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Catch Me If You Can
by
debbie lynn elias
Catch this one if you can! Having
opened on Christmas Day, the multi-talented combination of Steven Spielberg, Tom
Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio, brings us one of the finest movies of the year, and
definitely one of Spielberg’s best. In a vast departure from Spielberg’s
most recent works, "Catch Me If You Can" is a playful, fun-filled
rollicking telling of the true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., a man who by the
age of 18 had successfully impersonated an airline pilot, doctor, assistant
attorney general and history professor, while at the same time cashing over $2.5
million in forged checks.
Using the unique setting of the
now-classic television series "To Tell the Truth" to open the film and
set up the factual background, Spielberg then utilizes flashbacks to tell Frank’s
tale and the events that led up to his eventual arrest in France and extradition
to the United States by FBI agent, Carl Hanratty, who devoted years of his
career to in Abagnale’s pursuit before finally catching him. At first glance,
Frank, although appearing to have a somewhat sneaky streak in him, is a
seemingly harmless teenager, with the picture postcard family. Unfortunately,
behind that picture is a boy who idolized his father and then watched his dreams
and idealizations go up in smoke when his father’s business fails and his
parents divorce. Putting the blame on himself, Frank runs away from home at age
16 and embarks on his five year spree of criminal escapes.
Having learned the art of
confidence, appearance and some even some con from his father, Frank quickly
realizes that there’s nothing like a man in uniform (any kind of uniform) to
convince people that you are "somebody." Having already displayed his
talent for the con when pretending to be a substitute French teacher in high
school, begins passing bad checks using an account his dad opened for his
birthday. Posing as a high school journalist doing an "inside story"
on Pan Am Airlines, Frank uses his winning combination of boyish charm, good
looks and an aura of bravura to make off with a pilot’s uniform and begin
flying from city to city cashing forged Pan Am paychecks. The airline discovers
some "financial errors" in its books and the FBI is brought in with
non-nonsense Carl Hanratty heading up the investigation. Sensing the magnitude
of the situation, Hanratty becomes fascinated with the con and the mind behind
it, entering into a cat-and-mouse game with Frank that would delight even the
youngest future agent.
Leonardo DiCaprio gives a
performance as the as the devil-may-care Abagnale that will indeed ensconce him
forever as "King of the World." Despite a belief by the real Abagnale
that DiCaprio wasn’t "suave" enough to portray him, the film itself
is the proof in the pudding that DiCaprio is the man for the job. Downshifting
at a moment’s notice from suave, debonair playboy to lost innocent, DiCaprio
balances this fine line nicely, giving both a whistful and whimsical
performance. Meanwhile, Tom Hanks is as equally magnificent as the beaurocratic
paper-loving, Joe-Fridayesque, Carl Hanratty, as he digs below the surface of
his investigation, transforming from an agent out to get a perp into a
father-figure for Abagnale with a respect and concern for the boy that Frank’s
own father never had. No one can bring emotion into focus better than Hanks and
he excels at that here in his relationship with DiCaprio. As comes as a complete
surprise, Christopher Walken, as Frank’s father, gives a poignant and
emotional performance with a depth never seen in his prior works.
"Catch Me If You Can"
is a well-acted, slick and stylish production that screams for Oscar
consideration in every category. Although taking on a lighter tone than almost
anything he has previously done, Spielberg proves once again that nobody can
frame a shot or direct the focus of an audience the way he can. Surrounding
himself with Spielberg veterans, cinematographer extraordinaire Janusz Kaminksi
and editor Michael Kahn, completes the picture. Kaminski, whom you all know I
believe to be one of the greatest cinematographers in film history, has a
brighter, more colorful look here as opposed to his prior Spielberg ventures.
Kahn, long time Spielberg editor and still using an upright moviola for editing,
once again demonstrates his mastery of the craft with the artistic fluidity that
makes Spielberg better than Spielberg already is (if that’s even possible).
Add the very hip costuming of Mary Zophres and you can’t possibly go wrong.
Screenwriter, Jeff Nathanson, more than makes up for the fact here that he was
responsible for the disappointing, "Speed 2: Cruise Control" back in
1997. Tutored in the art of screenwriting by "Schindler’s List"
writer, Steven Zaillian, Nathanson gets a gold star for "Catch Me",
balancing levity, escapades and intrigue against the emotional undertones and
relationships that gave rise to Frank’s actions. He does a masterful job of
developing the character of Frank, creating emotional layers that make him one
of the most sympathetic white collar criminals around. The icing on the cake is
John Williams’ score. In his 20th collaboration with Spielberg,
Williams departs from his traditional orchestrations and majestic musical swells
by churning out a very hep (and hip) score interlaced with classic vocals of the
era by the likes of Old Blue Eyes himself.
What can I say, but catch it.
Catch it now. Catch it again. By hook or by crook, just catch, "Catch Me If
You Can."
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