Catch Me If You Can | | Cast : | Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken | | Director : | Steven Spielberg | | Studio : | Umvd/Dreamworks | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound | | Released Date : | December 25, 2002 | | DVD Released Date : | August 24, 2004 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | June 27, 2005 | | Summary | Unseen Cruelty | Content
 | Steven Spielberg has a style, a straight forward telling of a story. There is something middleclass and suburban about his films. The temperament of the protagonists, their concerns are essentially middleclass whether the actors are soldiers of D Day or doomed Jews of Europe; their world, the well-to-do burgher world has crumbled. He doesn't write these scripts, but he certainly puts his stamp on them.
DiCaprio is very convincing, playing a teen, and then in turn, playing an older man whether doctor or pilot. I think that is a neat trick. I've always thought that actors are the weirdest of all artists and possibly the dumbest in real life, but I digress. Christopher Walken plays the failed businessman-father with the heart of a gentle con. The son takes the con part and leaves behind the gentle. His mother is an opportunist, a French war bride, so when things go wrong, she moves on without a lot of thought or feeling for the men in her life. DiCaprio is attracted to criminality, a "Paper Hanger," living in the swinging late 60's with a suitcase full of ill-gotten cash. Tom Hanks, the stodgy FBI man is on his trail, but the boy is just too fast. He can only be caught if he wants to be caught. I digress again. Mr. Spielberg is not Alfred Hitchcock, but he learned a lot from watching Hitch's work. Keep the plot moving by the illusion of unseen cruelty, the shaking chandelier or invisible shark. Hitchcock fans know what I mean.
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| Rating | | | Date | June 22, 2005 | | Summary | A Sincere Con Man Story. | Content
| I was taken aback by how much I enjoyed this movie. The relationship between DiCaprio and Christopher Walken is almost as good as the one between DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. The bond between them is not immediately apparent and it is highly unorthodox, but, by the end, you completely believe the friendship that has arisen before our eyes.
The plot itself is very interesting, and I have to say that the ending was not what I expected. The film definitely delivers, and, other than "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," this was the first movie that I really liked DiCaprio in. I found his work to be the weak link in "Gangs of New York." Hanks, of course, is outstanding once again.
Lastly, the film has some very picturesque moments, such as the scene with the 8 old school stewardesses escorting the main character through the Miami airport as Sinatra's song massages our ears in the background. This one is certainly unique as it has a retro, yet not dated, feel to it. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 15, 2005 | | Summary | Charming | Content
| This is one of the best, most purely enjoyable efforts from all concerned - producer/ director, stars. It is a movie about a criminal, but so hilariously charming, you actually find yourself rooting for the anti-hero, Frank Abagnale. Spielberg hits the bulls-eye in his presentation and laying out of the movie: there is a pure, giddy, adolescent gleefulness in how Di Caprio's Frank carries out his comically nefarious schemes and swindles. It's a movie for the kid in all of us: how many of us have not dreamt that we'd (as teenagers) liked to have scammed our way through scores of money, beautiful adult women, and take on some of the world's most illustrious professions with insolent ease? And not getting busted by mom and dad?
Caprio exhibits so much skill and charm in his role, that we actually look forward to what new outrageous scheme he will conjure up next. This is one of Caprio's most dexterous and instinctive performances: his likability is much more believable and lacking the contrivances of his Titanic character. In fact, he's so good as a con man, one wishes that he, and not Matt Damon, had been cast in the title role of The Talented Mr. Ripley. Di Caprio has genuine charisma. Hanks, in another departure, completely embodies his FBI agent persona, while skillfully underplaying the unintentional comic overtones at being fooled by the wily Frank.
Most of all, though, Spielberg has returned to being one of the best makers of manufactured fun that the movies has ever turned out. Catch Me If You Can is a delightful joyride, a seriocomic masterpiece by its still-young, grinning producer.
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| Rating | | | Date | June 01, 2005 | | Summary | Cash Me If You Can | Content
| A well polished film based on the true story of a con-artist who for a time outsmarted the allmighty F.B.I. in his forgery and circulation of false cashier's checks.
The film is a light drama surrounding the character of Leonardo DiCaprio who finds himself on his own at an early age. He soon learns that he has good skills in being a con-man and forging checks to get paid. He continues this scam for years but the F.B.I. under an agent played by Tom Hanks is on his tail. The U.S. being too hot, he soon goes in hiding in France to continue his life of crime.
This is a great film in every sense. It is a touching drama but remains on the humorous note throughout the film. DiCaprio played his role very well as did Christopher Walken as his father. Tom Hanks essentially played himself as always but at least his mediocre acting skills did not tarnish the film in anyway as his character was as rigid as Joe Friday. This is a good film to watch by the entire family: check it out! |
| Rating | | | Date | May 05, 2005 | | Summary | SPIELBERG AND DICAPRIO SHINE | Content
| This is a very good movie, with great acting from Leo,
and great directing from Spielberg! A very interesting
true story, you won't be disappointed with this one! |
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