Sometimes we get pulled into things we don’t expect. The question is how we react when that happens. If we can keep our head, we can make our way out of it even when others crumble. That’s certainly an idea at the heart of Caught Stealing, a new film that opens nationwide on Friday.

The film comes from director Darren Aronofsky. It’s based on the book from Charlie Huston, who crafted the screenplay. It’s the story of a former baseball standout who is a bit lost. He gets pulled into something he didn’t expect and ends up going on one wild ride.

The film centers on Hank (Austin Butler) who is living in a small apartment in New York City in 1998. He works as a bartender, and he’s obsessed with the San Francisco Giants. He was once a top baseball prospect, but an accident ended that dream and left him shaken. But his life lacks direction.

One night, after a long shift, he heads to his apartment with his girlfriend Yvonne (Zoe Kravitz). She’s a paramedic and while she loves Hank, she’s ready for something more serious. To get there, she needs him to face his past and move forward. As they’re on Hank’s doorstep, they run into his neighbor Russ (Matt Smith).

Russ is distraught. His father is ill, and he needs to head to London. He asks Hank to look after his cat. Hank reluctantly agrees and Russ heads off into the night. It isn’t long before some tough characters come looking for Russ. When they don’t find him, they take it out on Hank.

Without realizing it, Hank is on the hook for something big that Russ got himself into. Soon, Hank is scrambling to find out what’s going on and find a way out of it before it’s too late. It ends up being a journey that will forever change his life.

Aronofsky has made some deep and engaging films. Some of his work has been a critical success, even earning Academy Award nominations and buzz. I haven’t always been taken with his films, many of which feature challenging characters and challenging content. While Caught Stealing fits the bill of challenging people in challenging situations, this film feels somewhat different. There’s a sense of whimsy to some of the action and some of the sequences that I found appealing.

Butler makes for a great lead here. He carries the narrative and is in nearly every scene. He has some great interactions with the talented cast around him and you can’t help but root for Hank. It’s one of my favorite of his performances.

That’s how I feel about Aronofsky here, too. I like the sense of pacing and style he brings to the film. The needle drops work well, and the sequences are well-crafted. The action works and the way the story unfolds keeps you engaged. It might well be my favorite of his films, and a heck of a way to end the slow period of August.

Typically, we don’t get much to be excited about at theaters on Labor Day Weekend. But Caught Stealing is a fun ride with a good cast. It’s worth checking out.

Caught Stealing opens nationwide on Friday, August 29.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.