Catch Me If You Can Reviews

Pure unadulterated fun

I was having so much fun being sucked into the make believe world of Frank Abagnale (Leonardo diCaprio) that when the end of the film came I was totally gutted, wanting more and more. This tale, based on events chronicled in Abagnale's autobiography, shows young Frank blagging and hoodwinking his way to a fortune. The kind of people who succumbed to having the wool pulled over their eyes were airlines for whom he co-piloted, hosptitals and hookers. As he delves into greater and greater acts of fraud, he becomes a key FBI target and its the job of Tom Hanks character to reel him in. Unfortunately he is the prime 'hoodwinkee'. More than just a cartoon style cat and mouse caper, it has emotional depth thanks to the excellent father-son undercurrent which sheds light on Franks motives. Great, great fun.

Switch your brain off and enjoy the ride

Ignore anyone who tells you that there is no way certain 'facts' in the film can be done, just switch your brain off and enjoy the ride. As a responsible parent and citizen I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to want law breaking Leo's anti-hero to keep conning his way out of the way of Hanks' FBI character but both characters are written and played so well that you just love them both and want both of them to win. The leads get to evolve over the course of the film and at the end you'll hopefully be left with a smile on your face at the whole concept of the movie that you've just witnessed. Spielberg - yet again you pull a wonderful bunny rabbit out of the hat.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Catch it if you can

Christopher Walken makes this film, playing Leo Di Caprio's dad. His head-in-the-clouds attitude and con man antics explain why Leo Di Caprio becomes the person he does. You will be cheering everytime Leo manages to con his way into a new profession. Although the film is half an hour too long, this is well worth seeing. Truth is always stranger than fiction.

[Highly rated reviewer]

This film deserves four stars...

...just for the opening credits. Genius.

The rest of the film is not bad either.

Ooooh chase me!

What makes this film particularly great, a real gem, is that it is based on the true story. Leonardo Di Caprio plays a gifted boy who, troubled by his mother's infidelity and father's inability to cope, runs away and cons everyone in sight. He manages to fool people into thinking he is a pilot, doctor and lawyer and, as a result, is a real hit with the ladies.

Tom Hanks adequately plays the cop who is trying to catch him, but it is Leo and Christopher Walken who are superb.

The film not only has a good story line but is very informative. You'll be amazed at how complex a little thing like a cheque is!

But, like all fairy tales...is there a happy ending?

Why Not Let Him Run and Run!

This film was a complete suprise for me. When i rented it i knew nothing about it at all.. it was one of those 'i've seen all the others may as well get this' sort of occassions. And i was very very pleasently suprised. This is a film to get lost in.. something that seems so utterly impossible to pull off is presented as being as simple as .... writing a cheque... :)

I don't like giving films five stars... as i feel then when something amazing comes alonmg there is nowhere to go. But this deserves them.. all five of them. Im just sorry he didn't run forever.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Personally my favourite Spielberg film.

Excellent performances by two of the worlds greatest screen actors. Spielberg's direction adds to the entertainment of a story already compelling in that it's apparently true.

The GREATEST chick flick EVER!!! (FOR BLOKES)

WOW.......!!!

This may be a real "CHICK FLICK", but what a film!

I enjoyed this film so much that I bought the disk the very next day.

I will not tell you anything about the plot, as that would just ruin this rollercoaster of a film!

The casting is perfect; Hanks and DiCaprio are at their best, and as for Christopher Walken, well, he's just CHRISTOPHER WALKEN aint' he?! FANSTASIC and CRAZY as ever!

TRUST ME, YOU WILL LOVE IT!

[Highly rated reviewer]

Slick telling of an amazing tale.

Might as well get this out of the way now. You really wouldn’t believe this tale of chicanery and deceit if it wasn’t true….Phew. This film tells the story of Frank Abagnale (Leonardo Di Caprio) who pretended with audacious ingenuity to pretend to be a pilot and a doctor embezzling great wads of cash in the process. He runs rings round his F.B.I. Pursuers led by Hanratty (Tom Hanks) and even deceives his own father (Christopher Walken) a man weighed down by his failing business and the break-up of his marriage.

It’s an enjoyable romp with a feel good ending that would stick in the craw if, well, you didn’t know it was true. Walken..ahem, walks off with the acting honours, but Di Caprio is fine, displaying the easy charm a man would need in order to pull off these extravagant hoaxes. Hank’s is happy to sit back in a stoic role as the patient Hanratty.

This being a Spielberg film the direction is functional and slick, but it would have been interesting to see how a master of suspenseful set pieces such as De Palma would have made of some of the scenes.

I finished watching this film with a grudging admiration for Abagnale, and for Hanratty who had the foresight to realise what an asset he could be. I can’t help feeling a little more could have made of the material…especially as it’s all true y’know.

There is *nothing* to fault about this movie. It is a highly polished work with impeccable production values - even the stylish animated title sequence and the atmospheric soundtrack (by John Williams) reek of Pure Quality. But this should hardly be surprising from a film directed by someone as experienced and accomplished as Spielberg. What is more surprising is the slick, charismatic performance from Leonardo Di Caprio in the lead role - definitely one of the highlights of his career to date. It's a great story too - truly one for all the family - and despite his obvious immorality, you can't help rooting for Frank, right down to the bitter end.