black Swan), wrestling (The Wrestler), and even biblical floods (Noah) is now serving up a crime caper where the MacGuffin is… a cat. The first trailer for Caught Stealing just dropped, and it's Goodfellas meets Home Alone—if Kevin McCallister were a hungover ex-baseball player played by Austin Butler.
The Setup: Butler's Hank, a washed-up bartender, agrees to cat-sit for his punk-rock neighbor (Zoë Kravitz, because who else would trust him?). Next thing he knows, Russian mobsters, a Samoan hitman, and Vincent D'Onofrio's “sadistic cop” are all chasing him through grimy 90s NYC. Why? The cat's cage hides a key everyone wants. (Note to self: Never pet-sit in Aronofsky's universe.)
The Vibe: Imagine if Requiem for a Dream's intensity got drunk at a dive bar and started telling jokes. The trailer's breakneck pacing—Butler sprinting past bodegas, Bad Bunny waving a gun, Carol Kane yelling something undoubtedly iconic—promises pure, unhinged chaos. And that leather-clad psycho duo? Chef's kiss.
Why It Works (Or Doesn't):
- Pro: It's Aronofsky unleashed. After The Whale's heaviness, the director seems to be having fun.
- Con: If you hate cats (or plot holes), Hank's feline-fueled nightmare might test your patience.
Deep Cut: Adapted from Charlie Huston's cult novel, the film's 90s NYC grit feels like a throwback to After Hours—but with more baseball bats and fewer art-world weirdos.
Genius or garbage? Depends how much you trust Aronofsky with a punchline. Either way, August 29 can't come soon enough.
Would you risk your life for a cat? And does Aronofsky's shift to comedy excite you—or feel like a betrayal? Sound off!
