Rating: Summary: This movie was good.... Review: This movie is very interesting. It is not exactly a comedy but it does have a few funny scenes, unless you are just one of those inconsiderate non-open minded people who go in with the attitude that "this has to be really funny or [it is really bad]." Yes this movie does contain a little comedy. But due to the face its based on a true story, you can only do so much to make some parts funny. If the preveiw/trailer interested you I definitely reccomend seeing this.
Rating: Summary: Catch this movie. Review: Catch Me If You Can is a wonderful film on a couple of levels. To begin with the obvious, the fact that DiCaprio (Frank) and Hanks (Carl) star in it would be enough to get a lot of people to the theatre. Both do an excellent job in capturing their characters' motives and feelings, developing almost a father-son relationship despite being on opposite sides of the law. Walken is deliciously understated as Frank, Sr.That the film is based on fact adds to the surrealness of the story. How a 16-17 year old could develop the skills needed to pull off his cons is not really addressed in the movie, which is why I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5. Just knowing that he did actually accomplish what he did was amazing but a little more detail on where he got the skills would have helped. There are some emotional jolts throughout the movie but most of the story is on the more lighthearted side. The loneliness and emptiness felt by Frank despite his success is sad and by the end of the movie I got the feeling that he was happy to have it over with. All-in-all, Catch Me If You Can is a fun, interesting film.
Rating: Summary: Forgoing "The Great Impostor" Review: While I will admit up front that I have not yet seen this movie, There is one comment hat I would like to make with regards to its subject matter. With all the reviews, the commentary, and the advertising (it is a Spielberg film, after all), it seems that there has been one facet of this movie's genre left out of it, its predecessor. I am speaking of a movie which is not a widely known film, but it can be said that at least the premise is not far from it. The film I am referring to is "The Great Impostor", starring Tony Curtis as the title character, and one that for its time showed much of the same premise as this one does. For those who haven't seen the other movie, Tony Curtis plays Ferdinand Waldo Demarra (also a real life person), who from anearly age begins to develop his art for impersonating other people and professions. He criscrosses half the world, moving from the East Coast of the US to working aboard a Canadian hospital ship off Korea during the conflict. The two parts of that movie which I liked, aside from the ending of course, when Tony is allowed to break the rule about the fourth wall, were Karl Malden's performance as the family priest-turned-confidante to the younger and adult Demarra, and his time in Canada, where Demarra is able to not only appear more human, but actually allow the audience to see that side of him.
Rating: Summary: A good film with an extraordinary rhythm Review: More than 130 minutes for a film which has a lot of action and rhythm. Both main actors make a great performance. For Tom Hanks (Carl Hanratty) is not news, as all latest roles have been outstanding, but for Leonardo Di Caprio (Frank Abagnale, or, Frank Conners), I think this has been his best acting ever. Besides the story (based in a real character, but full of fictionary situations) is very dynamic. Sometimes, the continuous race between the policeman and the thief seems to be somewhat ridiculous, but I think this is the spirit of the movie. To catch such a smooth criminal is really disgusting and frustrating and you need to have real perseverance to get what you want. It's like what a hacker is used to do nowadays. Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen have got short but very important and memorable appearances. Amy Adams, who takes part as Frank's girlfriend, is on the other side, very greasy and clumsy (sorry about that). It's not the thing you should expect from Steven Spielberg who had lost some credit after "I.A.", but it's really recommended.
Rating: Summary: Enthusiastically recommended (4.5 stars) Review: "Catch Me If You Can" is a wonderful movie. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Frank Abagnale, a teenaged boy who cashes $4 million worth of phony checks and cons his way into the glamorous lives of an airline pilot, a pediatrician, and a lawyer. Tom Hanks plays Carl Handratty, the FBI agent obsessed with catching Frank...if he can. It's the cat-and-mouse chase that occupies the bulk of movie, but what a gleeful chase it is! "Catch Me If You Can" examines the subtleties of Frank's and Handratty's characters without trying too hard. As a result, there's no black and white good cop/ bad thief. That's what makes it so insteresting. Normally this is a weighty kind of subject matter, but because of the dialogue and nuanced humor that sparkles as much as the movie's jazzy John Williams score and pop standards soundtrack, the movie remains lightfooted and upbeat. "Catch Me If You Can" also appeals to the the visual sense, as in the retro bright costuming and the strong, clean lines in the surrounding architecture. The all-star cast consists of established Hollywood giants (Hanks, Martin Sheen, Christopher Walken) and up and coming talent (DiCaprio, Jennifer Garner). But honestly, I'm no movie snob. I liked the story, was moved by the performances. It was funny. There was a cool opening credits sequence. I also liked how this Spielberg film managed to avoid the much of the gooey sentimentality seen in conclusions of some previous movies (AI, Minority Report). The only thing that annoyed me, I think, was that Jennifer Garner scene. Maybe there's more to it, but I saw it as a scene with little substantive value except to flaunt star power. Oh well. But for all you naysayers out there: Take this movie as it is, without the comparing it to the trailer or the real story. "Catch Me If You Can" seems to me a smart, cool movie about this one kid and the unconventional way he learned about love and family. An added bonus is the Christmas theme sprinkled throughout the movie, as a structural element I suppose. For this reason, I recommend that you see this holiday treat while the holiday season lasts.
Rating: Summary: A good way to pass an afternoon, but just that.. Review: "Catch me if You can" is a disposable movie about the exploits of "paperhanger" Frank W. Abagnale, based on the book of the same name. Frank Jr.(Leonardo DiCaprio in a good role) starts his imposter career while still in high school. Then, he drops out when his father(played subtly by Christopher Walken) has severe financial problems, and starts to learn how to pass off bad checks. He comes up with the idea to pose as a Pan-Am pilot, and uses a new scheme taking advantage of routing numbers. Hoping to find the con-man, is Carl Henrietty(Tom Hanks). There are a few close calls where Carl nearly catchs Frank, and Frank always calls Carl on Christmas(which leads to his undoing). Frank also impersonates a lawyer and a doctor on his crime spree, and meets a woman that he falls in love with(Amy Adams). Frank meets the girl's father(Martin Sheen in a great cameo), who is estanged from her. Frank nearly marries her, and he runs away after he has to tell her the truth. There is a happy ending, as Carl helps Frank to use his abilities to catch other crooks.
Rating: Summary: Fun Movie Review: I recently rented the DVD and found it was a very fun movie to watch. The actors were excellent and the storyline very enjoyable. I plan to watch it again.
Rating: Summary: A "Male Movie" Review: Christopher Walken, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks give outstanding roles in what really should have been considered a biasis male movie . The movie borders on excellent in its intelligent handling of (delusions of grandeur),vulnerability of parent conflicts on how it affects especially teens(the pun is "the boy is "father of the man"[in how his childhood affects him as an adult);In Frank Sr's(actor Walden) case ,he kind of started the problem when no concern was made when he and his later ex-wife were called into the principal's office when Frank Jr(DiCaprio) did his 'first imposter as a subtitute teacher' on his first day in a new school. It reflected also how well swindles work on those hooked on pride(a little compliment went a long way over and over again in Frank(DiCaprio) condescending. "1969-1973"(which is supposedly the era in which this biography of a teen age boy Carl(DiCaprio) who in the last several minutes of the movie turned FBI agent after finally caught in France by FBI agent Carl(Hanks)under the ruse he could call his dad ,Frank Sr (Walken) who had unknown to Frank(DiCaprio) been killed in a platform train accident). In the most important industries of Colleges,Airlines,Legal, FBI and last but not least Banking ,'the kid' (Frank (actor DiCaprio) was doing his "homework" better than those on payrolls did their "jobs".
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.
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