Frank W. Abagnale, Jr.: The Great Pretender

Rating: 8/10 (24 July 2004)

"Catch Me If You Can" tells the amazing story of Frank W. Abagnale, Jr., a clever con man who posed as an airline pilot, a doctor and a lawyer, and forged over $4 million in checks in the process. The story was directed by Steven Spielberg, and starred Leonardo DiCaprio as Abagnale. Tom Hanks plays Agent Carl Hanratty, the tenacious F.B.I. agent who stayed on Abagnale's trail, in a thrilling game of cat and mouse. DiCaprio manages to bring charm to his role, while Hanks gives a straight-laced performance. And the opening credits, done in retro-style animation, makes for excellent eye candy. It's not quite the sort of thing you'd expect from Spielberg, but it's definitely worth watching!