Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks Pictures, PG 141 Minutes.
From renowned director Steven Spielberg (‘Bridge of Spies’) comes the fascinating but true story of fraudster Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio – ‘Shutter Island’) who successfully conned millions of dollars’ worth of fake cheques by posing as a pilot, lawyer and doctor.
This all took place prior to his 19th birthday when the 16-year-old was living with his idolised father Frank Sr (Christopher Walken – ‘Click’) and mother Paula, he then becomes involved with his father in a devious bank caper.
Following his parents’ divorce young Frank runs away and attempts to con bank tellers by cashing fake cheques, which fails dismally, he finds success once he starts impersonating a Pan Am pilot this allows him to create fraudulent airline cheques.
Frank’s use of the fraud cheques is soon brought to the attention of the FBI’s Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks – ‘Forrest Gump’) who begins his pursuit of the con-man.
At the same time that a game of cat and mouse ensues between both men with Frank revelling in Carl’s pursuit of him in the coming months Frank takes a special interest in hospital nurse Brenda Strong (Amy Adams – ‘Arrival’).
Before proposing to Brenda, he proceeds to impersonate a medical doctor at the hospital where she works by using a forged university diploma as well as telling her that he is also a lawyer.
It is when Frank mistakenly calls Carl to stop chasing him in view of his impending engagement that provides Carl the unique opportunity to capture him, leading to his 12-year imprisonment.
After completing four years of his sentence Carl arranges for Frank to serve the remainder of his time in the FBI’s cheque fraud division under Carl’s strict supervision.
As the supreme director of many successful movies Spielberg has again excelled with his direction of this biopic on the extraordinary life of Frank Abagnale Jr. whose story was adapted from his celebrated book of the same name.
Apart from Hanks’ pleasing role as the persistent FBI agent it is DiCaprio’s stand out performance that is the most enjoyable and entertaining.
Despite his conviction for the many crimes he committed Abagnale Jr. continued to assist the FBI in catching some of the world’s most elusive cheque forgers as revealed in the closing credits.
Vic’s Verdict: 4 Stars
Catch Me If You Can is being televised on Channel 9 at 8.30pm on Friday 1 October.
