DiCaprio makes up for "Gangs ..."

Rating: 8/10 (21 July 2003)

This is a very funny comedy/drama about a young kid who goes on a binge around the country posing as an airline pilot, doctor, and lawyer. Expertly directed by Steven Spielberg, this is one of his finest, and shows a side of him I didn't think was there.
Leonardo DiCaprio plays Frank Abagnale, Jr. and Christopher Walkin plays his father, Frank, Sr. The two are an absolute gas together. Senior's life is going down the tubes - his business goes under, the IRS is harassing him, and his wife leaves for another man. The happy home young Frank knows is no longer there.
The father gives a healthy disrespect for the law and authority to his son, so young Frank decides one day to pose as an airline pilot. He learns how to make fake identifications and phony airline checks, and off he goes. In short time, he's living the lifestyle of a swinging bachelor, even though he's still a teenager. He gets away with it because he's a great con artist and thinks quick on his feet, and he's so good at producing fake payroll checks that the FBI is soon on his tail.
Tom Hanks plays the FBI agent after DiCaprio, and he does his usual superb acting job, playing the agent as a determined loner. Without giving up the details, Hanks eventually catches the young man, who after exhausting his airline pilot facade has gone on to pose as a doctor in charge of an emergency room and then a lawyer. The kid is so good at what he does, that the FBI hires him in lieu of a stiff sentence so that he can teach them how criminals manipulate the banking system.
This film is absolutely charming. The acting is great and the viewer is enthralled at the amazing exploits of this young criminal. Walkin in particular deserved an Oscar (he was only nominated for best supporting actor). His manic character and determination are the inspiration by which his son embarks on his adventurous life of crime. And after his disastrous performance in "Gangs of New York," it's nice to see DiCaprio rebound with a winner.