Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Synopsis: Charming young con artist attempts *ahem* pilot project.

Blurb From the VHS Jacket: “Catch Me If You Can follows Frank W. Abagnale, Jr. as he successfully passes himself off as a pilot, a lawyer and a doctor – all before his 21^st birthday!”

What Did I Learn?: “Go fuck yourself” isn’t a bad punchline for a ‘knock knock’ joke. 2) The Yankees win because the other team can’t stop staring at those pinstripes.

You Might Like This Movie If: You're intrigued by the golden age of commercial air travel.

Really?: I realize this movie is based upon a true story, so maybe it’s not fair to attack it for presenting extremely implausible scenes, but: 1) wouldn’t Frank – who’s a teenager through most of the film – have done a much, much better job of staying in touch with his parents? 2) Wouldn’t a hospital phone Harvard’s medical school to confirm the graduation of a Frank Connors?

Rating: Catch Me If You Can is a well-written, and well-acted film with good performances from DiCaprio and Hanks, as well as a lot of cameo appearances (I wish the scene of Hanks meeting Christopher Walken had been longer). The movie drags a bit when Frank pretends to be a doctor, and then a lawyer in the South,  (maybe the real Frank Abagnale did this, but from a movie-watching perspective it’s tough to understand why he set down roots when there’s a nation-wide manhunt for him) and it’s a little unclear about his mental motivations, but it’s a fun ride. 8.5/10 stars.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264464/