Day
186 Catch
Me If You Can [2002]
Screenplay Jeff Nathanson
Based on ‘Catch Me If You Can’ by Frank Abagnale
Director Steven Spielberg
Cinematography Janusz Kamiński
Music John Williams
Leads Leonardo
DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Amy Adams, Jennifer Garner, Martin
Sheen, Nathalie Baye, Elizabeth Banks
Production Amblin Entertainment, Parkes/MacDonald
Productions
IMDb 8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes 96%
Have
you read the spiel above? Go back, read it, and try to convince me that this film
was ever not going to be a classic. Spielberg and John Williams’ resumes speak
for themselves. Kamiński is Spielberg’s go-to guy, behind the lens for Schindler’s
List, Saving Private Ryan, A.I., Minority Report, The Terminal, amongst
others, as well as working with Cameron Crowe on Jerry Maguire (Day 58).
The cast includes DiCaprio and Hanks at their very best, some rising stars in
Adams, Garner and Banks, as well as some legends in Sheen and Walken. Jeff
Nathanson is one of the less well-known names on the roster, but he did go on
to write The Terminal, which is a low-key favourite film of mine. To top
it all off, our protagonist, Frank Abagnale Jr., is a real person and the film
is based on a true-life book by the man himself. And what a man, or should I
say boy? DiCaprio plays Frank Jr., a bright and optimistic young boy whose
parents, Baye and Walken, are having some trouble with the IRS and therefore
their marriage. Frank Jr. runs away from home when he is just a boy and starts
a beautiful life of con artistry. According to the real Frank Jr. the film is 80%
true to what happened. After you’ve watched it you’ll realise how incredible it
is what he got away with before he had even turned 21. It would not be possible
to get away with it all nowadays. Abagnale’s ability to con everyone is the
clear attraction of this film, however what makes it more than just a feel-good
adventure is the relationship Abagnale has with his father, Frank Sr. He
constantly seeks approval from his father and doesn’t make a single real friend
during his scams. At least that’s what Spielberg makes us believe. It’s sad to
think con men don’t come like this any longer. What a man. What a film.
Acting 4 / 4
Writing 3 / 4
Cinematography 3 / 4
Music 3.5 / 4
HWF rating 4 / 4
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