Catch Me If You Can (***1/2)
review by Jon Waterman

Frank Abagnale, Jr. ran away from home one day.  He decided that he needed to escape his life and start fresh.  To do this, he created several fake identities and worked his way into several high-paying professional positions while conning the government out of several million dollars.  By the way, Frank did it all before he hit twenty-one – guidance counselors take note.
 
Without being prefaced as a true story, one might be inclined to completely write this movie off as nothing more than ill-conceived studio fluff.  However, since there is a real Frank Jr., the movie stands out as a colorful portrayal of one of the most colorful lives in American history.  The overabundance of talent associated with the picture also gives a clue that this movie is not just a money-making ploy, but it has substance (although, the money is awful nice).
 
The film focuses on Frank Jr. (played by Leo DiC) who gets away with being a professional co-pilot, a doctor and a lawyer by manipulating people and using them to cheat the system – something he learned from his father ( the not-so-creepy-this-time Christopher Walken).  Frank makes and cashes phony checks so that he can get a bunch of money and maybe even get his life back together again.  However, with fake checks comes a paper trail.  Following said trail is FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks).  Carl, in hot pursuit, meets Junior in a motel room and gets taken by Frank who then escapes with ease.  Thus the chase is formed.
 
Director Stephen Spielberg and frequent collaborating cinematographer Janusz Kaminski take us through lavish exterior backdrops and over-exposed washed out interior locales.  Considering who I’m talking about, there must have been a reason for the latter, I just don’t know it for the life of me.  Luckily enough, the performances made up for it.
 
Christopher Walken steals the show (so to speak).  Frank Sr. charms and his respect for everyone brings about a sense of admiration for him.  He manipulates people, too, but he puts that delicate human touch to it.  Leo’s character sometimes lacks this basis, but he has more than enough confidence to get by nicely.  Hanks dons a fake accent and a fedora.  Honestly, what more can you ask for?  Everyone seemed to stay true to character(s) and not once was I mislead by the acting (get it?).
 
Jeff Nathanson, the guy that churned out the scripts for the dreadful “Rush Hour 2” and the unseen (by me) “Speed 2,” shows why he’s still around with this film.  Rather intense character motivation is present for Leo.  Having the real-life counterpart around doesn’t hurt, though.  Everything that the audience hears makes sense and works towards furthering the story’s progress.  Some references/hints are spelled out for the audience so they will understand, some things are at a more intellectual level, and I’m sure there are some that went right over my head, too.  Anyone who can layer a film to work for such a wide reach deserves praise.  It would be nice to have gotten to the meat of the story a little quicker, but otherwise, I’m alright.
 
Everything about this movie is playful.  The score by legend John Williams exudes levity.  Heartstrings aren’t really tugged, but they are swayed back and forth.  This movie is quite good, but I don’t think it would be receiving so much award show buzz had it been released early in the year.  However, when watching this movie, you may laugh.  You may giggle.  You may stare with mouth agape.  Mr. Frank Abagnale, Jr. is a social magician and even though you see the tricks from backstage, the result is just as puzzling.

respond to jon@filmbrats.com