Rating: 
Summary: Crime pays?
Review: Based on a true story, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN provides a congenial theater outing.Leonardo DiCaprio plays Frank Abagnale, Jr., who, between the ages of 16 and 19, successfully impersonated an airline pilot, a physician, and a lawyer. In the process, he passed phony checks totaling millions of dollars. Tom Hanks plays Carl Hanratty, the nerdy FBI agent out to bust young Frank. This is probably the best acting performance by DiCaprio since TITANIC, which isn't saying much, and Hanks has done better. However, both actors apparently had a lot of fun with their roles here, and it's that energy that makes CATCH ME IF YOU CAN a film worth watching. Also, Christopher Walken is wonderful as the enigmatic Frank Abagnale, Sr., whose business and marriage is ruined by the IRS, which is pursuing him for reasons left largely unspecified. And, while it was never clear to me whether the Old Man clearly understood the extent of his son's mischief, the occasional sly grin and whisper in the ear seemed to indicate that he admired and envied his boy's larcenous spirit and adventurous lifestyle. This film is a flight into nostalgia for those of us old enough to remember the days when commercial air travel still had élan, when pilots were heroes, and when the politically correct "cabin attendants" were elegant "stewardesses". There's one comic scene involving Frank, Carl and an in-flight chocolate éclair that pointedly recalls that coach fare used to be more than an apple and bagged peanuts. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN drags a little by the end, and the lesson of the epilog might be that crime pays. However, it's a reminder that fact can be genuinely more entertaining than FX-laden fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: Uplifting, Funny, Entertaining
Review: Those are perhaps the best three words to describe what Catch Me If You Can is, but it's not limited to that. When I first heard of this movie, I had low expectations to say the least. The plot didn't seem like it was up to Spielberg standards, and at the time I didn't hold much respect for DiCaprio as an actor. Of course, I was proven completely wrong. This was the most entertaining movie I have seen all year. Never for one single second did my eyes vear from the screen. My thoughts did not wander for even a single moment. I was mesmerized by Frank William Abagnale Jr.'s life's tale. It is truly amazing. Once you think that he can't top himself, he does. I don't want to reveal anything about the ending (even though it's not one of those big "surprise ending" movies) because it is so much better if you don't know. I guarantee you will be laughing out loud at the irony of the end. But that won't be the only time you laugh - this movie is hilarious throughout! From the beginning where he impersonates a substitute teacher on the spur of the moment (which ends up lasting a whole week, when he is caught he was in the middle of planning a field trip), to all the ways he eludes FBI Agent Carl Handratty, to the afore-mentioned ending. It is sprinkled with so many jokes and gags that you will think it is a comedy... ...but there is also a serious dramatic edge. The other main plotline that the movie revolves around is Frank's family. When his parents divorce he is 16 years old, and that is when he runs off and starts his life of crime. It is clear that this plays a key role in Frank's life. Throughout his crimes, it becomes obvious he is trying to reclaim the loving life he had when his parents were still together. Overall, Frank Abagnale's life is quite a ride. I have to admit, I personally envy him a little. He manages to live the high life as a criminal, and more than get away with it afterwards. I thought that this movie was more consistantly entertaining than the OTHER blockbuster, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, which is quite slow through the middle. Catch Me If You Can was such an entertaining, fun, and hope-filled journey that not only can I easily see myself buying the DVD and watching it innumerable times, but I also plan on seeing it AGAIN this coming weekend. This will be one of the very few occasions that I have seen a movie twice while it is still in the theaters, and that is saying quite a lot because most movies aren't even worth the cost to see once (Analyze That) let alone twice in the same week. See this movie for a fun time, but expect to feel some heavy emotions.
Rating: 
Summary: What an Awful Movie....
Review: I really can't say what's more pathic about this movie. Spielberg fooling himself into thinking this is one of his best pictures, the awful casting of Mr. DiCaprio in the lead role which once again shows us that he can not act, or Tom Hanks who really comes off as a Mike Meathead type character as the FBI agent chasing the scam artist around for nearly twenty years.
Martin Sheen and Christopher Walken at least still show that they are good actors and turn in better performances at least. But this movie only once again shows that Dreamworks Pictures is very over-rated. I think now more then ever, Spielberg has lost it to make entertaining movies.
Rating: 
Summary: WorldCom's predecessor
Review: Some lines and scenes are hilarious, production is almost flawless, Tom Hanks delivers as usual, and the wonderful 60s style credits are reminiscent of the Pink Panther. But to release this film in the year that millions of people were bilked by the con-artists at WorldCom and Enron? People who didn't have a second chance at life because they're "too old"? Even the brief blurb of redemption at the end is trivialized in the way it's portrayed - Spielberg definitely didn't think this topic needed any of his skills at social commentary. The film should have ended with scene of solitary confinement, and not romanticized corporate fraud that "doesn't hurt anyone".
Rating:
Summary: WorldCom's predecessor
Review: Yes, there are hilarious lines in the movie, the 1960s-type film credits are wonderfully reminiscent of Pink Panther, production is almost flawless, and Tom Hanks delivers as usual. But to release this movie in the year when so many people have been bilked of their money by the con-artists at Enron, WorldCom, etc.? And to glamorize this life? Real people really lose through corporate fraud! Even though Frank "turned around" at the end, that point is trivialized by the written statements at the end of the film. The movie should have ended when Frank is put in solitary confinement. Spielberg should have brought his social commentary skills to this subject also.
Rating:
Summary: A really fun holiday flick from Spielburg!
Review: Let's face it: "Catch Me if You Can" is this year's "Ocean's Eleven". It's a fun movie made in a short amount of time by a director who's best known for his serious works in what feels like a side project. I mean, Steven Spielburg had just put out a brilliant blockbuster ("Minority Report") last summer. Still, that doesn't stop "Catch Me if You Can" from being one of the most entertaining movies of the holiday season. From the gorgeous opening titles by Kuntzel + Deygas to the jazzy Mancini-style score by John Williams, everything about this movie is fun. Leonardo DiCaprio is perfectly cast as Frank Abagnale, Jr, the fast-talking con man who ends up robbing the United States out of $2.5 million. Same for Tom Hanks, who plays the role of Carl Hanratty, an obsessed bank fraud investigator for the FBI, who's thankful he finally has a good assignment on his hands...but soon realizes, he may be in over his head. The time of the season is explored as well, with Frank and Carl running into each other every Christmas Eve. Overall, a fun movie for anyone who'd love to see a simple picture without all the gloss and special effects of "Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter".
Rating:
Summary: Sorry I caught it!
Review: This movie was so much of a let-down from the book. DiCrapio [stunk]-again. Hanks was awful. Worse accent/dialect than Costner's in 13 days (or however long that movie lasted.) I usually enjoy Hanks (and Costner) but this was unbearable. Sheen [stunk]. Walken was nothing like Abagnale's real father. If you have high expectations, DO NOT READ THE BOOK BEFORE YOU SEE THE FILM!!! So many cool tricks were left out that he really pulled in exchange for the lame ones done in the movie. "To the moon" and the awful "mouse in whipped cream" analogy drove me ape-youknowwhat! Wait until it comes out on regular TV. The book is a must have, but for lame brains who only see the movie, have at it.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Story
Review: The story is based mostly on true events. Although the film's teaser trailer may have advertised a comedy it really is not. There is some situational humor, but no jokes or gags. I did laugh out loud once or twice and certainly smiled throughout the film. It's a good story, well acted, and I'd watch it again.
Rating:
Summary: Wait for the DVD to come out
Review: I guess I expected much more from this film considering it was SPEILBERG after all. In short, the movie takes quite some time getting started i.e., the background on Frank Jr.'s family took up to an hour to establish. The second half was more enjoyable, however, the movie was WAY TOO LONG! At least 30 minutes could have been cut easily! The scene with Jennifer Garner was a total waste of time and an insult to her talent. That's all I have to say about that.
Rating:
Summary: The fine art of check forging...
Review: "Catch Me If You Can" is one motion picture which asks one question in particular: If you were to toss a (bank or cashier's) check on the floor, would it bounce, or would it make a soft thud, and remain motionless afterward? As to the answer to the above two-part question, both aftermaths are correct...well...sort of. Although this is a motion picture which features a fine main and supporting cast (featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen in adequate roles), the film's plot seems to drag in certain places, making some scenes appear to be both drawn-out and boring (the "thuds"). Overall, the main theme for the most part makes for an interesting teleplay between DiCaprio's and Walken's main characters (one of a number of "bounces"). In this film, Walken portrays a "freelancer" named Frank Abagnale, Sr., who, in the past, was charged with tax evasion, leaving him in severe financial dire straits, amounting to a huge debt. His son Frank Jr. (DiCaprio) contrives on a scheme to cover his father's financial losses, so he cooks up a batch of fake identities, ranging from a doctor to a co-pilot (including everything in between) and writes several bad checks in the process (yet more "bounces". Get it? A virtual play on words!) FBI Special Agent Carl Hanratty (played by Tom Hanks) is assigned this case, and the wheels are set in motion. Agent Hanratty does everything in his power to attempt to catch this clever teenaged fugitive, but it seems as if he gets closer and closer to catching the forgerer, DiCaprio's character is criss-crossing the country. The few minor perks as to how the forgerer changes identities in this movie are quite amusing and hilarious (which I won't reveal for spoiler's sake), and these are essential to the film's main storyline, which makes "Catch Me If You Can" a mostly fluid and interesting movie, to say the least. However, due to the fact this is a two hour and twenty minute feature, means that some scenes appear to be tedious and tiresome, making the storyline hard to follow in certain places. But, Steven Spielberg should be given the utmost credit for making the directorial (and theatrical) aspect of this movie work. Despite some of the above minor inconveniences, this is a film that's definitely worth checking out, so be sure and "catch it if you can" (either at your local theater or soon to be released on VHS or DVD format) today!
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