September 22, 2019

Fave films of the century so far - 2002 - Catch Me If You Can


Catch Me If You Can is a joy. It's Spielberg at the top of his game. It's light, frothy & hilarious while also being packed with family strife and never being afraid to go dark when the plot requires. It's the archetypal Steven Spielberg movie in other words.

It's the story of Frank Abagnale jr, a young man who became one of the most notorious con artists in history. He started young, impersonating teachers while still in school and before long he was posing as a Pan Am pilot and successfully stole millions of dollars from the company. He had his fun and his money got him more than his fair share of female attention but he was never able to fill the hole in his heart left by the departure of his mother. Not surprisingly his exploits also attracted the FBI and Frank spent a large chunk of his life being chased by an FBI agent called Carl Hanratty. One day they met for the first time.



The above scene paints a perfect picture of the film. Funny, tense, ballsy as hell. Frank knowing he's goosed so he instantly pulls off the con of a lifetime and Carl buys it hook, line and sinker. When you've nothing to lose you have to go for it.

This wonderful film is carried by an amazing performance from a never better Leonardo DiCaprio. His Frank is a thief but you can't help liking him. A charmer who'd pat you on the back with one hand while distracting you with the other. Tom Hanks is Tom Hanks, always likable but the film's secret weapon is Christopher Walken who played Frank Abagnale Sr. A man broken by life and by his wife's betrayal. He's the soul of the story even though he's in the film for less than 20 minutes. Everything Frank Jr does is to give him a better life but he wants none of it. He only wants his son's attention but Frank is too busy flying high to spend time with him. Both of them together are a perfect representation of the damage wrought on a family by infidelity. That said both of them together give us the film's biggest laugh during Sr's reaction to Jr being busted for a teacher impersonation.

Without a doubt my favourite watch of 2002. It's a rare 140 minute film that flies by but this one zips past you in a blur of laughs, knuckle biting drama and style. It's so good.

2001
2000

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