“Catch Me If You Can” (DreamWorks)
Leonardo Dicaprio has a super role in a super movie. The movie is “Catch Me If You Can” and in it Dicaprio plays real life con artist Frank Abagnale. Tom Hanks is the FBI agent chasing him, and he is also at his best. The entire package is directed by Steven Spielberg and that gives the movie a high class pedigree.
Abagnale started his criminal career early. He was only in his teens when his parents divorced and sent young Frank spinning for a way to raise enough money to get them back together. Frank’s father (Christopher Walken) tries to convince him that the marriage is dead and can’t be resurrected but Frank doesn’t believe him. Frank thinks if his father has enough money then his wife (Nathalie Baye) will want him back
Frank starts off writing bad checks. Later he impersonates an airline pilot in order to get the checks cashed. As the crimes get more common, the FBI gets wind of his activity. Carl Hanratty (Hanks) is the agent who its assigned to the case. He gets on Frank’s trail and comes close to catching him time after time.
The fun of the film is watching Frank’s various impersonations. In one instance he is a pilot, in another he is a lawyer, in a third he is a doctor. And always there are the bad checks that he so brilliantly draws.
Dicaprio gets into the heart and soul of Abagnale and makes him a total crook, but a charming one. Hanks is rather stodgy as Hanratty but that fits the role perfectly. Walken has some fine moments as the senior Abagnale, showing again why he is one of the best character actors in Hollywood.
Jennifer (“Alias”) Garner has a brief role as a prostitute who gets conned by Abagnale. Amy Adams is the sweet southern girl who loses her heart to him.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity.
“Catch Me If You Can” oozes charm and fun at every turn. This is a laid back movie that entertains you while never stressing you out. Spielberg just lets the actors do their thing while he maintains total control of the film. It all comes together and does so with style and grace.
You can’t help but have a good time with “Catch Me If You Can.” It is a bright film that will lighten up any dreary winter day.
I scored “Catch Me If You Can” a gotcha 7 out of 10.
©2002 Jackie K. Cooper
