Catch Me If You Can Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
The true story of a real fake.
Frank didn't go to flight school...Frank didn't go to medical school...Frank didn't go to law school...because Franks still in high school!
Catch them this christmas
Die wahre Story einer genialen Täschung. (The true story of an ingenious deception.)
An FBI agent tracks down and catches a young con artist who successfully impersonated an airline pilot, doctor, assistant attorney general and history professor, cashing more than $2.5 million in fraudulent checks in 26 countries.
| Martin Sheen | Roger Strong |
| Tom Hanks | Carl Hanratty |
| Leonardo DiCaprio | Frank Abagnale Jr. |
| Jennifer Garner | Cheryl Ann |
| Amy Adams | Brenda Strong |
| Christopher Walken | Frank Abagnale, Sr. |
| Nathalie Baye | Paula Abagnale |
| James Brolin | Jack Barnes |
| Brian Howe | Earl Amdursky |
| Frank John Hughes | Tom Fox |
| Steve Eastin | Paul Morgan |
| Chris Ellis | Special Agent Witkins |
| John Finn | Assistant Director Marsh |
| Nancy Lenehan | Carol Strong |
| Ellen Pompeo | Marci |
| Steven Spielberg |
7.60 out of 10 (70535 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Great Movie
posted on 18 Aug 2009It takes a lot for me to recommend spending $7.50 on a movie, but I really do think Catch Me if You Can is worth it. Based on an amazing true story, I had just as much fun witnessing the many tricks DiCaprio's character used to get around the government as I did the movie itself.I've never had a big problem with DiCaprio, nor have I liked him. I will say that he did a very good job in this movie, however. His work as both the arrogant and the fearful child was very good, and Tom Hanks does his usual excellent job. You can't go wrong with this one.
Fun...
posted on 16 Aug 2009The movie is great fun to watch, however the quality isn't that high.The amazing thing is that the movie is based on true facts. If you don't know this the movie seems totally unbelievable and silly. It's great fun to see how Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) commits fraud time after time and impersonated several professions that he is not qualified to. However it feels like some lose events that were glued together in order to make an 2 hours+ movie. I think that the story of the real Frank Abagnale is much more interesting.The actors are perfect. Leonardo DiCaprio is perfect for the role and he even manages to play a convincing early teenager, certainly his best role till date. But the one that steels the show is of course once again Christopher Walken. It's wonderful to see him again in a non-psychopath role. Tom Hanks also gives a nice performance however i have seen him done better. Certainly some nice casting work!Visually the movie is eye candy because of the costumes, sets and especially cinematography.There are some typical Spielberg things in the movie which makes it worth to watch. Like the comical elements of the movie that are done brilliantly in a way only Spielberg can do. Bad thing is that the movie doesn't seem like one to watch over and over again.Not a must see but still a fun movie to watch.7/10
Catch it!
posted on 04 Aug 2009It is the 1960's when Frank Abagnale Jr runs away from his crumbling family and begins the life of a fraudster, inpersonating a pilot, doctor and lawyer, and cashing millons in bad cheques all around the world. All before he had even turned eighteen.So begins a game of cat and mouse where the teenage Frank tries to stay one step ahead of the bumbling FBI Agent Carl Handratty who is trying to track him down. The escape scenes are a lot of fun, the father /son moments between Frank and his father are filled with heartwarming drama. But it is the relationship between Frank and Carl that is special. Right from the opening scene you know Frank is going to prison but you wonder how Carl will eventually catch him. And what a scene when it comes!Walken is great as Frank Snr.Hanks's Handratty is far from his best work, but that certainly does not mean he's bad. He's just not in Forest Gump mode.DiCaprio steals the show after being eclipsed by Day Lewis in GONY. He is outstanding in the role of the supremely confident fraudster Frank on one hand, as well as the vunerable kid who justs wants his family back together. It's a shame that he will probably miss out on an Oscar nomination , because he hasn't been this good since What's eating Gilbert Grape? Definately worth the ten year wait.9/10 - Great film - Based on the true story of the life of Frank Abagnale Jr, Catch me if you can is a treasure of a movie. The action moves at a pace, without seeming to move at all, and you are drawn in a moment from laughter to sadness and back again just as quickly. How refreshing to see a film that shows some originality! Thank you Mr Spielberg. Thank you Leonardo. You are both forgiven. (A.I, Minority Report, Titanic, The Beach....) More of the same PLEASE!!!
Old school fun.
posted on 04 Aug 2009What starts off as a very entertaining story of one of the nation's biggest criminals becomes a unique character study of a young man running away from not only the law and a dysfunctional family, but running away from himself as well. It explores every facet of Abagnale's life while remaining wickedly entertaining and perfectly stylish (the costume design and set decoration are incredible). DiCaprio gives another knockout performance Hanks delivers what might be my favorite performance of his. Walken and Amy Adams are also quite excellent (as is Jennifer Garner in her cameo). A really fun, enjoyable ride with a lot more under the surface than it seems to have. It's easily my favorite Spielberg and definitely one of the best of 2002. I should also mention that the score is incredible.
Subpar Spielberg
posted on 29 Jul 2009WOW, what an overrated film! The movie is simply too long and very poorly paced. It could have used some voice over narration from Frank. Similar to "Goodfellas". I kept thinking of Goodfellas while watching this film. A criminal, period dress, period music.....then they part ways. The pacing of Goodfellas is brilliant and length is no object. Those are the two areas CMIYC fails. It's all over the map with one too many endings. It is also an embarrassing role for Hanks. Leo is good. I cannot fathom why Spielberg wasted his time with this film or why critics are fawning over it. As a big Spielberg fan, I am disappointed. I'm one of the few who thinks A.I. is a masterpiece. There was just no magic in Catch Me If You Can, nothing special.
Cat & mouse situations maintain interest to the end
posted on 29 Jul 2009I was fascinated by the very original introductory credits and some of the best graphics in years. It grabbed my immediate interest and augured well for what was to follow.The film itself is based on a series of serious criminal offences perpetrated by a young man called Frank Abagnale. The eventual outcome of his years of crime is nothing short of miraculous...almost unbelievable were it not for the fact that the events actually happened.The dramatic theme is handled with a very light touch...even with a sense of comedy at times. Leonardo Di Caprio excels as the anti-hero giving us quite an arresting performance. His role suggests that if you wish to impersonate someone the donning of a uniform ensures you are half way there.It is interesting that Tom Hanks was happy to play a supporting role.
Despite his capable interpretation of the CIA agent, it is Leonardo's part as the lying,cheating, fraudulent impostor that will be remembered.To some extent some of the situations are repetitive and the film may be a trifle long, but I have to admit that there is a surge of interest in the end with an unpredictable aftermath of his life of crime.
Two Mice Fell Into A Bucket Of Cream, One Gave Up and Drowned, the Other Turned the Cream to Butter. This Movie is the Second Mouse
posted on 25 Jul 2009My all time favourite movie. Absolutely brilliant! Definitely Spielberg's best. Leonardo DiCaprio is one of my ten favourite actors. Everything I've seen him in, both he and the movie it self have been absolutely brilliant.Leonardo is Frank Abagnale Jr. Someone who became a doctor, lawyer, an airline pilot and managed to con millions of dollars from the government.Tom Hanks plays the F.B.I. agent Carl Hanratty who is devoting all his spare time to track down capture Leonardo as soon as he can.Christopher Walken is Frank Abagnale, the father of Frank Abagnale Jr. His son learned most of his skills from his father. His father loves his son, and won't say anything to even hint to his son's location and Nathalie Baye is Paula Abagnale, Franks Jr's mother. She's started a new life and doesn't much care for her former husband, and just wants her son to be safe and not on the run from the government.This movie is perfect. I strongly recommend this movie to everyone and anyone.
Fun and entertaining! ***Potential Spoiler***
posted on 23 Jul 2009Catch Me If You Can is truly an entertaining film. The 60's style of the adds to the integrity and intrigue of the picture. The film is based on the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr., (Leonardo DiCaprio) a teenager still in high-school who pulls a number stunts and gets away with millions. With the F.B.I. hot on his tail, it is thrilling to watch over and again how Abagnale is able to escape their reach and play with them as long as he can. We as the viewers, tend to side with this desperate teenager and enjoy the taste of another sweet victory each time he gets away with a job. It is interesting to see DiCaprio take on the faces and prestige of doctors, lawyers, and teachers alike. All in the span of 2 and a half hours. Tom Hanks plays Carl Hanratty, agent of the F.B.I. and is a superb compliment to DiCaprio. Hanks always has an aura about him of high regard, and this film is another example of that expectation. The film was captivating from start to finish and has an ironic ending of which is a superb close to the story.
Teen Conman runs amok!
posted on 21 Jul 2009This was an interesting film. Very Cerebral in it's approach. Look for classic Tom Hanks as stuffy but diligent FBI Agent Carl Hanratty. This film looks at the true life experiences of Frank Abagnale, Jr.. While the movie would make the case that young Mr. Abagnale is a miss guided youth, the fact of the matter is, Mr. Abagnale was brilliant in his approach to crime. The break out performance is Amy Adams as Brenda. This lady has a future in film and I look forward to seeing her again and soon! The cast is well suited towards this film and all perform to expectations. This is certainly a movie that deserved a better release date. Lets face it, going against LOTR II is a tall order and I often wonder what the distributers are thinking. If this film were delayed three more weeks in it's opening weekend and this film could have been number 1 at the box office. As it is, This film should open at #3 or #4. It is well worth the price of admission!
Great
posted on 17 Jul 2009A great movie. It's not "the story of how the policeman chases the con artist". No, it's plenty more: it's a story full of values, of family sense, of lonely people struggling for the meaning of their lives... The story of a man that...WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD ...that fights for his family to be reunited: I mean, Mr. Abagnale is not a lazy person. He just don't take the moral, legal way for achieving what he wants, but this man battles for what he wants. And Mr. Hanratty (another lone person) hardly could be better performed than for Tom Hanks. Great, full of sense. Also, excellent recreation of the 60's and 70's.END OF SPOILERSMy rating: 9/10.Go watch it. You won't be dissapointed.
The Real Pretender
posted on 11 Jul 2009For those who don't know the story behind Frank William Abagnale Jr I promise I won't disclose any information that can ruin your experience watching the movie. Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) was the greatest con in the history of the US. He decieved 12 countries and all 50 american states while running from an FBI team led by Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks). And guess what? He did this all before he was 19.Frank was probably one of the most gifted persons in American history - even though he used his gift for breaking the law - and it was only fair that he was portraied by a gifted actor. Leo DiCaprio gets into Frank's skin perfectly with, probably, the best performance in his career. Tom Hanks is the same great actor as usual and they both make a very funny and interesting duo throughout the film. The story is always interesting and keeps the viewer attached to the end. Of course, the directing is flawless by Steven Spielberg. He returns to the subjects that started his career - the broken home - and achieves one of the best films I've ever seen. A quick special mention has to be given to the author of the opening generic - sorry for not remembering his name. He achieves a masterpiece with an animation short film. An overall superb film. Don't miss it.
The most saccharine, sentimental depiction of sociopathy, ever
posted on 27 Jun 2009Frank is a con-(young)-man. He cashes fake checks totaling up to millions, cheats and lies his way into several professions, and charms several women onto his sheets...but that is just because he is a lonely, lost boy, because his father was always in money trouble, and he had a broken home. He writes sentimental letters to his father, offers him expensive gifts, and talks about his mother rejoining them. He is actually a genius, see, and, when given the chance, proves himself to be virtuous by helping the authorities. And he has good, honest, hardworking potential too!! -- he passed the bar exam all on his own after loads of studying. This movie struck me as so false throughout that I couldn't help but see through it and overcompensate for its dishonesty and false sentimentality by continuously re-imagining it: what might REALLY have happened? How sociopathic might Frank have been to lie, cheat and steal so easily and continuously? How many women might he have slept, really? And how many times did people catch on to him? A brief look at a wiki article proved my suspicions. Frank's first victim was his own father. He ran away from home and never looked back. He failed the bar exam several times and his passing may have involved bribery and other methods of cheating. After being placed in prison he tried to escape to Brazil but was caught repeatedly. His cons sometimes failed as people suspected his lies. If this story was even mildly hollywoodized, I would have been fine with it (and if the writing, acting and visuals weren't as bland). But it takes sentiment and dishonesty to the oomphth degree. Take for example the window scene near the end. It again reinforced the theme that Frank was just a lost and lonely boy who committed all these crimes because he missed his mother. And the cheesy label-removing motif. That was just a waste. Tom Hank's character was worst at the beginning when he was going room to room shouting comically and trembling like an old lady. He got slightly better at the end. Leonardo's character was as I mentioned unnatural and flat, so I guess he made the best of it. The female characters were very fake and comic-booky and annoying, yelling "yes, yes" during the sex scenes or crying after being yelled at by their boss and falling bashfully head over heels for the guy who comforts them. The worst offenders might have been the FBI and law enforcement folk who were a bunch of bumbling cartoonish idiots, too shy to reach their arms over for a fork. There were also a whole bunch of random scenes that didn't give anything to the movie. Some, like the prostitute scene seemed to be out of nowhere and would have fit in more if the whole movie wanted to show Frank as mildly sociopathic (which would have been more realistic). The one scene that I did like was when the agent came to France to see Frank's setup. Money flying everywhere and tilted camera angles gave it a cool look. But even then you are given the dishonest condition of Frank in stress and somewhat unraveling, a condition which screams at you, 'hey! look! look how worn out and rambling he looks! This criminal spree is taking a toll on him too, you know. He does have a heart!'
Skip It!
posted on 23 Jun 2009This movie was a waste of many things - good actors, a good director, and an excellent story/book. I have read the book by the same name at least three times and it is funny, dramatic, unnerving, entertaining, and a downright excellent work of art. The movie does not live up to the excellence of the book. It is too bad because they could have made it so good. I don't know what happened. Hanks is not hot enough and DiCaprio is not suave enough.
They should have let the real Frank Abagnale, Jr. do the acting and directing. He is much more entertaining on his own than with these goofballs.
The best cat and mouse film I have ever seen
posted on 23 Jun 2009Catch Me If You Can is the greates cat and mouse runaways I have ever seen. This movie being directed by my favorite director Steven Spielberg and my favorite actor Tom Hanks along with one of my favorite actors Leonardo DiCaprio si amazing. The acting, story, script, editing, and directing were just fabulous. I watched this all the time on HBO and even if there was other good films on I would watch this movie instead. What Frank Abagnale Jr. did while Carl Hanratty always chased him was amazing. He must be one of the most smartest guys ever. Overall, this film was great and I highly recommend it.Hedeen's outlook: 9/10 ***+ A-
A lot of fun
posted on 13 Jun 2009While watching 'Catch Me If You Can' I had so much fun I smiled constantly. Well, that smile was interrupted by laughs. The movie tells the story of Frank W. Abignale, Jr. who is just a kid as he pretends to be a schoolteacher. After his father and mother get a divorce he runs away and starts pretending to be a co-pilot, a doctor, a lawyer. The way he does this is funny and brilliant.I am not a big fan of Leonardo DiCaprio who plays Frank but in this movie he is perfect. He gives a very fine performance. Tom Hanks is the FBI-agent Carl who is after him, and as always Hanks is good.The story is inspired by a real story. I don't know in how many ways it is true but watching this guy all I wanted to see was him pulling more of his nice little tricks. The scene where he pretends to be a schoolteacher is just great. If you want a nice funny movie, not too heavy, this one will definitely please you.
A great movie with a good rythm
posted on 11 Jun 2009This is a movie that made me really leave the theater in a good mood. The characters are very well drawn, particularly Frank, which is very suited for Leonardo, with all his versatile talent. There are some moments in the movie that really funny and the rythm of the movie makes the two hours pass in a no-time. The music is quite good as well.All in all, the movie depicts how two persons apparently playing cat and mouse with each other can end up as the biggest of allies and also how a frightened kid can do the most outstanding things just to get by, live his fantasies, and try to bring his parents back together in the meantime.A great movie.
A light hearted look at life on the run!
posted on 03 Jun 2009"Catch Me If You Can" directed by Steven Spielberg is a light hearted look at a man's life as he tries to accumulate as much wealth as he can in order to replace the happiness that he has lost. Throughout the whole movie witty con-artist Frank Abagnale Jr. played by Leonardo DiCaprio accumulates a lot of money, but is continually searching for the love, security and acceptance he lost when he was a teenager. While he is searching for these things he has a constant pursuer in FBI Agent Carl Hanratty played by Tom Hanks.DiCaprio ploys his trade as a con-artist to get what he wants in several ways, everything from being a pilot, a lawyer and even a doctor. All the while he continues to run from Hanks. While still a teenager DiCaprio runs away from his home, and finds that he is suddenly without anyone and anything, thus he begins his wild ride of dishonest fortune. While practicing his many trades DiCaprio has the time of his life getting the money and not to mention the girls. One such time he goes to a college to recruit girls to be flight stewardess. After he chooses the 'qualified' ones we then see him with a girl on each arm and the rest surrounding him with a huge smile on his face. However, his loneliness and searching for happiness is also seen several times in the film. For example several scenes that show this in the movie is when DiCaprio calls Hanks and just wants to talk with him. He does this just because Hanks is the one constant in his life that is always there. He has no one else around him and he is lonely.`Catch Me If You Can' has great use of lighting and coloring. In the movie when DiCaprio is living it up both the lighting and colors are light and bright giving off even more of a sense of happiness. When DiCaprio is down and lonely the lighting plays a big part and is kept darker, especially when he is in prison.`Catch Me If You Can' in a way reminds me of `Oceans Eleven'. Both of these movies look at the light hearted side of the criminal lifestyle and they both depart from the directors, Steven Spielberg and Steven Soderbergh, usual style of directing, yet both are great movies.This film shows off Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks great acting talents as they bring to life the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr.
Excessive
posted on 01 Jun 2009There appear to be two Steven Speilbergs in Cinema: Speilberg the filmaker, responsible for such films as Schindler's list and Speilberg the entertainer, responsible for films such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Sometimes, he manages to balance out both with films such as Jaws as the result. I usually enjoy his more balanced out films, they really entertain while catching your deep thoughts. However, sometimes there's a sign of a clash between the two. In 2001's A.I. Speilberg seemed to want to have a Kubrick film yet at the same time dazzle the audience with vibrant chase sequences and harrowing visual effects. The clash usually ends up in somewhat of a mess, not neccessarly bad but not really that good either. That being said, I'll move onto the review. Catch Me if You Can is definitely a clash of Speilberg. He wants to provide the viewer with a quick and stlyish movie about one of the moust astounding criminals in the world yet also provide them with a deep, rich character study. Unfortunately, the script seems to go more with the quick aspect, providing flashy dialouge such as in Frank's Father, Christopher Walk's character. What ends up happening is a rather solid film, but it could have been a bit more. Leornado Dicaprio shines as the intelligent yet somewhat misguided Frank. He conveys his emotional moments and his excited moments effortlessly, really making the viewer think he's 17. Tom Hanks provides solid work here, but he seems to be a bit over- the- top with his character. Christopher Walken offers valuable support here, perhaps showing the route of the motivations for Frank's crime spree. With a good enough cast, this movie clicks instantly and follows through... almost till the end. Unfortunately, somewhere along the line the movie trips on it's own legs and becomes quite repeating. It ends up just being one con job aftr another, trying to inspire excitment in the viewer then get emotions out of them by showing Frank's internal dilemna. The script is solid enough and Speilberg's directing a bit unfocused but still all right. That being said, it's not that Catch Me If You Can is neccessarily a bad movie, quite the contrary really. It's an interesting $9 spent, a sort of ride yet an emotional experience. Speilberg clashes indeed, but the rest of the movie sticks together well enough. 7.5/10
Polished, highly entertaining - and cleverer than it seems
posted on 24 May 2009Which of us hasn't dreamed of succeeding in lots of fabulously high-profile careers? Doctor? Lawyer? Airline Pilot? For the past generation, the role model of escapist high achievement was given full power in the shape of James Bond, an ordinary looking upper class Englishman that achieved the impossible through fantastic gadgets and penetrating responses to life-threatening situations. But in the present day, the believability of a Bond-like secret agent is wearing thin. Similarly, the vicarious glamour of Hollywood stars is no longer a panacea to the wish-fulfilment dreams of working class drudgery. Enter stage left, appealing to everyone's slightly less than moral urges, Mr Frank Abagnale Jnr. And just to reinforce how it was possible to fake being a pilot, doctor and public prosecutor, we are reliably informed that it is all based on a true story.(Minor plot spoilers): A sudden victim of a broken home, the adolescent Frank Abagnale Jnr (Leonardo DiCaprio) hightails to New York, blagging a pilot's uniform to get a bit of respect, and brilliantly forging increasingly large cheques. He also fools the airlines. Tiring of parading and cocking his pilot hat to the infuriated airlines, he poses as a doctor, learning the lingo from the TV show Dr Kildare, before moving on to become an assistant public prosecutor. To evade escape, he recruits a bevy of eye-candy ‘airline stewardesses', and leaves the country under the noses of dozens of FBI agents. Capture and prison sentences follow, but he gets off lightly and becomes a respected, megabucks-earning hero at the same time.Leonardo DiCaprio has tackled this real-life spoof with a professionalism that helps to make the film one that will possibly spawn look-alikes. His attention to detail included face to face research with the real life Abagnale and, even if the part does not demand the range of acting talent that instantly cries `Oscar', the skill with which he has executed his role marks him out as a very polished actor. Likewise Christopher Walken (as Abagnale Snr) turns in a first class performance and brings a range of emotion to his part (the beleaguered father) that is rare in Walken characters. Tom Hanks' performance, as the befuddled FBI agent trying to chase low-life Abagnale Jnr (who is patently of much higher intelligence than his pursuer), has restored my confidence in him as a Grade A actor – especially after his rather wooden `Road to Perdition'. In the Director's chair, Spielberg has tackled something outside his usual stomping ground: Catch Me If You Can is a light-hearted romp at heart, but delivered with such panache that it wins as an action thriller and psychological drama at the same time. For all its apparently lightweight pretensions, Catch Me If You Can is a fine achievement in popular filmmaking.
Won't miss much if you skip it.
posted on 26 Aug 2009Although not convinced such a painfully linear story deserves to be made into a feature film I must admit I SOMEWHAT enjoyed "Catch Me If You Can". And come to think of it, how could I not with Steven Spielberg, that cinematic equivalent of a diligent travel agent, planning out my trip along the shortest possible route from point A to point B. Staying true to what has long ago, with few exceptions along the way, become one of the main traits of his directorial opus - this movie, too, is unbelievably ordinary and unremarkable. Everything in it is on autopilot. No pun intended. We follow a straight and narrow path until a desired destination is reached without any turbulence. In the end justice is served, characters learn from their mistakes and the audience goes home happy.Frank Abagnale Jr.'s life story could've been a piece on '60 Minutes' or a subject of an hour long 'Dateline NBC'. Making it into a two and a half hour movie was pretty unnecessary.PS: I really don't like Tom Hanks' acting. He is so damn bland! If he were a beverage he'd be Diet Coke.