Can I call it a sad documentary?

Rating: Null/10 (12 February 2003)

Maybe there's something wrong with me, but I emerged from the cinema feeling rather sad. It was a good film and I had no regret whatsoever seeing it. I think how the film turned out has much to do with the fact that it is based on a real life story.
I confess that I have not read the book, but I heard that the film, other than some understandable dramatisation, adheres quite closely to the facts (not necessarily the book, but the actual facts).
Indeed the film has some funny moments but the tone throughout is not that of a comedy. It tells the story of Frank Abagnale Jr. as it happened, including both the comdey and the tragedy elements. Underpinning the entire story is Frank's absolute devotion to his father, throughout the latter's financial and marital disaster (not a spoiler here as it happened right at the beginning of the story). What makes the pathos so acute is Frank's cheerful, upbeat disposition in his quest to help his father. Everything he did was driven by a single motivation: to make his father happy again. My heart bled at every scene between father and son.
DiCaprio turned in a good performance, particularly when he is a 30-year-old (rounded up to the nearest 10) actor playing a teenager impersonating a 30-year-old. For some reason, I kept thinking that I was watching Matt Damon. It must be the similarity between Catch Me and The Talented Mr. Ripley, in that the main character in both are cons (Ripley, however, is a very vicious con). I've also heard that Damon got the role in Ripley only because DiCaprio turned it down. However, by this association, I am paying a compliment to DiCaprio because Damon, in my view, is a couple of notches above DiCarpio, as an actor.
I am delighted that Christopher Walken, who played the father, has been nominated for a best supporting Oscar. He may not win but certainly deserves the recognition of the nomination. I have not forgotten Hanks, the mentor/friend/father figure. Although in a normal cat-and-mouse situation, their roles carry equal weight, Hanks is playing a supporting role here. And this is why Hanks is so great. Whatever he plays, he deliveres what the role requires, in the best quality.
Finally, I must mention how much I like the brilliant idea of starting the story with a scene from To Tell The Truth, which must be among the all-time favorite TV shows. I don't know if in real life, Frank Abagnale Jr. really did get on the show, and it doesn't really matter. It's seeing Kitty Carlisle again that bring back a lot of fond memories.