The Confidence Man

DiCaprio plays the lead a boyish Frank Abagnale Jr.

Based on a true story, Catch Me If You Can is the Hollywood rendition of the events surrounding Frank Abagnale, notorious check forger. The film features an all-star cast which includes Leonardio DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Amy Adams, Christopher Walken and Jennifer Garner along with many others.

Learning the tricks of the trade from his father, Frank has the basics of the confidence game down well he still in high school (even going as far as pretending to be a supply teacher much to the chagrin of his mother). Together he lives, him and his parents, enjoying the upper middle class lifestyle that is until the IRS catches onto his father. Soon much of their money is seized which leads to the divorce of his two parents. In the heat of the moment Frank takes off, unable to cope with his parents’ divorce, forced to fend for himself. To make ends meet, he does what he knows best and cons people out of their money. As time passes Frank’s con grow bigger and grander. Eventually he comes to pretending to be a pilot taking Pan Am for millions.

Tom Hanks (in the role of a bank fraud agent)
examines a check

All the while he must contend with Carl Hanratty, an FBI bank fraud agent (played by Tom Hanks) who is determined to arrest Frank. Most of the movie passes this way in a state of cat and mouse.

A lot can be said about this movie but all you need to know is that it’s worth a watch. The acting is superb with Dicaprio and Hanks at the Helm along with many now bigger names who were just starting out.

Amy Adams smiles broadly in the role of a nurse

Mechanically the movie works well as veteran director Spielberg knows what he is doing but the main point that really makes this movie excel is the simple storytelling. Through its development Catch Me If You Can really demonstrates the coming of age story well, proving that eventually you need to settle down.

If you have not seen it already I would highly recommend it. Catch Me If You Can proves itself to be a movie worthy of multiple re-watchings.