In Darren Aronofsky’s latest crime-comedy film, Caught Stealing, the director planted an easter egg with a character name from After Hours, the 1985 classic directed by Martin Scorsese. In Caught Stealing, we see Griffin Dunne playing the role of Paul; the name “Paul” is a nod to the actor’s history from Scorsese’s classic movie. Paul Hackett is the male lead in Scorsese’s ’85 film.
Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing Is Full Of Easter Eggs
A still from Caught Stealing | Credits: Columbia Pictures
The biggest reference that connects most of his other easter eggs is the city of New York itself. The first reference to the city is found through the still featuring Kim’s Video, a famous video rental store in the ’80s and ’90s. Even Russ’ room is filled with hardcore punk rock references to bands and social movements of the ’90s.
One of the biggest easter eggs comes via the multiple Oscar-nominated director’s own debut film Pi, which was released the same year this film is set, which also gives a nod to the two films being set in one universe.
Even the setting of the film in general matches the tone, while the characters give off serious old-school New York crime movie vibes, with a touch of Scorsese and Spike Lee style-energy mixed in. But when it comes to a personal easter egg, the director decided to put the song, titled The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side by The Magnetic Fields, at the end of the film.
In an interview with Dazed, Aronofsky explained how he wanted to add the song because he went to college with one of the band members, Claudia Gonson. Therefore, this particular single was something he chose to end the film with.
3 Darren Aronofsky Films To Watch If You Loved Caught Stealing
While his latest crime/comedy may have been a surreal experience, he has a lot of other projects to his name that match the mayhem people witnessed in Caught Stealing. Therefore, you should watch these films made by Aronofsky if you loved what this movie had to offer.
1. The Wrestler
The Wrestler offers a grounded and emotional take on a man fighting for relevance and dignity in the cruel world of professional wrestling. The film is sure to hook viewers with character depictions through gritty realism and Aronofsky’s trademark of making the viewers see humanity in flawed people.
2. Requiem for a Dream
This film dives into characters making harsh, destructive choices in a world that feels equally harsh and unforgiving. Requiem for a Dream matches Caught Stealing’s pace through visceral depictions and expressions.
3. Pi
Just like his latest film, Pi is set in the ’90s New York City, where the filmmaker’s style of displaying extreme paranoia, desperation, and the human psyche under pressure is explored at its fullest.
Below is a table that provides more details about the films mentioned above.
MovieRotten Tomatoes ScoresBox OfficePi88% | 85%$3.2 MillionRequiem for a Dream80% | 93%$7.3 MillionThe Wrestler99% | 88%$44 Million
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