Spielberg takes us along for an entertaining, rollercoaster ride.
We often talk about great “popcorn movies†as the ultimate in movie going experiences and this description has become synonymous with big summer action flicks served up by Hollywood. One guru named Steven Spielberg is the pioneer of such films and in 2002 has given us two great examples. After his Tom Cruise sci-fi flick, this newest feature is perhaps the best example for what I call a buttery-yellow, mega glup film which is both smart, clever and entertaining and to put it quite simply…fun!
From the get-go, Catch Me If You Can taps to the right beat with the great 1950’s stylized screen credit titling a jazzy intro that is reminiscent of the work of the great Saul Bass (who was the title designer for classics such as Hitchcock’s North by Northwest & Vertigo) and the whole picture is best summed up as a nifty piece with some great art design, set design and costume design. A bitter teenager Frank Abagnale (Leonardio DiCaprio-Gangs of New York), revenges the personal defeat of his hero father (Christopher Walken-Sleepy Hollow) and as a result of this he lashes out to a world made of money, he evades capture and passes of a trial of false checks and buys steak dinners to become this modern day Houdini. For the better part of the picture, he evades capture from a merciless FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks-Road to Perdition), who watches the boy slip through his fingers.
In contrast to ‘Gangs’, this is a better suited role for DiCaprio, playing off of his boyhood charm and good looks he physically fits the role with a certain Cary Grant swagger. From wings to stethoscope his transformation is totally believable and the pun of not having a clue about medical procedures or not knowing airline lingo provides many humorous situations. Spielberg gives us a fun to watch picture with great set décor getting the feel of the 50’s and delights the viewer with and easy going narrative that strays away from anything deep and
Hanks and DiCaprio’s characters feed off each other especially well, unfortunately we don’t see them together enough in the great paper chase. After the thrilling summer ride of Minority Report, Spielberg gives us another reason for us to cheer, Catch Me if You can is money well spent.
