‘Caught Stealing’ 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review – Aronofsky Brings A Cool Confidence To Engaging Austin Butler Crime Drama

Hank Thompson (Austin Butler) was a high-school baseball phenom who can’t play anymore, but everything else is going okay. He’s got a great girl (Zoë Kravitz), tends bar at a New York dive, and his favorite team is making an underdog run at the pennant. When his punk-rock neighbor Russ (Matt Smith) asks him to take care of his cat for a few days, Hank suddenly finds himself caught in the middle of a motley crew of threatening gangsters. They all want a piece of him; the problem is he has no idea why. As Hank attempts to evade their ever-tightening grip, he’s got to use all his hustle to stay alive long enough to find out…

For in-depth thoughts on Caught Stealing, please see my colleague Brandon Lewis’s review from its original theatrical release here.

 Video Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Caught Stealing offers a terrific visual experience, but there is no accompanying Blu-Ray in this package to judge the level of upgrade from the HD format. Sony delivers their standard level of excellence with an impeccable encode. The Dolby Vision presentation refines the colors to a degree of accuracy that must be praised. The expanded range of the color spectrum is one of the greatest benefits of the format. There are so many dingy locales explored and showcased with the proper complexity, not to mention the deep colors within the clothing and lighting choices that radiate off the screen.

This extends to the deft command over the contrast. Black levels in this presentation are very deep and inky with sterling delineation. When observing the shadow detail, environments are clear and three-dimensional. Highlights in the film are faithfully dialed in with whites pure and balanced with no signs of blooming. This format circumvents any potential digital noise that is more likely to appear on the Blu-Ray. Skin tones appear natural with crisp detail apparent on faces, such as pores, stubble, and scrapes. Textures such as hair and distinct ridges of clothing are prominent. This 4K UHD presentation delivers on all fronts for an ideal viewing experience. 

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray provides a dynamite Dolby Atmos track that improves upon the DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track also included on this disc. From the beginning, you know it is going to be a frenetic journey with a suitably immersive audio experience. The film saturates all of the surround speakers consistently during both the character-driven moments and the parade of thrilling action sequences. The low end response from the subwoofer gives bigger moments the appropriate weight.

Atmospheric sound effects are explored with an astounding degree of directional accuracy within the mix so you feel in the thick of the action. The implementation of the height channels shows their worth in the forefront and discrete effects that make the narrative much more three-dimensional and immersive. Dialogue is crisp and clear without ever getting overshadowed by the music or sound effects. This film has a memorable soundtrack that permeates the room in an enveloping manner. As with the video side, you could not hope for better from a modern studio sound mix. Optional English, English SDH, and an array of other subtitles are provided. 

Special Features

• Aronofsky – The Real Deal: A six-minute piece in which the cast and creative team discuss the change in direction for the filmmaker, what drew him to the book, the influence of classic movies, and more. 

• Casting Criminals, Chaos, and a Cat: A seven-minute look at the ensemble and the characters they play, the collaborations on set, the scene-stealing kitty, and more. 

• I Don’t Drive: A nearly four-minute exploration of the stunt work in the film, how it is integrated into the story, the planning that went into various sequences, and more. 

• A New York Story: A nearly four-minute overview of the city that is so central to the story. 

Final Thoughts

Caught Stealing finds director Darren Aronofsky working in a very different register than his fans are used to seeing, but it is one that suits him well. The structure of the narrative is nothing new, but it is executed with a confidence that keeps the energy propulsive even during the expository moments. There are some narrative choices, especially regarding the female characters, that feel a bit dated, but the film packs a punch and provides the perfect star vehicle for the magnetic Austin Butler. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a knockout A/V presentation and a decent assortment of special features. Recommended 

Caught Stealing is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.