Austin Butler Unveils Cinematic Inspirations Behind His Role in 'Caught Stealing'

Hollywood actor Austin Butler recently shared insights into the cinematic influences that shaped his performance in the upcoming film 'Caught Stealing,' directed by Darren Aronofsky. During an interview, Butler revealed his 'Four Favorites' – a selection of films that provided significant inspiration for his latest role. Leading his list was Martin Scorsese's 1985 dark comedy 'After Hours.' Butler noted, "I believe, from what I know... it was a moment when he [Scorsese] was going, 'I want to have fun making a movie.'" He drew a parallel between Scorsese's approach and what he perceives as Aronofsky's current creative phase. A curious synchronicity also emerged, as Griffin Dunne, who played Paul in 'After Hours,' also features in 'Caught Stealing,' running a bar named Paul's Bar in the new film. Next, Butler cited Brian De Palma's 1981 neo-noir thriller 'Blow Out,' calling it "one of my favorite films." He recounted watching the movie with Zoë Kravitz during preparation for 'Caught Stealing,' and praised its powerful conclusion: "Has one of the best ending lines of any film." He also highlighted John Travolta's performance, stating, "John Travolta is such a stud in that movie. It’s a good scream." The Coen Brothers' 1998 cult classic 'The Big Lebowski' was also mentioned. Butler described it as a film where "a man who's just a dude... is thrown into this wild situation with a lot of characters," drawing a thematic connection to his new project. Finally, Butler spoke passionately about Roman Polanski's 1988 thriller 'Frantic,' starring Harrison Ford. He recalled a specific rooftop scene: "There's an amazing moment on a rooftop when he's holding the suitcase with something very important inside and it drops. I remember watching that moment. I gasped out loud. And it taught me so much about what movies can do." He emphasized the power of cinematic illusion, adding, "The fact that I know it's fake, I know it's Harrison Ford... but I completely was in the illusion. That's when it feels like you're watching magic." Butler concluded by expressing his long-standing admiration for Letterboxd, the platform hosting the interview.

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