Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing (2025) is a film great at bringing the story full circle. It’s also extremely entertaining to watch.

What struck me the most about Caugh Stealing is the tight storytelling. Every story beat has a payoff, even down to a black and white cookie. It probably helps the film is based on the novel Caught Stealing (2005) by Charlie Huston. And that Huston is also credited with the screenplay adaptation.

It’s so wonderful to experience a film that takes itself and its story seriously.

What seems like an innocent request to watch his English, punk rock neighbor’s cat drags Hank into the 1990’s criminal underground of New York City. Hank(Austin Butler)and his neighbor Russ, played Matt Smith, are paired well. Smith brings a manic energy, while Butler has the wide-eyed look of a trapped animal seeking an escape route.

We follow Hank as he simultaneously tries to figure out what’s going on with his mysterious neighbor and avoid multiple sets of pursuers, including two Hasidic Jewish brothers, Russian Gangsters, and a police detective (Regina King)

The story keeps you guessing as it trickles out clues, red herrings, and multiple twists. The twists never feel forced like some M. Night Shyamalan films do, where the rug is pulled out from under you at the very end. Every story beat feels organic and true to the characters. The audience experiences revelations when Hank does, which kept me guessing what was going to happen next or gasping when the story turned so hard I couldn’t believe the film was brave enough to whip the audience in a different direction.

There’s a scene in the middle of Caught Stealing where the film subverts your expectations and catches you off guard. I don’t want say too much to spoil it, but it changes the direction you think the film is going in a delightful way and makes it that much more interesting.

Some of the best moments of the film are the interactions of the two Jewish brothers and Hank. They are Jewish gangsters who are also after the stolen money. Both Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onoforio inject the most laugh out loud levity into the film. They’re both hilarious and menacing, somehow all at the same time.

The film is shot digitally on Sony’s CineAlta VENICE 2 with Zero Optik’s Bausch & Lomb Ultra Baltars. They are based on Bausch and Lomb’s Super Baltar lenses, which provide a 70s style to the film. The lenses are from the 1950s and 60s and were famously used to shoot The Godfather: Part 1 and The Godfather: Part II. What’s special about the original Super Baltar lenses and now the rehoused Zero Optic Ultra Baltars is that they provide warm images with gentle contrast. The natural fall-off in the depth of field feels very organic when paired with new digital cameras like Sony’s 6k VENICE 2. The cinematography of Caught Stealing felt so rich and almost timeless. Very unlike many modern films shot with digital cameras. I thought they shot on 35mm film until I looked it up - it looks that good, with the rich blacks.

I loved how refreshing Caught Stealing was because it had real stakes. What makes the film even better is that it’s 1 hour and 47 minutes. It really moves and never overstays its welcome on any specific scene.

Chase sequences are shot and cut extremely well. They use long takes for the action and the camera moves through the scenes with the characters. Wide angle action shots and longer takes help give the viewer a sense of geography in a scene. The best examples of this are when Hank runs through New York City trying to escape the two Hasidic gangsters. Secondly, in the climax, when drones are used to shoot a vehicle chase, the feeling I got was close to awe. I couldn’t believe how unique and profpulsive it felt.

Darron Aronfonsky isn’t known for lighthearted films. Caught Stealing may end up be the most popcorn pleasing film in his career. Regardless, it’s a great ride for a gritty drama with excellent action scenes. It was one of my top films of 2025 because I couldn’t believe how much I liked it. The more I watched, the more I knew it was something special.

Many times, I judge a film by the fact of whether I think I could’ve written the ending better. I can’t think of a more fitting ending than the one we were given. Once again, the film comes full circle with a character’s arc and deftly closes the film with a few hopeful beats for Hank.

You can find the best place to stream Caught Stealing on justwatch.com.

If you liked Caught Stealing, your next watch should be Michael Mann’s film Collateral (2004).

Collateral and Caught Stealing share a similar tone. They are films that take their characters very seriously. They combine that with great dramatic scenes punctuated by realistic action set pieces. Like Caught Stealing, Collateral also has a beating emotional heart at the center of its story. Each film has a main character who’s longing for a different life. The protagonists of both films are put through life’s worst crucible by violent criminals. And that crucible forces them to become the person they wanted to be all along. Hank from Caught Stealing and Max (Jamie Foxx) from Collateral both are husks of who they thought they wanted to be in life. Both are also living in a cage of fear of changing their lives for the better. Vincent, Tom Cruise in one of his best performances, breaks Max out of his fearful shell in Collateral. And the network of criminals hunting for the lost drug money make Hank overcome his crippling longing for a life lost playing baseball. He gets to be the all star again, even if it means losing more than his baseball career.

Both Hank and Max know they’re in over their heads the moment the films antagonists crash into their life.

What makes both films so special is that the protagonists are faced with a choice. Rise up and begin to finally take control of their lives they allowed to be stifled by their fears and failures. Or, shrink back further into their shell of safety that has been broken by the evil events.

Hank and Max become the heroes they need to be despite the evil trying to strangle their lives. That’s what makes Collateral and Caught Stealing so memorable. And the perfect double feature.

You can find the best place to stream Collateral on justwatch.com.

And please let me know if you’ve seen Caught Stealing or Collateral! I would love to hear your opinion. You can email me at [email protected].