Intriguing, perceptive, touching, and funny!

Rating: Null/10 (15 December 2002)

The wintermester of award winning films has finally arrived and I'm thankful for that. Having a chance to watch Catch Me If You Can ten days before its worldwide release was both rewarding and worthwhile. Steven Spielberg has perceptively created a true story, a period piece full of life, a colorfully captured era, a touching story of broken bonds between parent and child (especially that special relationship between father and son), an amusing chase of cat and mouse, and alas a trip that was so unpredictable and intriguing it makes you stare in awe and wonder. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Frank Abagnale Jr., a young teenager who lives with his parents (Christopher Walken) circa 1960s and is adjusting to his families financial downfall after his father loses his former job and consequently his parent's divorce. After his father opens a bank account for him, Frank runs away from home to pursue a fake life of fraud checks and fraud identities. He pretends to be a co-pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer, steals millions of dollars in the process, and falls in and out of romantic escapades. Meanwhile, FBI detective Carl (Tom Hanks) is hard on track behind Frank's many adventurous schemes trying to catch him. While the movie keeps you at the edge of your seat with its humor and fast paced entertainment, it also manages to be touching with one of its most important themes being the father son relationship. Frank Sr. (Walken) teaches his son Frank Jr. (DiCaprio) that "there are two mice who fall into a bowl of cream, one mice quickly gives up trying to get out, the second mice keeps struggling, continues and never gives up until he manages to get out by turning the cream into butter." This is Frank Sr. biggest lesson to his son. But Frank Sr. is convinced that his son is not a criminal and he won't turn him in to the police simply because he is his son. Frank loves his son too much and the only way that his son knows to repay his love is by buying his father a new Cadillac and offering him some money. It's interesting how Frank Jr. thinks that his parent's divorce and the destruction of his family is caused by the lack of money, which is exactly what causes him to pursue exactly that: money. He wanted to save his family or at least make sure that his never suffered because of lack of money. The music by John Williams is giddy, fast, and bouncy which reflects the sneaky endeavors of Leo's often weasel of a character. DiCaprio, Walken, Sheen, and Hanks all bring a knockout showcase, even though Hanks' southern accent is often annoying. Many of the scenes take place around or on Christmas day which make the movie sort of a holiday treat. I will not reveal the ending which ends kind of abruptly. I must admit that it did left me wanting to see more of the relationship that flourishes between Hanks and DiCaprio. But I was thoroughly entertained. This is a sure thought-provoker and a must-see for the holidays, especially anyone who admires its cast and crew. (9/10)