Catch Me If You Can (Widescreen Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Light hearted Ripley
Review: Sunday, February 13, 2005 / 3 of 5 / Light hearted Ripley
Tom Hanks chases after Leo DiCaprio in the late 60's as `teen' Leo impersonates an airline pilot, doctor, lawyer, etc. I never felt deeply involved with the characters or the story, it was pretty superficial and not particularly compelling. It was an effective time waster though, Hanks gives an understated and tired performance as the chaser. Plays a bit like the Talented Mr. Ripley without the psychopathic baggage.

Rating:
Summary: Spielberg's "Catch-Me-If-You-Can-Like-Hitchcock's "Marnie"
Review: Like Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg must have been yearning to produce and direct something similar to "the master's" opulent 1964 Universal Production entitled, "MARNIE". Just as Hitchcock's main title character, 'Marnie' - Spielberg presents a similar type of a psychological-compulsive-pathological liar and thief, only this time - the attractive leading character is a man named Frank Abagnole, Jr., who is craftily played by Leonardo Di Caprio (who appears as - like Hitchcock's "Marnie"- a blonde, before both characters metatheticalize identities).
Where in Hitchcock's title female character in "MARNIE" ends - Spielberg's identical leading male character in "Catch Me If You Can" begins - at least when he (Spielberg) attempts to exude additional depths and colors with subtle comic and serious nuances of the sexually charming "catch-me-if-you-can-kind-of-like-Hitchcock's `Marnie'-kind-of-character" channeled essence with Di Caprio's leading role.
But here-in lies one major flaw and poses a question to the problem... When does a joke about compulsive thievery and false identity's go too far? And when should we - the viewer (or voyeur), stop laughing at Di Caprio's Frank Abagnole character and begin to emphasize with this trapped animal in a corner? I did - and far earlier in the picture then the rest of the audience-when Frank realizes that his mother and father will never reconcile - yet still refuses to accept this news from his Father - Frank, Sr. - his "real" Father who now works as a mailman (whom by the way, was brilliantly played by Chistopher Walken). Frank, Jr. - upset about who and what his Father has now become - runs out of the tavern and out of his Father's life. It is when we (the viewer) sadly hear Frank, Sr. (Walken's character) cry out, "So, where are you gonna run too, now kid... huh? Go ahead... run... keep on running... Where're you gonna run too, now?" These lines are the most profoundly sad and insightful comment ever made about both of these "just-like-Father, just-like-Son" deeply flawed and sorrowfully hurt characters.
I think Spielberg's picture not only scratches the surface of a Father and Son relationship and the "lack there of" in one, but the movie then begins to extol a chance of salvation and a future hopeful glimmer - at least for the son, Frank Abagnole, Jr..
Frank's often "shaky" rehabilitated transition repeatedly arrives in a sort of angelic "serogate" Fatherly type of way - fittingly and unknowingly disguised as the clumsy FBI agent named Hanratty - brilliantly played by Tom Hanks.
After viewing this DVD you'll notice many additional compulsive patterns and similarities with Hitchcock's leading title character, "MARNIE" with Spielberg's leading character, Frank Abagnole Jr. The insightful paradoxical make-up of both characters - each strikingly mirror each other so complete - like dual shelf bookends.

Rating:
Summary: DiCaprio outwits the law in tight trousers
Review: The inspiration for this implausible story about a teenage conman who swindles his way to a cool $2 million before his 21st birthday is actually, as most people planning to purchase this DVD will know, a true premise. Frank Abagnale Jnr attained brief fame in the 1960s when he became the youngest American ever to appear on the FBI's most wanted list and his autobiography, published in 1980, chronicling his underhand escapades, became a cult bestseller.

It appears that Steven Spielberg was one of those readers, or at any rate, was inspired to recreate this story on the big screen by some convincing source or another as this is not an orthodox Spielberg film. It fits neither into the category of his most recent, darker themed movies, A.I: Artificial Intelligence and Minority Report, nor the large scale epics emphasising tender children's emotions (E.T., Hook), large scale historical drama (Schindler's List) or blockbuster thrill sensations (Jurassic Park).

No, Catch Me if You Can is something rather different. Ostensibly it is a dramatic comedy. Di Caprio is cast as the dashing, raffish Frank Jnr - except that his clothes for some reason are always a size too small. It is never quite clear why he feels the need to become one of America's most notorious criminals, but we are given the impression that deep family psychological anxieties play a large part - Frank Jnr is angry with his mother Paula who dumps his father for someone more successful and has a touching desire to please his father, Frank Snr (Christopher Walken plays this role to acclaimed success). Rapidly and ingeniously he passes himself off as a pilot, doctor and lawyer - sometimes through necessity when his is on the verge of being caught, sometimes, it appears, through sheer boredom. His evades his captors because he is so clever, but also because the finest brains of the FBI that pursue him are represented by Carl Hanretty (Tom Hanks) who, with his middle aged family problems, paunch and dogged rather than lightning quick intellect, frequently and comically lets Frank get away.

This is not a deep film but several issues are explored. Frank's weakness for women is a continuous theme throughout the film, many different types of women - high class prostitutes (whom he cons) and the naive, brace wearing Brenda Strong (Amy Adams) who's tender innocence captures Frank's heart for a while and he becomes engaged to her until the need to escape from the law forces him away again.

There is also a respectful bond between Frank and Carl the FBI agent. Carl respect's Frank's ingenuity and cunning, Frank sees Carl as almost a father figure and admires his persistence to bring him to justice. There is a clever solution that reconciles both these two factors. You'll have to watch the movie to find it out.

So a Spielberg comedy. The man has nothing to prove, he can do pretty much what he likes now. It probably won't go down as one of the Spielberg greats, but it is slick, realistic and the plot keeps revolving with enough action to just about justify the length (over two hours). The 60s theme is done well too. As well as the tight trousers, the film is set to a minimalist jazz soundtrack with some evocative saxophone solos from Dan Higgins.


Rating:
Summary: Fun Movie
Review: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, is a fun movie with good performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks and Christopher Walkin. Each breathe life into very different characters with all the professionalism they have to offer.

The story of Frank J. Abagnale, Jr., an unusual con man who impersonated a pilot, doctor and lawyer to the delightful frustration of bland, yet persistent FBI guy Carl Hanratty, moves well with the genuine look and feel of the 1960's.

Although the movie is long, at over 2:20, the viewer remains engaged throughout the film. Although not the typical Spielberg epic, it is a pleasure to watch and holds up after several screenings. Mr. DiCaprio turns a subtle performance that shows his unique talents. Tom Hanks is perfect in his role and Christopher Walken, as always is the consumnate professional. Rounding out the cast are Martin Sheen, Jennifer Garner, Nathalie Baye, James Brolin and Amy Adams and others.

The movie is excellent entertainment and worth watching.

Rating:
Summary: A Genius of Crime
Review: When the idea for a film surfaced in the creative mind of director Steven Spielberg concerning the amazing activities of Frank Abagnale Jr. there might have been more than a little bit of déjà vu involved. It was Spielberg who, as a young man fascinated by film, talked his way past Universal Studios security guards to watch films being made.

Leonardo Di Caprio as Abagnale Jr. interviews a Pan American Airways supervisor to learn about the careers of their pilots for the ostensible purpose of writing an article for his high school paper. In reality he is seeking to learn enough about the lives and activities of Pan Am pilots so he can successfully impersonate them. Couple his skillful impersonations alongside a genius for manufacturing bogus checks and the FBI was left reeling while he drained millions from the banking system. His cover as a pilot provides him with the opportunity to cash checks in cities all over the world.

Christopher Walken as Frank Abagnale Sr. plummets from a commanding community position as a successful businessman in New Rochelle, New York to a life in which he is compelled to scrap for his next meal. It all happens after he has troubles with the Internal Revenue Service and winds up under the oppressive yolk of owing a huge amount of money. After the Abagnales leave their mansion and move into a small apartment the marriage of Walken to his attractive French born wife, whom he had met during World War Two, ends abruptly in divorce. She promptly marries Walken's lawyer friend from the New Rochelle Rotary Club, played by James Brolin, as Di Caprio's world becomes shaken.

Di Caprio had seen his father engage in shady manipulations, and so he put some of his father's techniques to use along with his own additions. Soon it becomes obvious that Walken was a rank amateur compared to his son, who has a genius for white-collar crime.

The film's dramatic high point and chief story thread is the battle between Di Caprio to stay out of prison and hard working New York FBI agent Tom Hanks to put him there. Hanks is divorced and so literally married to his job that the white collar criminal is able to consistently reach him in his office on Christmas Eve. They develop a respect for each other over time, with Hanks admiring Di Caprio's brilliant skills, one of which is master escapist every time that he and his colleagues close in, with the criminal admiring the FBI agent's idealistic tenacity.

The film, based on the true life exploits of Abagnale, heads toward the inevitable result of a confrontation where the criminal is arrested. It happens under the most dramatic circumstances in France. The story then takes another turn late in the film when the FBI realizes that it can use the criminal's white-collar criminal skills as a means of preventing future crimes.

In real life Abagnale abandoned his criminal ways after doing his time, making large sums of money by consulting the corporate world in the area he knew best, that of security. Ironically Abagnale began by costing the corporate world millions and ultimately ended up by saving it millions.

Martin Sheen has a role as a father whose daughter wants to marry Di Caprio. The wily young man of many identities meets her as a presumed "emergency room supervising doctor" and then swiftly switches to lawyer after passing the Louisiana State Bar. He then goes to work as an assistant prosecutor in the office headed by Sheen.

Rating:
Summary: Roller Coaster Ride Story With A Great Cast!
Review: This movie is a lot of fun to watch. Seeing how Leonardo Dicaprio's character Frank Abagnale transforms himself step-by-step from a small-time trikster to an international conman worth a million bucks is pure entertainment. What's more, this movie is based on a true person and actual events, which makes it even more incredible. For those of you who truly enjoys this movie, I recommend you read the book version, which is a easy, fast and fascinating read, and will take you on a ride through more jaw-dropping stunts by Mr. Abagnale.

Special credits to Dicaprio, for those of you who had groaned and whined during the three hours of "Titanic", this should serve to prove that the boy who tries too often and too hard to be a man on-screen does have real acting skills (if you're still not convinced, then check out "What's Eating Gilbert Grapes", in which he plays a retarded boy, or "This Boy's Life", co-starring Robert de Niro). He portrays his conflicted character very well, who's naive, cunning, self-centered and love sick all at the same time. Honorable mention also goes to Christopher Walken, who plays Dicaprio's father. Walken carries the role with his own inevitable "Walken personality" (doesn't he always make a role by playing just himself in every film?), but also incorporates the necessary elements of a father and husband at loss.

This DVD also includes special features, such as commentaries by the real Frank Abagnale. The whole film's clever and entertaining, and it's a good thing that you'll laugh more than you'll have to think.

Rating:
Summary: great
Review: I always thought leo was some wussy titanic actor, but he came back with this movie (in my book). After Frank finds out his parents divorce and has to either have his mom or dad have full custody of him, he flees the house. Before you know it he is makeing a living off of posing (or being I guess you could say) as a pilot, a lawyer and a doctor all before he was 21 years old. Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), finally catches Frank and before you know it (i dont want to give too much of the movie away in words) hes working for the government with check fraud

5/5--Unique, witty, funny