Catch Me If You Can

After making “Saving Private Ryan”, “A.I. Artificial Intelligence” and “Minority Report”, director Steven Spielberg wanted to make a more upbeat project next. I missed this movie in the theaters because I was serving as a missionary in the Philippines. Once in university, my roommate had the movie and I really liked it. The casting was wonderful, the look was very appealing and the story was a blast to watch. “Catch Me If You Can” is a great example of a comedy-drama. Many cinematic elements are used to tell the story in some entertaining ways.

The opening title sequence is very unique and established the mood of the picture so well thanks to John Williams. I also love the use of the game show as of means of introduction to Frank William Abagnale Jr. I like it when movies summarize their own stories at the start by way of a non-linear plot or through some other tool like framing device. One example is the CG video at the start of “Titanic”. The TV Game show really feels like the 1970’s because of the design and video format. They did a great job of recreating the actual episode because you really can’t tell the actual footage from the recreated footage. Meanwhile, we are listening to Frank’s affidavit and it is almost unreal: he is the youngest & most daring conman in US history, he sole 4 million dollars using phony checks, he impersonated a pilot, doctor & lawyer and did it all before age 19. We can tell we are in for a ride on this movie. “Catch Me If You Can” has a non-linear plot and when we jump back to 1969 throughout the movie, the scene has something to do with what we were seeing over the course of Frank’s life during his run from the law. For example, when Frank writes the first check of his life, we flash-forward to him finally in FBI custody. When we first meet Carl Hanratty in the opening jail scene, it seems that he doesn’t care about Frank but this ends up being a false assumption. I like how costume and hair are used to depict Frank’s age at various points in the movie. When we cut to 1963, Frank seems very much like a 16 year old despite the fact that Leonardo DiCaprio was 27 when they filmed this movie. This isn’t much of a problem however because the real Frank looked 10 years older than his actual age anyways. Screenwriter Jeff Nathanson and Spielberg establish Frank quite well at the start of the movie. It is obvious throughout the film that Frank wants to get his parents’ old life back and that is why he is a conman. Every time he meets with his father, he is trying to get his family back together. He is portrayed as an appealing, intelligent teenager who is acting irresponsibly. He is not a ruthless criminal. His ruses & cons are never designed to hurt anyone personally. He is using the biggest airliner and scamming the biggest banks. From the start of the movie, his masquerades always denote his age and how someone that young with his intellect would react. Frank impersonates a teacher to get back at the bully, not because he wants to disobey the rules. When he gives the hint at the school office to the girl, it just shows his level of intelligence. He can not only cheat but also identify cheaters. Another fact I wish to point out that makes “Catch Me If You Can” fun to watch is that Frank’s cons would not work today but back in that decade, people were more trusting. It is like a 21st century conman in the 60’s.

Frank tries to live on his own using his father’s tricks but that isn’t working very well. Then he sees the pilot with the flight attendants. Spielberg's direction is very noteworthy here as Frank walks into warm light even before he sees the pilot. As the crew steps out of the cab, they are moving in slow motion while everyone else in the shot is not. You don’t even notice this illusion the first time you watch the film because of how well it is done. I like the various entertaining plot points in "Catch Me If You Can" such as James Bond and when Frank learns that payroll checks are cashed up to $300. I like the irony of Frank using the Bible to finish making the fake check and how Frank’s first flight happens sort of by accident. Frank’s first date is also quite funny because of how well it goes and the dramatic irony that it is the best date he has ever been on. Concerning the scene where Carl discusses with the FBI the new form of check fraud that Frank has invented, it feels introductory because this is Carl’s first chronological appearance in the movie. This moment establishes Carl as a secondary protagonist in that we see how lightly everyone takes bank and check fraud at the FBI. Frank, with Carl’s help, actually helps the FBI change long before he begins to work there. I love the scene when Frank and Carl first meet because we think there is no way that Frank can talk his way out of this. He uses the blind guy getting into the car so well that we begin to giggle. As a final comical note in the sequence, Carl’s men are eating Good Humor bars that Carl promised he would buy them. Another funny joke that you might miss is that Frank’s alias when he buys the James Bond suit is “Mr. Fleming” (Ian Fleming created James Bond). The humor keeps on coming as Frank gets $400 out of the model while Carl is having trouble with the laundry. Frank’s first call on Christmas is more evidence of the good in him that we might have forgotten. He feels bad for what he did to Carl and because Carl thinks Frank is an ordinary thief, he rejects the apology and then mocks him. Even though Carl’s joke is bad taste, Tom Hanks is still able to make us chuckle a little. We don’t understand why the fact that Barry Allen is The Flash is important but then Carl’s phone call reveals what he has learned from this; Frank is younger than he thought. This leads to a subsequent moment that could have been cheesy but instead was executed to create genuine humor. Because of the editing, music and Tom’s acting, we get a nice laugh when Frank is identified in the yearbook. When Frank becomes a doctor, it is to be with Brenda. This also shows his youthful irresponsibility and innocence. The moment when he lies and says he is a doctor is made important because of the camera zoom. Once the FBI shows up in Atlanta, it obvious that Frank is no longer an “un. sub.” Carl now has more men under him going after Frank. Another great use of editing and music is during the first dinner with the Stongs. The editing syncs up with the classical music to create humorous tension during the dinner when Frank is asked about the dog at Berkley. Frank ends up telling Brenda’s father, Roger, the truth but gets lucky when Roger slightly misinterprets Frank’s confession. His honesty shows Frank’s goodness once again in that he truly is in love with Brenda and feels he cannot lie to earn her hand. He also understands that he isn’t fooling Roger. The kid in him takes over after Roger reacts. I like the use of the reflection in the pendulum when Frank goes to take the bar (Spielberg is known for his use of reflections to tell a story). When Frank sees his future in-laws dancing to the same Judy Garland song as at the start of the movie, he remembers why he is doing all this lying and fraud. Once Frank finds out that his mother remarried, Frank wants to quit as there is no way to get his parents back together. As a kid, he thinks he can escape the consequences of his actions and that is the reason for the second Christmas call to Carl. It is a heartfelt desire from a kid asking for forgiveness. He is sorry and wants to spend the rest of his life in Louisiana with the happiness he has found with Brenda and her family. Being a kid, he doesn’t realize the information he is accidentally giving Carl and still doesn’t understand that he has to pay for his mistakes. This time, Carl is more patient with Frank because he knows Frank is a teenager. Carl is still going to do his job but in a different way so as to help Frank, whom Carl understands is going down a wrong path and Frank doesn't know it. Carl is right at the Miami airport. Frank won’t go to another airport because Frank wants to slip right past Carl in revenge for taking Brenda away. It is a showdown and just the kind of thing a person Frank’s age would do with his brains. Frank Sinatra was a great choice in music for Frank’s climactic sham in Miami. The cops and agents can’t stop looking at the “pinstripes”. I love the great exclamation point of that sequence after the line: “Who ya pickin’ up?”

As much as we are rooting for Frank in “Catch Me If You Can”, we are also rooting for Carl as the other protagonist. Carl is shown almost without hope trying to figure out where in the world is Frank Abagnale. Because of the establishing shot of France, we think that Carl is alone. Therefore we, along with Frank, can’t tell whether Carl is bluffing or telling the truth. Frank’s arrest needs to be a big emotional scene because it is the end of the chase. This is the scene that reveals to us just how Carl feels about Frank. Carl is treating Frank almost as a friend and it adds to the drama. Another interesting thing to think about is that Frank has gone from working in hotel rooms to have a whole “monster” to make checks on. When Frank finds out his father is dead, he goes to his mom. By this point in the movie, Carl knows Frank well enough to be able to follow him there. When Frank sees that his mother has moved on, I find it quite dramatic that he wants to be in the police car. Also the innocence of Frank’s half sister, the Nat King Cole song and the Christmas setting contrasts Frank's criminal nature & the police cars behind him. It is another example of Spielberg’s great direction. The movie almost feels like it is over as Frank is lead to his cell in Atlanta but we long for a happy ending because we have come to like Frank a lot as a character. We get this as Frank is offered a deal to work off the remainder of his sentence for the FBI out of prison. It is an important plot point when Frank arrives at the Bureau and says, “I’m Frank Abagnale”. His final stunt will be to accept life as himself. Frank may be out of prison but to him, he is not free. He has nothing to do some days and too much to do other days. Carl teaches Frank however that he is free because no one is chasing him. I think that during the weekend flight, Frank realizes what Carl has done for him. He also understands the freedom that Carl is talking about. I like how just when Carl forgets about Frank, he shows up. One of the developments in the entire story is Frank changing father figures. He goes from believing his biological father’s ideal that the world owes him a living to “I can make my own living” thanks to Carl. His father is sort of a bad role model as evidenced by his reaction to Frank posing as a teacher. Carl may be part antagonist but in the end becomes what Frank needed to get his life right.

Those involved in making the movie in addition to Spielberg really did their jobs well. Future Academy Award-winner Leonardo DiCaprio was already an Oscar nominated actor from when he was a teen. When this film was being made, Leo had become “king of the world” in the eyes of teen girls. On the other hand, critics did not like many of the films he made in the late 90’s. In my opinion, starting with “Catch Me If You Can”, Leo has won the favor of both the public and the critics. Not many actors would have been able to achieve a respectable career after attaining the huge popularity he did because of “Titanic”. Leo’s acting during the divorce meeting in the bedroom is amazing by the way. Tom Hanks uses his everyman persona skills to great effect even though he is a supporting actor this time. As with “A League of their Own” and “Toy Story”, Hanks plays a harsh but likable character. I love his acting during plot points and that it isn’t the same reaction every time. I also love the scene when Frank is examining the fake check in prison and Carl gives a look to the other agent. Christopher Walken received a nomination for an Oscar as Frank Sr. and I didn’t know that before writing this. To be honest, I really did not find his performance that great. He did have some moments and I know he is an Oscar winner already but this performance wasn’t all that special for me. This movie introduced me to the future Oscar nominated actress Amy Adams and some of her latter roles became very enjoyable for me. Now that Leo has his Oscar, Adams should be getting the same outcry for her first win if you ask me. As a side note, the real Frank Abagnale plays the French inspector that takes Leo into custody. John Williams is another noteworthy contributor to this film as evidenced by his Oscar nomination for this film’s musical score. When you compare the work he did on this movie with the three other films of 2002 that he composed for, it is very impressive how unique his score is for "Catch Me If You Can". The music does wonders during the plot points as already mentioned and it is a favorite score of mine. Williams really knows when to come in with the music so as to entertain. One example is when the printers mention France and the musical cue is heard as Hanks’ eyes move. Finally, Jeff Nathanson did a good job in adapting the story and Michael Kahn had some great moments as the editor. Because Spielberg shot the film at such a fast pace, the cast & crew were instilled with what they needed to correctly portray and bring this story to life.

It would have been interesting to see what David Fincher or Gore Verbinski would have done had they directed “Catch Me If You Can” but I trust Spielberg more than them. This is a lot of fun to watch and it contains some good themes as well. All of the cinematic elements entertain and support the story being told.

4.5 Stars