Dear reader, allow me to begin this text about Caught Stealing in a different way. In first person, speaking directly to you. After all, there’s a reason for it: Darren Aronofsky is one of those filmmakers who are difficult to deal with. He had already shown a strong personality back in 2017, when he came to Brazil to promote Mother! and wasn’t the kindest of people. At the press conference, he was curt, said little. Now, things seem to have gotten worse: at the launch of Caught Stealing, the director’s new film that premieres this Thursday the 28th, Aronofsky doesn’t even try to appear friendly.
Back in August, Sony Pictures held a special screening of the feature, with the presence of several film students and some journalists. Right after the screening, Aronofsky went live, directly from Mexico, in a broadcast for all of Latin America.
It was a horror show. He was rude to the moderator (“Talking about parenthood? Are you sure?”, he asked at one point, apparently to throw off the Mexican), rude to journalists from other countries (“Are you sure the person who asked that question even watched the movie?”, he shot back), and even to the Mexican film students who were there, in the audience, in good faith (“Try not to be pretentious,” he said). It seemed like the filmmaker didn’t want to be the odd one anymore. He wanted to be cool, funny, even cruel. But it didn’t work.
A new Darren Aronofsky
This attempt at metamorphosis was revealed during the chaotic press conference. Aronofsky made revealing statements about his new work and his artistic intentions. “For two hours, I want people to forget the world, their problems, and just watch the movie,” he explained, defining Caught Stealing as an experience of pure entertainment.
The director was emphatic in pointing out the difference in tone compared to his previous works. “The first 10 minutes of Caught Stealing have more jokes than all my other films combined,” he says. “I try to make all my films entertaining, something that holds attention. I don’t want it to be truly disturbing, but rather exciting,” Aronofsky continued, in an attempt to justify the creative shift in this new title.
When asked about his stylistic choices, the director defended his versatility — and says he doesn’t think he’s that weird. “My previous films had mixed genres. Black Swan isn’t really a dance movie, The Wrestler isn’t really a sports movie,” he says.
Finally, with a statement that perhaps explains Caught Stealing, the director revealed what he seeks. “I don’t want people to think I’m as fucked up as my movies,” he said. But the question remains: is it possible to think otherwise with behavior like that? Hardly.
