A cascading series of unfortunate events
In Caught Stealing, we follow Hank, who is a former baseball player who is currently working as a bartender in New York in the 90s. When his neighbor asks him to watch his place for a few days, things go wrong as many different groups start trying to tear down his door, and he gets caught up in something way bigger than a typical house-sitting job.
I had seen the trailers leading up to this movie, and it looked like it had potential. I love a good action crime film, and this one had me rooting for our hero Hank the whole time. even if throughout the film he has bad thing after bad thing happen to him. During the film, we learn more about his tragic backstory and how that got him, where he is, and how he grows as a person. By the end, he has a nice arc and learns to stop running away from his problems. The ending even comes full circle to something that happened in his past in a nice way.
This movie uses its setting well. Things happen that could only have been done in the 90s. like getting away with certain crimes because cameras and phones aren’t everywhere, using payphones, or even traveling on an airline with barely any security checks. It also utilizes a lot of great ’90s music to help set the tone.
I also gotta shout out Bud. While house sitting for his neighbor, Hank also has to take care of his cat, Bud. The cat isn’t a sidekick; it doesn’t save the day, it’s just a constant, cute cat in Hank’s life that gives him support when the world is falling apart around him, which I thought was a really nice touch.
Overall, I really liked it, and if you’re looking for an interesting story with some twists and turns, Caught Stealing has you covered. Just be prepared for some tragic losses.
-Jared Gomes
