Catch Me If You Can is based on the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr., who just might be one of the most enterprising young men to ever live. Portrayed in the movie by Leonardo DiCaprio, Abagnale manages to impersonate an airline pilot, a doctor, and a district attorney--all before his 19th birthday. Then, of course, there is the little matter of the 4 million dollars that he collected from cashing fraudulent checks.

Steven Spielberg directs Catch Me If You Can with easy confidence. He lures us into the world of Frank Abagnale, making sure that we understand why this life of crime is somehow acceptable and even admirable. Indeed, Spielberg stacks the deck so carefully through the film that when Abagnale is finally sentenced to prison you feel sad, robbed, almost, that this creative streak of genius has been stunted.

We pick up Abagnale's story when he is 16, his father's business is failing and he cannot get assistance from the banks. He instills into his son the feeling that his problems are the fault of the government. Faced with the divorce of his parents and asked to choose between them, Abagnale takes the road, with only his wits and considerable charm to keep him alive.

The movie takes place in the 60s, an almost wistful time when life was a little simpler, and people were taken more on face value, or as Abagnale senior, played by Christopher Walken--tells his son, by window dressing. He believes the success of the Yankees is because no one could take their eyes of the pinstripes.

The second major player in the film is Tom Hanks as Carl Hanratty, the FBI agent whose mission it is to catch Abagnale. An odd camaraderie develops between Hanratty and Abagnale. Partly because Abagnale's youth almost demands attention, and partly because Hanratty admires Abagnale's ability, as we do.

Catch Me If You Can is delightful entertainment. Leonardo is perfect as the charming yet vulnerable Abagnale, and Hanks is equally effective as the serious yet bumbling FBI agent. Spielberg's directing is impeccable, making the two hours and twenty minutes pass by in the twinkling of an eye.

Make sure you're in time for the delightful opening credits, accompanied by a wonderful John Williams' score that shows a real departure for him--indeed, the music is almost unrecognizable as Williams.

In short, I loved this movie. I liked the Robin Hoodish portrayal of Abagnale, even though he only gave to himself and his father. I was completely drawn into the story and enjoyed DiCaprio and Hanks in the central roles. Catch Me If You Can is a pleasant diversion and an uplifting tale of the power of the human spirit.


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