Rating: 
Summary: I Loved this Movie!!!!
Review: Catch Me If You Can is based on the true life story of one of the most successful con artists in history - Frank Abagnale Jr. ( Leonardo Dicaprio). Frank is able to assume several different identities including a Secret Service agent, an airline pilot, a doctor, and a history professor to cash more than $2.5 million in fraudulent checks in the United States, as well as 26 other countries. Carl Hanratty ( Tom Hanks) is the lead FBI agent in the Checks Fraud division that is tracking Abagnale, and is determined to take him down no matter what. "Catch Me If You Can" takes us on an exciting and extremely entertaining cat and mouse chase between the two men. "Catch Me If You Can" is without a doubt the best film I have seen in the last couple of years. The film's screenplay was an extremely accurate adaptation of the book that was written by Frank himself. The story was absolutely perfect to bring to the big screen, simply because of how successfull Frank was. He managed to accomplish everything before he was 19. The overall direction from Stephen Spielberg was amazing. The film is paced extremely well, and even though it is almost 2 1/2 hours running, the film never seems long or drawn out. The set designs were also extremely authentic, and Spielberg was able to get the best performances possible out of the actors. The overall cast was just great in this movie. Each actor was the perfect choice for their particular role. I am not a big fan of Leonardo DiCaprio. But I must admit, that he turned in an outstanding performance and captured the true essance of Frank Abignale Jr. He is cunning, intelligent, and witty. This let him play the different identities of lawyer, teacher, doctor, etc, so convincingly. Tom Hanks was brilliant as Carl Hanratty. He will amaze you with the determination he gives in tracking Abignale. Hanks will also make you laugh because of his Boston accent, and also because of how extremely naive he can be at times. At one point, Abignale is able to convince Carl that he is a Secret Service agent working on the case. Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, Jennifer Gardner ( TV's "Alias"), and the rest of the cast put in top notch performances as well. Finally, the film is extremely fun to watch and down right hillarious. I was laughing for the majority of the film, and I actually had a good time watching Frank from one moment to the next. "Catch Me If You Can" was easily the best film of 2002. The film provides - an extremely authentic portrayal of Frank Abignale Jr.'s life, wonderful performances, masterful directing from Spielberg, and non-stop laughs. Not to mention the DVD has some pretty good extras as well. I highly recommend this film.
Rating:
Summary: Unlike Anything You Have Seen
Review: It was my father's idea to watch this movie;he said that a movie with Tom Hanks and Spielberg and Leonardo all together can't be that bad,so I agreed.But as it turned out,it isn't just "not bad",but thrilling,moving and most unique. The movie is adapted from a real story.16-year-old Frank W.Abgnate Jr. has a liar father and a Russian mother.He has the same(if not better)cheating talent and skills as his father,that allows him to fake the filling-in French teacher in his new school for a whole week without being known.When his mother divorces his father and he is asked to sign to decide which parent to live with,he breaks and ran away from home. From that moment his adventure begins.Frank decides that the best way to gain money is faking checks.And he cheats numerous banks and gets millions of money.To get more fun,using his talent he becomes a pilot,a doctor,a lawyer - and even finds a girl he seriously wants to marry with.All the while,An FBI agnet,Carl Hanratty(Tome Hanks),is chasing him,determined to get him. The story alone is bewildering enough.But Leonardo is even more amazing.I never like Leonardo before,neitherdid my dad(he stopped wanting to break Leon's neck only after he'd seen him drawn in Titanic).But here Leonardo's really like a talented young man.He is 28 already and he still plays the teenager like real.It's not a bit exaggerating to say that every glance,every move is impeccable.He is Frank Abgnate Jr.,and Frank is him.And you really should see how he deals with Carl had cornered him in the hotel room!It's only just unbelievable. Of course,honestly I don't think that Tom has played his best,and I believe the movie can do with a better name.But I still call it 5 stars,because when the whole thing is good enough,other imperfections don't count.This is a light,entertaining,yet very deep movie that touches you heart.And most of all,it is unique and it is unlike anything you have ever seen.
Rating: 
Summary: DiCaprio is surprisingly good
Review: This is an enjoyable movie as long as you don't take the story totally seriously. The 2.5 hours are rather long, but Spielberg does a good job at keeping the story moving at a manageable pace. There are some scenes that are totally unnecessary, and Martin Sheen puts up some pathetic performance. But DiCaprio is surprisingly excellent and convincing as the protagonist, and Walken, one of my favorite actors of all time, turns in admirable performance as the down-and-out father. Hanks is ok; a bit too much acting on his part. DiCaprio alone is worth seeing the movie for. The bonus material on the DVD shows you the real guy, including what he looked like as a young con artist.
Rating:
Summary: Immensely enjoyable film, good (not great) DVD edition
Review: Frank Abignale is a con artist without really trying to be. Fleeing from his parents' divorce at the age of 16, he observes how much respect a Pan Am pilot gets from a hotel concierge and the young ladies. He therefore gets his hands on a uniform, passes off a few bad cheques, and is on his way to fame, fortune, girls, and free air travel. That's about all there is to this immensely enjoyable, funny, and lighthearted film starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the con artist, Christopher Walken as his father, and Tom Hanks as an FBI agent trying to track him down. The performances are all excellent, as you might expect from the cast. John William's score is somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but its "jazz fusion" feel sets the perfect tone for Abignale's ad lib life of deception. Some have complained that the characters are a little shallow and the adventure superficial - this is unfair, as the movie doesn't mean to be anything but a light-hearted romp. It is unfairly overlooked, I think, because of the principle filmmakers' other projects that were released the same year: Spielberg's controversial A.I. and critical and commercial hit Minority Report, DiCaprio's multi-Oscar nominated Gangs of New York, and Hanks' multi-Oscar nominated Road to Perdition. However, for pure enjoyment, this film beats all the above hands-down. This DVD edition has a second disc filled with short subjects on casting, music, and technical information that is informative and interesting. As usual for Spielberg, there is no audio commentary, which continues to be a disappointment, but the rest of the extras are very good.
Rating:
Summary: 4.1 out of 5
Review: For certain most people know CATCH ME IF YOU CAN was a huge hit, being Spielberg's biggest hit in a fair while, but what really is CATCH ME IF YOU CAN? It's the true-life story of Frank Abagnale, Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio), a successful con artist who managed to escape numerous attempts at jailing him by an FBI agent (Tom Hanks), the only person who truly understands him. Spielberg's directing is superb, making the film a very realistic one indeed; there's an extremely entertaining script by Jeff Nathanson; then there's a very fine score by John Williams. To add to that, there are also great performances from DiCaprio (in one of his few very likable roles) and, of course, Hanks, along with Martin Sheen, Nathalie Baye, and Christopher Walken. It may not rank among Spielberg's greatest films, but CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is surely one of his most entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: Leo CAN act!!!!
Review: After Titanic came out, I lost all respect for Leonardo DiCaprio. Don't get me wrong, I like that movie, but I had high hopes for him as an actor, and I thought he was horrible in Titanic, and I don't even want to talk about "The Beach". Plus the way he acted in public turned me off even more. One thing I can't stand is spoiled brat celebrities. The ONLY reasons I wanted to see this was for Tom Hanks (I've been a fan of him since Bosom Buddies), and the story itself intrigued me. What I realized as I was watching this, is that Leo seems to have grown up, and that he can act again!!! As for the movie itself, it's wonderful. It's funny, but you don't get the sense that they are glorifying Mr. Abagnale's life of crime either, which is good. Even my husband enjoyed this movie, and he hates Leo DiCaprio even worse than I do (or did). He also doesn't normally like "true story" movies. But this was a great film, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a good "cops and robbers" caper.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting Story of True Life Event
Review: Spielberg does a masterful job of the 60's, even the lead-in is from that era! The sets and language is authentic to the period, and the acting is right on and groovy to that time as well. What can one say about DeCapria and Hanks in this? They each are outstanding. Hanks is so versatile, and here is another character for him, the serious, intent no funny biz type. He pulls it off just remarkable! Captivated, riveted to the end, as others have spoken, I was. The plot seems so unbelievable, but yet the length and end to which gov-FBI et al go to get this guy is magnet. Overall, the strong urge of Frank to sense his need and ability to get his mom and dad back is almost universal characteristic of divorced children (see excellent book "Children of Divorce" by Debbie Barr). This culminates in escape from plane john to his mother's new home, where looking through window at her in new life, is final straw for Frank, Jr. Heart-breaking scene which explained his strong drive to do all this remarkable stuff, and then FBI's wise rehab and usage of this for soceity's good. Excellent, one of best to have seen lately.
Rating:
Summary: Truly a surprise
Review: I was going to rent this movie when a co-worker allowed me to borrow it for a few days. I would not have regretted paying money for it. In fact, I eventually plan on purchasing it. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. How much the movie remained entertaining from start to finish. And to sweetly top it off, it's based on a true story...I just love those!
Rating:
Summary: True Story - Amazing
Review: Good cast and enough suspense to hold my interest, enjoy it!
Rating: 
Summary: FLAT
Review: This movie is flat - there is nothing to it...boring and barely entertaining. Also, I find I am liking leonardo less and less w each movie. The characters, the story-line, and the production are all lifeless, and, if I didn't know better, I would think this film made by a rank amature without a chance in the movie business. Hanks tries to do his best, but even he cannot enoble this dog of a film. I can't help but wonder how many people TRULY like it, and aren't just along-for-the-ride because of the big names involved. After all, Spielberg, and certainly Hanks, just CAN'T make less than a "great" film, can they? The answer is "yes" - and this is it!
|
