Catch Me If You Can
"Catch Me If You Can" is the lightest, most breezy movie Steven Spielberg has made in more than a decade. And the positive change in tone here seems to have recharged him; this is his most enjoyable picture in many a moon.In fact, this comic thriller makes the case that perhaps the darker and more tormented stories are not really Spielberg's forte. While "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan" demonstrated that he can successfully make movies with serious themes, such uneven projects as "A.I. Artificial Intelligence," "Minority Report" and "Amistad" showed just how much they test his storytelling skills.
"Catch Me If You Can" succeeds for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the central performance by Leonardo DiCaprio, who may have needed this film as much as Spielberg.
DiCaprio stars as Frank Abagnale, probably the most successful con artist in U.S. history. Abagnale got started at a young age, after leaving his troubled home while still in his teens.
His first deception was impersonating a pilot for Pan Am Airlines, then forging checks to maintain the high life. However, the latter brings him unwanted attention from FBI agent Carl Hanratty (a straight-faced and straitlaced Tom Hanks).
He also finally finds love in the person of Brenda (Amy Adams), the daughter of a Southern prosecutor (Martin Sheen), who suspects his prospective son-in-law may be too good to be true. Meanwhile, Hanratty continues to close in on him.
With Frank landing stints in the airlines, medicine and practicing law, the story sounds unbelievable. But Jeff Nathanson's screenplay stays pretty true to the source material (Abagnale's own memoirs).
Judging by the brisk, sprightly tone, Spielberg was as amused by the material as the audience. And, as is Spielberg's wont, the film is at least 20 minutes too long. But the cast is so superb, you might not even notice.
DiCaprio is charismatic and winning (his performance here even helps erase the memory of his so-so turn in "Gangs of New York"). And Hanks makes fine foil.
Of the talented supporting players, the real standout is Christopher Walken, who seems to relish the opportunity to play a nice guy for a change, as Abagnale's father and inspiration.
"Catch Me If You Can" is rated PG-13 for occasional use of strong profanity (including one usage of the so-called "R-rated" curse word), simulated sex, use of some crude slang terms, brief gore and brief violence (an arrest and submission). Running time: 140 minutes.
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