Tom Hanks Movie:

Editorial Review:
An enormously entertaining (if somewhat shallow) affair from blockbuster director Steven Spielberg. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Frank Abagnale, Jr., a dazzling young con man who spent four years impersonating an airline pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer--all before he turned 21. All the while he's pursued by a dedicated FBI agent named Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), whose dogged determination stays one step behind Abagnale's spontaneous wits. Both DiCaprio and Hanks turn in enjoyable performances and the movie has a bouncy rhythm that keeps it zipping along. However, it never gets under the surface of Frank's drive to lose himself in other identities, other than a simplistic desire to please his father (Christopher Walken, excellent as always), nor does it explore the complex mechanics of fraud with any depth. By the movie's end, it feels like one of Frank's pilot uniforms--appearance without substance. --Bret Fetzer

'Catch Me If You Can': Behind the Camera [Region 2] Reviews:
Great biographical movie
2008-11-18 - "Catch Me If You Can" is a movie about the notorious, real-life con artist Frank Abagnale, Jr. who wrote millions of dollars in bad checks. He ended up later helping the FBI in fraud prevention. "Catch Me If You Can" is actually based on Mr. Abagnale's own biography so it's not entirely true and some of it has been exaggerated for enterainment sake. However, it's still an engrossing storyline and its just amazing he was able to get away with it for so long. I high recommend this movie to everyone. It's definitely an adventure.

A scam done in style and with a smile
2008-10-13 - If there were an award for the best credits presentation, the opening sequence of Catch Me if You Can designed in the style of the 1960's detective comic strips would be a winner. Overall, the movie's art-director deserves an award for the recreation of the 1960's style, complete with those bright monochrome shirts worth hundreds of dollars now. The biggest award for this captivating story, though, snatched the real Frank Abagnale Jr. He did it through those bank fees we pay now every time we're forced to write a real check (whose security features he, very likely, helped design) instead of easily pasting one up from fancy stationary, decals and John Doe's surrender to the force of blinding looks. All of the above he managed to use himself running one of the greatest laser-printer-free scams of the 20th century that leaves our eyes wide open and our jaws dropped. This movie is like a chess-game puzzle printed in a newspaper: we know who will win but we are intrigued by the strategy and the ultimate chase. It is never high-speed, but just like a chess-game, develops move by move. As viewers, we are more likely to side up with the con artist (Leonardo DiCaprio) than with his FBI hunter (Tom Hanks). Abagnale Jr. doesn't come across as an inveterate rogue--he is cold-blooded, but not a mean bastard (unlike Mr. Ripley, for instance.) Why are we on his side? Maybe because he does more harm to the system (that we probably wouldn't mind getting screwed sometimes) than to defenseless individuals, to whom he is actually quite considerate. One episode that isn't quite clear-the TV show the movie opens with. The movie is definitely worth seeing, because it leaves you inspired.

FASCINATING STORY FROM START TO FINISH!
2008-09-24 - Dicaprio and Hanks star in this completely engrossing film based on a true story. If you haven't seen this film yet, don't pass it up as it is a fascinating story about a true life con man who passed as a Airline Pilot, Doctor, lawyer and wrote about 4 million dollars worth of bad checks....all by the time he was 19 years old. I'm sure there have been some liberties taken with the story, but this film will keep your attention from start to finish The two disc DVD transfer looks very good and there are a ton of extras.

A scam done in style and with a smile
2008-09-18 - If there were an award for the best credits presentation, the opening sequence of Catch Me if You Can designed in the style of the 1960's detective comic strips would be a winner. Overall, the movie's art-director deserves an award for the recreation of the 1960's style, complete with those bright monochrome shirts worth hundreds of dollars now. The biggest award for this captivating story, though, snatched the real Frank Abagnale Jr. He did it through those bank fees we pay now every time we're forced to write a real check (whose security features he, very likely, helped design) instead of easily pasting one up from fancy stationary, decals and John Doe's surrender to the force of blinding looks. All of the above he managed to use himself running one of the greatest laser-printer-free scams of the 20th century that leaves our eyes wide open and our jaws dropped. This movie is like a chess-game puzzle printed in a newspaper: we know who will win but we are intrigued by the strategy and the ultimate chase. It is never high-speed, but just like a chess-game, develops move by move. As viewers, we are more likely to side up with the con artist (Leonardo DiCaprio) than with his FBI hunter (Tom Hanks). Abagnale Jr. doesn't come across as an inveterate rogue--he is cold-blooded, but not a mean bastard (unlike Mr. Ripley, for instance.) Why are we on his side? Maybe because he does more harm to the system (that we probably wouldn't mind getting screwed sometimes) than to defenseless individuals, to whom he is actually quite considerate. One episode that isn't quite clear-the TV show the movie opens with. The movie is definitely worth seeing, because it leaves you inspired.

Best part is, it's a true story!!!!
2008-09-08 - This movie was awesome! One of those where you can't get up to get a snack or answer the phone! It takes different turns and twists and it's all real! The ending was the BEST!!! I'm not going to tell but it's such an incredible life and he's still alive and well!!! You do land up cheering for this guy too. Definately turns into a feel good movie and again, best part is, it's based on a true story!!! A MUST SEE!!!