"Dear dad. You told me an honest man has nothing to fear. I'm trying not to be afraid."
Director Speilberg has chosen wisely for the opening credits to set the mood of the film,
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. He uses 1960's style graphics for the credits as well as jazzy music to give us the
feel of the period. He then proceeds to introduce us to the main character through the use of a late sixties
television show called TO TELL THE TRUTH. I remember that show as I used to watch it as often as possible.
Every week the host would introduce three people to a panel who were to try to figure out who the real personality
was from among the trio who all pretended to be the same person. Speilberg uses this device to give us the first
look at an older Abagnale. From here he moves us into the story.
"I'm really sorry if I made a fool out of you."
Young Frank (Leonardo DeCaprio) greatly admires his father Frank Sr. played with scene stealing performances
by Christopher Walken. His father has great dreams and is a con man with style. He really tries to be more
than he can be but he just never quite makes it. He teaches his son many tricks that Frank Jr. remembers well.
Frank Sr. in time will be very proud of his son's ability and we can see that he lives vicariously through his
son. Frank Jr.'s mother Paula is played by the beautiful Nathalie Baye. Paula Abagnale is a French lady
that likes her luxuries and is not too happy about having to go to the United States due to the senior Frank's
failed business. Frank Jr. loves France which is why he is Marseilles in 1969 when he is arrested and returned
stateside.
"Frank, your father is dead."
DiCaprio plays the young Frank with an innocent charm that easily convinces the audience that he is
perfectly capable of pulling the wool over peoples eyes. Unlike his father Frank Jr's good looks and charm seem
to easily help him sweep women off and give him what he asks for. He is a quick study and learns everything
he is shown without difficulty. This helps him become the master fake.
"I'll make them chase me for the rest of their lives."
On his sixteenth birthday before Frank Jr. leaves home he was given 50 blank cheques from his father to use when
needed. In time he finds them handy when he is taught how to fake cheques. He uses the money improve his lifestyle.
he soon learns how to scam Pan American Airlines and different banks. Keep in mind security was a lot more lax
back then. These cheques help him become better until he learns to print his own cheques and learns to bilk
people. His skills become so good that he even impersonates a doctor in a hospital. He receives pay cheques
and never performs any medical procedures.
"I'm nothing really. I'm just a kid who's in love with your daughter."
The only time he actually functions as the person he impersonates, is when he pretends to be a lawyer. After
meeting Brenda Strong (Amy Adams) Frank Jr. decides to marry her and they go to New Orleans where he meets
her lawyer father, Roger Strong played by Martin Sheen. Frank jr. tells Roger that he studied law at
Harvard and wants to practice law. Frank Jr. studies law by watching Perry Mason on
television and actually passes the law exam. Hey I did say it was a simpler time. He actually enjoys this job and intends to stay with it
but Carl Hanratty's persistence interferes. When he is finally tracked down he has to flee his perfect life
to avoid capture.
"Stop chasing me."
"I can't stop, it's my job."
"It's okay Carl, I just thought I'd ask."
Carl and Frank talk often on the phone. Frank is lonelier than he knows and needs to communicate with Carl.
Hanratty, over time looks forward to his calls. They both form a love hate relationship. At time syou can tell
that Carl enjoys the chase and is secretly happy that Frank gets away from him. I found this to be the
best part of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. It made for some interesting moments and of course sets up their
eventual working relationship in the FBI and their friendship. I have to mention here, that the Carl character in
the movie is fictious and is probably based on several agents and probably FBI agent Sean O'Riley,
"The call him the James Bond of the sky."
All this happens between 1966 and 1969. This was the Sean Connery James Bond era. Bond was a personal idol
of Frank's. The only other idol he had was Barry Allen the secret identity of The Flash from the comics. He even
names himself after this fictional character. Most of the character's he played have touches of these fictional
characters in them. Even though he acts like a young adult he is still a young boy and we are reminded of this in
a love sequence he has with a women who ends up being a very expensive call girl. Jennifer Garner plays
this character well and shows the audience through her how young Frank Jr. really is. By the way if you want to
see the gorgeous Ms. Garner you can catch her weekly on the ALIAS television series. We will also get to
see her soon in DAREDEVIL where she will play Electra. Can't wait myself.
"How much would you pay me for the entire night?"
Now this part of the story is something that Spielberg altered from the book. The real Frank Abagnale's
motivation in doing what he did, as he admits in his book, is that Frank Jr. had a non-stop lust for women and sex.
Even his near marriage to the innocent Brenda Strong was made out to be more innocent than it was. Speilberg is
not big on romance or sexual films so the decision to use Franks's expulsion from his suburban paradise as the
prime motivation in doing what he did is easier for the director to handle. It also makes the film more audience
friendly.
"Frank, would you be interested in working with the FBI?"
When Frank Abagnale Jr. was finally caught he was sentenced to twelve years in prison in an Atlanta maximumum
security facility. While in prison Frank Jr. helps Carl spot fake cheques and shows him how to spot them. This
leads to an offer for him to work off his sentence by working in an FBI office helping to train agents in forgery.
He accepts and his life changes from that day forward. Eventually the real Abgnale went on to successful and
profitable life. He had three sons and a good life and now has a good a retirement. He finally found some peace
in his life.
"How did you cheat on the bar exam in Louisiana?"
"I didn't cheat. I studied for two weeks."
While I do not think this is an Academy Award contender it is still a film that will give you a good bang for your
bucks. The acting is very good especially by Hanks but while I found DiCaprio's performance good as
well, I thought that his role in GANGS OF NEW YORK superiour to his Frank role. See you at the movies
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