Sometimes fact really is stranger than fiction. Director Steven Spielberg’s most recent film, Catch Me If You Can, depicts the life of a teenager who successfully impersonates a teacher, pilot, doctor and lawyer, scamming over $4 million dollars before reaching the age of 19. As unbelievable as it is, this far-fetched movie script is based on fact and inspired by the 1980 autobiography of Frank Abagnale Jr.
Leonardo DiCaprio masterfully portrays the 16-year-old Frank, whose world falls apart when his parents get divorced. He runs away from home and has to grow up quickly in order to survive. He learns fast and becomes a master at forging cheques. His sharp eye for detail and talent to manipulate and deceive people turns him into a successful and rich con man on the run from the FBI.
Set in the carefree 1960s, Spielberg’s creative team recreates the era masterfully. Costumes and sets are flawless, while John Williams’ Mancini-inspired soundtrack also sets the mood, especially in connection with the animated opening credits. The specific theme song recurs whenever DiCaprio’s counterpart Tom Hanks, who plays FBI agent Carl Hanratty, comes close to catching Frank.
Hanks plays a solemn and lonely man who concentrates on hunting down Frank. Their cat-and-mouse game provides many of the best scenes in the movie and uses the colossal contrast between Hanratty’s dull and tedious existence and Frank’s extravagant lifestyle, complete with beautiful girls, expensive hotels, and fast-paced changes in his life.
Christopher Walken shines with a great performance as Frank’s father, Frank Abagnale Sr., who turns from an idol-like business figure to a disillusioned and forlorn man after running into trouble with the IRS over taxes. He loses his money, his wife and everything else he lived for. His role compliments the otherwise comical plot with a tragic undertone and aims to give an explanation for Frank’s excessive search for money and social prominence.
Both Nathalie Baye as Frank’s French mother Paula Abagnale and Amy Adams as Frank’s love interest Brenda Strong deliver strong supporting roles, while Alias TV star Jennifer Garner appears briefly as a prostitute. Martin Sheen takes on the role of Brenda’s father and lawyer Roger Strong.
The movie deviates from Spielberg’s usual style of movie. It is a tad overlong and could profit from a faster ending. Nevertheless, Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can is a light and enjoyable story about criminal genius that questions how much you can get away with in the real world. It finds the right balance between drama and comedy and leaves you with a smirk on your face as you exit the theatre.
