One of Spielberg’s lighter features, Catch Me If You Can is a briskly entertaining crime biopic, from a screenplay by Jeff Nathanson.
Grade: B
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Theatrical release poster
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The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, and Nathalie Baye.
Spielberg’s DreamWorks bought the film rights to Abagnale’s 1980 book of the same name.
The tale, which unfolds like a jaunty escapade, is based on the life of Frank Abagnale, who, before turning 19, had successfully performed cons worth millions of dollars by posing as a Pan American World Airways pilot, a Georgia doctor, and a Louisiana parish prosecutor.
His foremost crime was a check fraud; he became so highly skilled that the FBI later turned to him for help catching other check forgers.
Most of the tale is set in 1963, when teenager Frank Abagnale lived in New Rochelle his father Frank Abagnale Sr (Christopher Walken)., and French mother, Paula (Natalie Baye).
When Frank Sr. encounters tax problems with the IRS, he moves his family from their large home to a small apartment.
Frank is transferred to public school, and immediately gets into trouble when he begins posing as a substitute French teacher.
David Fincher, Gore Verbinski, Lasse Hallström, Miloš Forman, and Cameron Crowe were all considered to direct the film before Spielberg decided to direct it himself.
Titanic, in 1997, made DiCaprio a big movie star, but it was Catch Me If You Can, five years later, which proved his doubters wrong for good.
DiCaprio was always more than a heartthrob, but working with Spielberg showed a side of him that was new to viewers, due to the push and pull dynamics between his character, Frank Abagnale, and Tom Hanks’ FBI agent in a thrilling and entertaining cat and mouse game.
The film opened on December 25, 2002, to critical and commercial success, earning over $350 million at the box office against a budget of about $50 million.
DiCaprio and the real Abagnale.
Tom Hanks as Carl Hanratty, FBI agent who is based on Joseph Shea
Christopher Walken as Frank Abagnale Sr., the father of Frank Abagnale.
Martin Sheen as Roger Strong, an attorney.
Nathalie Baye as Paula Abagnale, the French mother of Frank.
Amy Adams as Brenda Strong, young hospital worker and daughter of Roger.
James Brolin as Jack Barnes
Nancy Lenehan as Carol Strong, the mother of Brenda.
Thomas Kopache as Principal Evans, the principal of Frank’s school who busts him for impersonating a substitute teacher.
Candice Azzara as Darcy
Malachi Throne as Abe Penner
Oscar Nominations: 2Christopher Walken and John Williams were nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Score, respectively. Neither won.
Credits:
Directed by Spielberg
Produced by Spielberg, Walter F. Parkes
Screenplay by Jeff Nathanson, based on “Catch Me If You Can” by Frank Abagnale Jr. Stan Redding
Music by John Williams
Cinematography: Janusz Kamiński
Edited by Michael Kahn
Production companies: Amblin Entertainment
Parkes/MacDonald Productions
Kemp Company
Splendid Pictures
Distributed by DreamWorks Pictures
Release date: December 25, 2002
Running time: 141 minutes
Budget $52 million
Box office $352.1 million
