The Chase Is On

Catch Me If You Can is one of my favorite films, and not just because it is a Spielberg film, although that certainly helps.  The movie is so entertaining and thrilling to watch, and has tremendous rewatchability.  For me personally, it is on my "5 Films To Own On A Desert Island" list.

Catch Me If You Can is the TRUE story of Frank Abagnale, Jr, who was one of the most successful con men in United States history.  The most enjoyable thing about this movie is the attention to detail in the storytelling.  Right from the very beginning we are given visual clues of what Abagnale (Leonardo DiCaprio) will use to elude the authorities (ripping labels off of condiments, The Flash comic books, folding notes so that they appear fake, etc.).  These sort of details continue on as we see how Abagnale forges checks and even makes checks of his own.  For a film that has such a simple premise, there is an incredibly exquisite attention to detail throughout.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays Frank Abagnale, Jr.  Throughout Abagnale's life, we see that his parents' divorce has had a deep effect on him.  He uses the same charm with women that his father (Christopher Walken) used, and even the confrontation he has with Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) towards the end of the film is in the city where his parents met.  DiCaprio brings such energy to the role, but also great vulnerability.   There is a seen where he is watching his future in-laws ( Martin Sheen and Nancy Lenehan) dance in the kitchen, and you can see that Abagnale wishes that had happened with his parents.  This is beautiful acting by DiCaprio.  DiCaprio's scenes with Tom Hanks are also quite good, as DiCaprio is splendid at playing the character as suave, yet arrogant, about eluding his pursuer.  Catch Me If You Can is one of the films that came along at a time when DiCaprio stopped being a teen idol, and started to become a respectable actor, and this is one of my favorite roles of his.

Tom Hanks, in a pleasantly surprising supporting role, plays Carl Hanratty.  One of things that you notice right from the beginning is that while Hanratty is charged with bringing Abagnale in, there is a great deal of respect that Hanratty has for him.  Hanks' role is one that could have very easily been played as someone who is angry at this teenager who is humiliating him.  However, Hanks does such an amazing job with the specific cadence of his voice that you can tell he is trying to protect Abagnale rather than getting angry and having hatred towards him.  He does such a brilliant job at bringing a fatherly quality to the role.  Again, the scene between Hanks and DiCaprio in Montrichard, France is a great example of this.

Steven Spielberg is the director of Catch Me If You Can.  He does a tremendous job of capturing the lifestyle of the 1960's, right down to the fashion and music of that era.  The pacing of the movie is brilliant as well.  You can feel the tension slowly build throughout the movie right up until the end, and you are always wondering what will happen next and how it will unfold.  The moments between DiCaprio and Walken are shot particularly well, and those scenes become increasingly heartfelt to watch as you realize that the relationship between those two characters is gradually deteriorating.

Catch Me If You Can is one of Steven Spielberg's best films.  It is extremely entertaining, and superbly crafted.  If you have not seen this film, for whatever reason, I highly recommend that you pick it up.