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Review: Catch me if You Can

Review By: Kit Bowen

Catch Me If You Can is based on a true story about a successful con artist who takes on various identities and nets millions of dollars in fraudulent checks--all before his 21st birthday.


Story
Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) never aspires to become one of the youngest people ever to make the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List--it just kind of turns out that way. His adventures begin in 1967 when he runs away from home at 16, just as his parents are divorcing. He finds himself alone in the Big Apple, unsuccessfully trying to cash fake $20 checks. One day Frank notices how much respect is given to two airline pilots and he decides impersonating a Pan Am co-pilot might be just the ticket, so to speak. Thus begins his brilliant three-year run as a master of deception. After infiltrating Pan Am, he changes careers--he's a pediatrician, then a lawyer--all the while perfecting his forgery skills. Cashing fake checks all over the country, Abagnale amasses millions and quite literally becomes a kid in a candy store, buying sports cars and fancy suits, losing his virginity and pretending he is James Bond. Still, the fact remains Frank is just a kid. Even after all these adult experiences, his main objective is to get his father, Frank Sr. (Christopher Walken), a down-on-his-luck store owner hounded by the IRS, back together with his now-remarried mother (Nathalie Baye). Frank's nefarious activities eventually catch the authorities' attention, and Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), a no-nonsense FBI agent in charge of the bank fraud division, is soon hot on Frank's tail. But Frank doesn't mind. Part of him wants to get caught and he baits Hanratty to never give up the chase. Hanratty never does and finally brings his man to justice.


Acting
Catch Me's acting ensemble shines. Given the fact DiCaprio is in two high-profile movies this holiday season--this one and Gangs of New York--puts the actor back on the radar after a hiatus (perhaps he was licking his wounds after starring in the disastrous 2001 The Beach). Yet, if you were to match the performances, DiCaprio's stellar turn as Abagnale definitely stands out as the better of the two (the Golden Globes feel the same, recently giving DiCaprio a nod for best actor in a drama). He fits the part like a glove--all at once charismatic, childish, vulnerable and deadly intelligent. DiCaprio easily shows how Frank isn't necessarily a sociopath but more a needy kid looking for acceptance. Say what you will about DiCaprio's movie star qualities, he still has the acting chops to make it work. Walken, as Frank Sr., also gives one of the better performances of his career, playing a sad man who knows the apple doesn't fall from the tree but who is too proud to admit his mistakes--even to his son. Hanks is superb as well (is there anything this man can't do?), playing the by-the-book Hanratty completely devoid of emotion--but making us laugh anyway every time he comes on the screen. He doesn't mean to, of course, but to see Hanks play something so obviously straight somehow brings out the humor in the situation even more. Just don't ask Hanratty to tell you a joke. TV's Alias honey Jennifer Garner also makes a nice cameo as a prostitute--watch out, folks, she's heading for the big screen.


Direction
Based on the real-life memoirs of Frank W. Abagnale Jr., Catch Me If You Can is a fascinating study of a brilliant mind which isn't by nature criminal--just slightly misguided (ironically, the real Abagnale, now in his 50s, is a legitimate businessman who also acts as an consultant for the FBI's bank fraud division). Under the skillful hands of director Steven Spielberg, Catch Me has a great deal of fun going for a very '60s tongue-in-cheek Pink Panther feel, from the opening credits to the ease at which Frank goes about his merry way, conning everyone including himself. The motto of the film has to be "never deny." Frank accepts everything and things just fall into his lap. Even when Frank tries to tell the truth to the father (played by Martin Sheen) of a woman he wants to marry, it works to his advantage. Yet, the meat of the film is Frank's inner turmoil at the breakup of his parents, of wanting his family back together again and of his need to come clean. Frank secretly wants to be disciplined, told what to do, and that's why Hanratty becomes so important, almost a fatherly figure, to him. The film probably plays about a half hour too long, especially in explaining what happens to Abagnale after he gets caught, but otherwise, it totally engages you.


Bottom Line
Fueled by a wonderful performance from Leonardo DiCaprio, Catch Me If You Can is a lighthearted yet heart-wrenching look at the making of a truly brilliant, if somewhat reluctant, con artist.

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Fuck You!
-Weirdman

Aim: Weirdman

Just caught this last night and was going to review it tonight but you beat me to it, and good job on the review btw, and I couldn’t agree more with your opinion of the movie as it was excellent! Second leo film I’ve seen in a week that’s impressed me, burn in hell Titanic.

I watched this movie a little bit ago. I liked it but was nothing special for spielberg.
definatly worth a download.

Im sick of bashing this lamebrained movie, but i have to point out that the golden globe is the award they give to the biggest asshole in the world. The oscar has become much the same since they tried to normalize race relations with it last year.

Denzel probably should have won it long ago, but not for training day, and Halle Berry? She happens to be a mediocre actress. Like when she tries to act like a ghetto black person, she still comes off like kathy lee gifford. C'mon, raise your standards a little people.

We are destroying the artform and the world by heaping praise upon people who dont even try. Who have no respect for their audience. Politicians who have no respect for the citizens. Lawyers who have no respect for the law. They make so many stupid movies because they think you are stupid, and you're becoming stupid by buying in to it.


WAKEUPWAKEUPWAKEUP!!!!!

allthought many didnt like the movie training day.. i dont see how anyone can say that denzel washingtons role was anything less than oscar worthy

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"Nothing says OBEY ME like a severed head on a fence post,"

--All New, Official Catch Me If You Can Movie Review--

After putting this movie on top of my Top of 2002 list, thought I better get a review out too, no???

2 of my favorite actors have their moments in this film, but this film belongs to director Steven Speilberg and Leonardo Di Caprio.

After openning a little slow, seeing Leonardo DiCaprio, playing to son of a convining shopkeeper, reverts to crime, when his father, Frank Abernale Sr., played deliciously by Christopher Walken gets audited by the IRS.

Frank Jr., learns from his father's mistakes, but realizes he has a talent of lying also picked up from his father, convincing a French Class, that he is their substitute teacher to becoming an Airline pilot, easily writing up to a million dollars in fraudulent checks.

Abernale is a chameleon as he becomes different professions as easily as one might change underwear, convincing everyone that he is a doctor to going to work for the Lousiana Attorney Generals office.

Unfortunately people were quite stupid then.

Catch Me If You Can is a fun movie, and Spielberg tells the story at the very best, as the G-Man that chases after Abernale, Carl Hanratty (played by two time Academy Award winner, Tom Hanks) makes the movie well worth watching.

Also very good in a supporting role is Christopher Walken, who plays Frank Sr., DiCaprio's conviniving and long suffering father, who has a lot of fun in this role.

All around, Catch Me If You Can is extreme fun, and all around a good movie.

Catch Me If You Can is rated PG13 for mild language and sexual situations.

Catch Me If You Can is 2 Hours and 20 minutes long and I give this movie a Big, Fat 10.

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Re-incarnated as evil overlord..

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since they tried to normalize race relations with it last year.

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Like when she tries to act like a ghetto black person, she still comes off like kathy lee gifford. C'mon, raise your standards a little people.

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We are destroying the artform and the world by heaping praise upon people who dont even try. Who have no respect for their audience. Politicians who have no respect for the citizens. Lawyers who have no respect for the law. They make so many stupid movies because they think you are stupid, and you're becoming stupid by buying in to it.

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Originally posted by napalmfuzz
allthought many didnt like the movie training day.. i dont see how anyone can say that denzel washingtons role was anything less than oscar worthy

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__________________
Re-incarnated as evil overlord..

toolbox
im not even gonna debate denzel washington

@moviegood
Im glad to see your blisters heald yup okay
Its good to have you back

Waiting for it to hit the $3 theater
So that'll be like another 6 weeks :P
but it looks awesome.

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WAKEUPWHITEPEOPLE

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oh shit welcome back movie god this place didnt feel the same without you

good review i enjoyed the movie also very slick leo looks like hes doing good movies again instead of those ones after titanic with shitty scripts

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Jesus fucking christ my sig was huge so Dwaggy replaced it with this message

MG, MG, MG!!!!
Welcome back man I missed yeah. Excellent review parents loved this movie so I must check it out. Thanks

Review: Catch me If You Can (2003)

Catch Me If You Can (2003) Review by Peter Shilton.

I hate Leonardo di Caprio. No. Seriously. I hate the guy. Ever since his girly, poofy, smarmy role in Titanic and then his buxom poofyness in The Beach i've grown a considerable dislike for the guy.

Not any more.

Catch Me If You Can is the latest offering from celluloid mogul and all-round 'champ' of cinema Steven Speilberg. Another fatboy, lard-fuelled, big-bucks chunky Oscar heavyweight. Stuffed to the gills with a class A cast, crew, story and laquered in 5000 layers of the finest gloss and pazazz that Hollywood can offer. Yes folks, Catch Me If You Can weighs in to the blockbuster ring kicking, biting and brutally punching it's way to the bank and ultimately Spielbergs wallet. The strange thing being it deserves every penny of it.

Frank Abagnale Jr. (di Caprio) is a fraud. And a good one at that. Based on a true story. Catch Me If You Can details the early years of one of the worlds biggest check fraudsters and the chase to capture him by the FBI, led by Agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks). Frank Abagnale Jr. was such a clever and sophisticated fraud that by the time he'd reached his 19th birthday, he'd already defrauded the US banks of over $4million. Frank has his reasons for his actions and is portrayed superbly by a (much to my surprise) brilliant di Caprio.

During the course of the movie, Spielberg plays cleverly on audience emotion, and as the movie moved on i felt myself on an almost 'connective' level with the characters, especially near the end of the movie. One scene with di Caprio in particular was simply stunning and genuinely made my emotion strings start to tug a little. Likewise with Hanks, the lovable FBI agent. Ruthless in his pursuit of Frank, Hanks provides some sporadic and suitably comedic moments during the course of the movie. The only fault i had with this movie is that the ending was a little on the 'wham bam' side. I felt a little disappointed having watched the whole movie only to get a rather slap-dash 'let's get this over with now the main part of the film is over' sensation as the final credits rolled.

Audio and Photography wise, this movie was flawless. Shot in a trademark SPielberg way. Stunning, sexy, sensuous angles, panning and shots combined with a melt-in-the-mouth score and soundtrack just left me feeling 110% satisfied. Everything gelled. Everything worked. Super! I also loved the buff-beige 60's-esque colorisation of the print. It just added an extra touch to the movie to make it more complete. Oh, and special mention also goes to the opening credits. A sumptuous blend of style and chic, and that classic 1920's French sillouhette art which i totally fell in love with. It set up the movie beautifully, giving you the feel of exactly what it was you were about to see. Something classy.

To summarise, Catch Me If You Can is yet another slice of Spielberg gold. I seriously hope this gets an Oscar or at least a nomination as it totally deserves one. The fact it's based on a true stroy just makes this movie even better. This is a movie of splendour. One to savour and one you can watch again and again.

Sit back. Relax. And enjoy one of the best movies your likely to see this year.

Catch Me If You Can is pure bliss in a film cannister.


Final Score: 9/10 ''Two mice fell into a bowl of cream. The first mouse gave up and died right away.''

http://us.imdb.com/Title?0264464

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Originally posted by bobbystill


That almot sounds like a quote from the movie Max.

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Originally posted by napalmfuzz
allthought many didnt like the movie training day.. i dont see how anyone can say that denzel washingtons role was anything less than oscar worthy

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Its strange how people will so quickly resort to calling someone a racist.

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who said that, anyway bobby?

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ok, ill insult you right here, you are not very bright.

and you are a coward.

You want to argue with me sooooo badly, but you cant think of anything to say, other than "Hey Man! You sound like Hitler!"

Ok, your point has been made. Unfortunately for you the point made is that you are incapable of unraveling what i said in an intelligent manner, and so will resort to name calling to prove your point.

You've decided that this movie is good, and that halley berry and Denzel both deseved Oscars last year, and that it wasnt a racist move on the part of the academy to make history last year with two black best actor winners, and anyone who disaggrees is like hitler and should be put in an oven at once.

and by the way, people who like sonic youth, desperatley want to appear different so they tell indie chicks that "Yeah, i really dig sonic youth", and the chicks eyes roll back in there head and they think to themselves wow, hes really special because he listens to music thats mainley just noise, and it makes him a very complex person. Ill bet he's nothing like Hitler at all, who was in fact, quite ordinary.

On a final note, i'll save someone else the trouble of pointing out that this thread started as a review of "Catch Me If You Can" and ended up more like the minutes of the Nuremburg trials.

Sorry, bobby got me going.