For his role as Russ, a punky chancer living in New York’s Lower East Side in Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing, actor Matt Smith embraced a new look—sporting a mohawk for the first time. “I liked it more than I thought I would,” Smith remarked about the vibrant yellow and green hairstyle. “It was kind of cool.” Born in 1982, Smith missed the original wave of Britain’s punk explosion, yet he felt its cultural impact growing up. “It was nice to get to pretend to be part of it for a while,” he added, reflecting on the rebellious attitude punk embodies.
Caught Stealing, adapted by Charlie Huston from their novel, is a frenetic journey through New York’s grimy downtown in 1998. The film stars Austin Butler as Henry Thompson, a former baseball player turned bartender, navigating the chaos of the Lower East Side. This is a neighborhood Aronofsky knows intimately. “I walked down Avenue A hundreds of times in the ’90s,” he shared. “It’s my neighborhood.”
Aronofsky’s New Direction
This film marks a departure for Aronofsky, known for cerebral works like Requiem For a Dream and Black Swan. Caught Stealing represents a shift towards a more commercial, fast-paced style. “I’m always looking for something that will entertain me really well for a couple of hours,” Aronofsky explained. “I was like, ‘why can’t I do something like that?’”
Regina King, who plays a tough-love cop in the film, noted the change in pace. “You read the script, and you go, ‘wow, Darren’s gonna direct this’,” she said. Smith echoed her sentiment, praising Aronofsky’s unique directorial touch. “I don’t think anyone else could have directed it,” he stated.
The Vibrant Chaos of the East Village
The East Village serves as both a setting and a character in Caught Stealing, with its multicultural vibrancy playing a crucial role. “The East Village is the kernel that makes New York City pop,” Aronofsky described. “To me, it’s the most electric, most creative, most fun place in the world.”
The film captures the neighborhood’s essence, from its colorful characters to its dubious transactions. Hank, played by Butler, finds himself embroiled in a chaotic series of events after agreeing to cat-sit for Russ. This decision leads to encounters with Ukrainian gangsters, a Puerto Rican drug dealer played by Bad Bunny, and Orthodox Jewish gangster brothers portrayed by Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onofrio.
A Nod to Classic Cinema
Aronofsky’s film draws comparisons to Martin Scorsese’s After Hours, a madcap comedy of misadventure. Interestingly, Griffin Dunne, who starred in Scorsese’s film, plays the bar owner Paul in Caught Stealing. Aronofsky insists the casting was coincidental, though it adds a layer of cinematic homage.
“I love that there’s a connection to it, but it’s not conscious,” Aronofsky said. “It is conscious now, but it wasn’t really behind the decision to cast him.”
Future Prospects for Hank Thompson
With more novels in Huston’s series, the potential for further films featuring Hank Thompson exists. “The market will decide,” Aronofsky commented on the possibility of sequels. Should the audience demand more, Aronofsky seems open to revisiting the character and the vibrant world he inhabits.
New York City’s diversity and energy are central to Caught Stealing, reflecting Aronofsky’s love for his hometown. “One of the greatest things about my hometown is you go onto a subway during rush hour and there are people from every corner of the planet,” he said. “They all bring their own participation to the party, but they are all New Yorkers.”
As Caught Stealing hits theaters, it offers audiences a chance to experience the thrilling chaos and cultural tapestry of New York’s Lower East Side, through the lens of one of cinema’s most daring directors.
