Though Steven Spielberg has created many classics over the years that any sane person would enjoy, I love most what he did with Catch Me If You Can. How can you go wrong with Leonardo Dicaprio, Tom Hanks, and Christopher Walken all in the same movie? They are all amazing actors. Spielberg does a fantastic job at telling the comedic and dramatic true story of one of 1960’s most legendary con artists, Frank Abagnale Jr. , who by age 21 had already stolen millions of dollars by using fraudulent checks and forging resumes and certificates, therefore passing as a pilot, an assistant DA, and even a senior pediatrician! It’s a wild story indeed, but it’s even cooler that it’s all true! The actual Frank Abagnale Jr. actually worked along in making the movie, which I find crazy cool.
Leonardo Dicaprio is a complete badass as Frank Abagnale Jr. He is confident, attractive, stylish, young, and clever, making you admire him immediately despite his deviant behavior. He is only 16 when he begins to con banks and employers and I give him props on being so charming and sneaky at the same time.
Frank is being chased and investigated by FBI agent Carl Hanratty, played by Tom Hanks, who is a super hilarious and somewhat fictionalized character that adds greatly to the film. Carl is sympathetic to Frank while still stopping at nothing to catch him. His determination gets my admiration, making it an odd situation since I want to root for both sides. Tom Hanks is so perfect for this role, though it is apparently a bit fabricated. Mr. Hanks makes Hanratty an epic character that I'm sure only he could have delivered.
Christopher Walken plays the wonderful and supporting father of Frank Abagnale Jr. There is one amazing scene of his that makes me tear up every time! Christopher Walken is always such a real guy while still acting; that’s why I love him so much. In the movie, he delivers an extremely emotional scene in which he chokes up crying while telling the sweetest story of how he and Frank’s mother had first met. It is such a genuine and sincere performance that even the director wasn't expecting it. He must have been pleasantly surprised though.
Catch Me If You Can is bound to become more of a classic as the years go on. It gets me laughing loudly in one minute then tense with suspense in the next every time I watch it. The movie has such whole-hearted themes and great characters that just about everyone can relate to. Though Frank does things that are supposed to be looked down upon by society, I think this movie gives everyone's inner rebel a little satisfaction. A ride alongside this con artist is an enjoyable one indeed.
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