Rating: 
Summary: Immensely Entertaining. Great Performances. -And True Too!
Review: "Catch Me If You Can" is the story of real-life con artist Frank Abagnale, Jr. who, in the late 1960's and early 1970's, when he was between the ages of 16 and 21, wrote $2.5 million dollars in bad checks and became one of the most notorious con men in American history. The film follows Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) from his early high school pranks to his check-printing operation and eventual capture in France five years later. FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) doggedly pursues Frank as he successfully impersonates an air line pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer, living the life of a playboy and cashing ingeniously forged checks all along the way."Catch Me If You Can" was directed by Stephen Spielberg and, along with Minority Report, signifies a revival of Spielberg's directing talent after fifteen years of mediocre-at-best filmmaking. This film is fairly light fare, but it is immensely entertaining, funny, touching, and impeccably cast. Frank Abagnale, Jr. is a perfect fit for Leonardo DiCaprio, and is probably his best role since "What's Eating Gilbert Grape". Tom Hanks seems to have abandoned his typically saccharine roles this year -much to his credit- and puts in a wonderful performance as sympathetic geeky G-man Carl Hanratty (along with a terrific showing in "Road to Perdition"). Christopher Walken was the only actor to receive an Oscar nomination for "Catch Me If You Can". His performance as Frank Abagnale, Sr., our protagonist's down-and-out father, deserved the honor. Frank Jr.'s awkward combination of admiration and pity for his father seems to have been a key motivator in his illustrious life of crime, and Christopher Walken really helps us understand that. The real Frank Abagnale, Jr. is a successful security consultant these days, protecting businesses from white collar crime. He cooperated with and bascially likes the film, but is quick to point out that "Catch Me If You Can" is based on his biography of the same name that was written about 25 years ago. Mr. Abagnale says that some aspects of his experiences were exaggerated in that book and some have been altered for the movie as well. Whatever the inaccuracies, Frank Abagnale, Jr.'s immense intelligence, ambition, and guts are the most striking elements of the film. It's the rarity of finding all of these qualities in such abundance in one person that make Frank's character so fascinating, and make him one of cinema's most lovable antiheroes. I highly recommend "Catch Me If You Can" for its great performances and its extremely entertaining story of an ingenious con man and his noble pursuer...made all the more interesting because the story is largely true.
Rating:
Summary: Suspenseful and fun
Review: "Catch Me If You Can," directed by Steven Spielberg, is based on the real life story of Frank Abagnale. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Abagnale, a young con artist who successfully masquerades as an airline pilot (among other professions) and passes off forged checks in the course of his travels. Tom Hanks portrays the nerdy but dedicated FBI agent who relentlessly pursues young Abagnale. "Catch Me" opens with a great, atmospheric animated sequence that is perfectly complemented by John Williams' score. The movie as a whole is an excellent blend of suspense, human drama, and laughs. Although the film deals with some very serious themes, the tone is largely light and fun. Abagnale conducts his scams during the 1960s and the film makes superb use of period music, film, clothing, and cars: it's great fun to look at and listen to. The performances, script, and direction are first rate. The story is told in a very effective non-chronological fashion. DiCaprio shines in this lead role; he brings a nice mix of charm, brains, and boyish enthusiasm to the character. Hanks' likeable character is an excellent foil for DiCaprio's. Special mention should be made of Christopher Walken's witty yet touching performance as young Abagnale's father. Overall, I found this to be one of the most enjoyable, skillfully crafted, and satisfying films of 2002.
Rating: 
Summary: Slow and Boring
Review: High schooler Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) idolizes his father, who's in trouble with the IRS. When his parents separate, he runs away to Manhattan with $25 in his checking account, and he vows to regain dad's losses and get his parents back together. Just a few years later, the FBI tracks him down in France; he's extradited, tried, and jailed for passing more than $2,000,000 in bad checks. Along the way, he's posed as a Pan Am pilot, a pediatrician, and an attorney. And, from nearly the beginning of this life of crime, he's been pursued by a dour FBI agent, Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks). What starts as cat and mouse becomes something akin to father and son.
This was such an awful movie. It really could have been good, but the story was so slow. The acting by Tom Hanks was surprisingly bad.
Rating:
Summary: This is a great movie
Review: I wanted to see it again and again. Not everyone will feel the same way I feel about this movie, I understand, but if you've ever had the desire to be above the law, so to speak, be sure to watch this.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Movie.
Review: Could this movie, directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Tom Hanks and Leo DiCaprio live up to the hype? I have to answer with a huge yes. From the opening credits you realize this is not your average, run-of-the-mill Hollywood movie. DiCaprio plays Frank Abagnale, Jr., the youngest man ever on the FBI's most wanted list. DiCaprio's charm is on at full force in this film. And the result is the best performance of his career. DiCarpio's Abignale is almost like a folk hero. It just doesn't seem possible that anybody could manage to get away with what he gets away with. It will leave you in awe. Hanks delivers a solid performance as well as Carl Hanratty, the FBI agent looking for Abagnale. Hanks and DiCaprio really seem to have some chemistry in a few scenes. Abagnale's parents are played by Christopher Walken and French actress Nathalie Baye. Walken is one of the brightest spots of the film. He delivers some key lines with his trademark flair. Baye has been a favorite of mine since I saw her in the French film, "An Affair of Love". I would consider this one of Spielberg's finer films. Somebody deserves alot of credit for their work on the costumes, set designs and vehicles. They really make the movie more believable. This film would be highly recommended for anybody looking for a real treat at the movies.
Rating: 
Summary: It's A Game Of Tag-And You're It
Review: After the sci-fi film, Minority Report, which was essentially a game of "cat and mouse, director Steven Spielberg continued along that trend with Catch Me If You Can. Based on the real life story of Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio), the film is a fairly light piece of fluff. It may seem like a good film while you are watching it, but by the movie's conclusion, you may be left wishing it had more substance. Teenager Frank Abagnale Jr. has always looked up to his dad (Christopher Walken). When the family hits upon hard times, young Frank decides to take matters into his own hands to help out. What starts out as a simple game of deception, with Frank Jr. passing himself off as a teacher, a lawyer, an airline pilot, and a doctor, turns serious when the FBI learns of his scams to earn cash. Deadicated agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) is put on the case to stop Abagnale. Somehow though, Hanratty, always seems be one step behind the resourceful con artist. Hanks and DiCaprio are fine as "RoadRunner and Coyote", as the pair bounce from one locale to the next, and it is interesting to watch the father/son dynamic play out. But Walken has by far the best performance in the film. His 2002 best supporting actor nomination for the role was well deserved I just wish the movie had focused a bit less on the fun factor--and more on Frank Jr's inner workings (what made him tick) and had more of the Abagnale's domestic situation In other words, to me, the film seemed like cotton candy-nice to have, but once you're done, you are not sure why you ate it in the first place. I was also disappointed with the extras for the film. Found on disc 2 of the DVD set, are a series of documentary vignettes, on the film, and how it found its way to the big screen. By far the best of these featurettes is the one that talks about the real Frank Abagnale Jr. and how the film deviates from real life. I think when there are multiple featurettes like this, viewers are better served when they watch these as one whole rather than broken up. In the end I thought these were ok but I also felt like they just copied the format of other Speilberg DVDs without much thought After the documentaries, it's just the usual Photo galleries, cast/filmmaker/production notes (no theatrical trailer??) to finish things off I can recommend the DVD set as a rental, if you haven't yet seen the film-but not as a purchase
Rating:
Summary: Engaging Entertainment
Review: I am neither a Leo fan or Tom Hanks fan, though both are good actors. Steven Spielberg (already an adjective like Fellini) as director of this non-action adventure movie, it had to be worth a look. It wasn't a waste of time. The true story of a con man Frank Abagnale, Jr. adapted for the silver screen plays like a cat and mouse game involving the audience, anticipating the many ways DiCaprio as Abagnale eludes Hanks as an FBI agent on his trail. Though it seems odd that most of the jobs Abagnale, Jr. takes or (impersonates) as a lawyer, doctor and airline pilot is without effort and without those companies doing even a background check, the main story is about Abagnale, Jr.'s evading the officers. The audience is riveted to see what happens next and if Abagnale, Jr. will ever be caught. Its opening sequence is memorable but I was wondering if the real Frank Abagnale, Jr. was really on that game show. Anyway, the movie is fine entertainment.
Rating:
Summary: A Breezy Caper and Superb Entertainment
Review: When I bought this DVD, I knew it wasn't going to be a comedy, but CATCH ME IF YOU CAN certainly does have its funny moments. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is really more of a caper movie than a comedy and it has all the breezy lightness usually associated with caper films. It entertains more than it tries to explore and this is, I think, it's greatest strength and its greatest weakness. Despite the fact that it's not a comedy, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is far more entertaining than most of the inane comedies out there (such as THE BANGER SISTERS) but it fails to dig far enough into its protagonist's psyche and his motivations to make it truly memorable. Nevertheless, I liked it so much and thought it was so well made, I couldn't justify giving it less than five stars. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is the true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) who, during the 1960s, and seemingly more out of boredom and a desire to impress his father than anything else, becomes, all before reaching the ripe old age of twenty-one, the world's ultimate con artist. Abagnale posed as a doctor, a lawyer and an airline pilot, usually in the name of fun, and made, albeit fraudulently, close to three million dollars, not so much money today, but during the 1960s, three million was a huge sum. Frank switches identities more easily than most of us change our clothes. He doesn't do it without being spotted, however. FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) always seems to discover what Frank's doing, but he always seems to discover it a little too late. By the time Hanratty arrives on the scene, Frank has a new "career" in a new location and Hanratty is (almost) back at square one. All of the actors involved in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN give superb performances. They aren't Oscar-worthy simply because the script doesn't provide them with Oscar-worthy material. DiCaprio is perfect as Frank; he's charming and sweet and it's impossible not to like him despite his con artist capers. Tom Hanks's Carl is less interesting than DiCaprio's Frank, but he's still a likable guy. Hanratty's no "hard boiled" FBI agent; he's quiet and quite human and, in some ways, as lonely and vulnerable as is Frank. One of the best jobs is turned in by Christopher Walken as Frank's father, the person with whom Frank shares the deepest and most profound bond. Walken's portrayal of Frank Sr. is very low-key and he adds much depth and poignancy to the film. Nathalie Baye as Frank's self-centered mother and Amy Adams as an Atlanta nurse Franks comes to truly love give strong, but minor performances. I've heard some criticism of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN as being "too long." It's about two hours, twenty minutes, so it is longer than most films, however, most of it is so fast-paced and so engaging, the time just flew by for me. The ending was where I thought Spielberg could have cut back just a little. For me, it was a little drawn out. I think Spielberg wanted to make sure we "knew" Frank wasn't "at heart" a bad guy, but DiCaprio plays him so well throughout the film (and Spielberg's direction is so good) that this is something we knew all along. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is a film that is part caper, part thriller, part comedy, part poignant drama, yet it's none of these alone. It doesn't dig deep into the personalities of its characters and it doesn't explore relevant social issues, but it is immensely enjoyable. I would recommend it highly.
Rating: 
Summary: Spielberg's best since SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
Review: A true story from director Steven Spielberg based on the autobiograpical book by Frank Abagnale Jr (Played here by Leonardo DiCaprio), CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is an entertaining, if somewhat overlong movie of the young con man who had successfully passed himself off as a pilot, pediatrician and Attorney General of Louisiana in addition to being wanted for fraud in 50 states: all before his 19th birthday!
The movie opens with Abagnale and two imposters pretending to be him on a TV game show, then the story begins in flashback mode (#1). FBI Agent Carl Handratty (Tom Hanks) had his first face to face encounter with Abagnale when Abagnale was imprisoned in France in 1969, after several years attempting to capture him. After being arrested and place on the plane Abagnale begins telling his story to Handratty which leads Spielberg to get tricky and start flashback #2. (Confused? I was at first). This starts the real story of Frank's escapades at Xmas 1963 with Frank watching his father Frank Sr (Christopher Walken) receive a doctorate. As it turns out Dad was also the one who taught Jr the art of scamming: The earliest example is when Frank successfully poses as a substitute French teacher at his own school! Of course along the way he assumes the identities of a Doctor, Lawyer and Pediatrician conning his way to immense wealth and throwing Hanratty off his trail numerous times- even posing as a Secret Service agent trying to help Hanratty!
But then as happens in life, Frank meets a wonderful girl and falls in love so soon he is grappling with the idea of telling her the truth about who he really is; and then risking being arrested and being separated from the woman he loves.
Sure, the story is pretty basic; but CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is still a highly enjoyable and fascinating movie which manages to maintain viewer interest for its full two hours plus running time. Though Leonardo doesn't portray a broad acting range at the best of times he's pretty good here. So is Hanks, but I found it annoying that he recycles his GREEN MILE accent for this character. That's my only quibble. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is easily Spielberg's best movie since SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, although as I mentioned earlier his time juggling may confuse first time viewers. Martin Sheen plays Frank's future father-in-law.
Rating:
Summary: One of Spielberg's Best Films.
Review: A Bright, Intelligent Teenager by the name of Frank W. Abagnale (Leonardo Di Carpio) learns that his Parents (Oscar-Winner:Christopher Walken & Natalie Baye) are getting a Divorce. Running Away for Home, He Decides to make a living for himself but then he discover how to Con People by Cashing Fake Cheques & Impersonting Co-Pilots, Doctors or Lawyers. This Teenager has it all until a nebbish FBI agent (Two Time Oscar-Winner:Tom Hanks) is on his trail. Directed by Steven Spielberg (Minority Report, A.I.-Artifical Intelligence, Saving Private Ryan) made an absolute brillant entertaining film, which Believe It on Not, is actually Based on a True Story. Di Carpio, Hanks & Walken offers great performances. Di Carpio is Superb. Hanks offers an great fun comic performance. This is one of Walken's best roles. This is an Instant Blockbuster, One of the Biggest Hits of Spielberg's. (This Film recieves Two Oscar Nominations, which is:Christopher Walken for Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Score:John Williams.) DVD`s has an terrific anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer and an good-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound (Also in DTS). On the Second Disc is Entertaining Extras:including an Interview with the Real Frank W. Abagnale, Behind the Scenes featurettes and more. Do not miss this Masterpiece Entertainment of a Film. Based on a novel by Frank W. Abagnale with Stan Redding. The Real Abagnale appears in a Cameo as a French Officer. Screenplay by Jeff Nathanson (Rush Hour 2). Grade:A.
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