Catch Me If You Can is one of Steven Spielberg's lighter efforts from the early part of the decade. It's his first collaboration with Titanic megastar Leonardo DiCaprio (solid as usual) and a second partnership with Tom Hanks (having fun with a workahloic character piece). Its fast, fun , frothy and quite unlike anything else Spielberg had done at this point (although why he did The Terminal frustrates me, even now).
Spielberg's doing a bit of a Tarantinio with his casting here. On one hand he's given established actors a second shot; Martin Sheen and a career best performance from an amazing Christopher Walken. He's also cast a lot of up an coming youngsters; Amy Adams (Doubt), Jennifer Ganer (Alias), Sarah Lancaster (Chuck), Ellen Pompeo (Greys Anatomy), Amy Acker (Angel) and Elizabeth Banks (Zack & Miri).
A minor work from the master, but still accomplished and entertaining.
1 comment:
I love Catch Me If You Can. I think it's an exceptional period comedy/drama.
And what's more it is actually a true story. One hell of an amazing true story.
The script is mostly light and fun with a few quite serious and affecting moments dropped in here and there. Plus the film contains a truly brilliant performance by Christopher Walken playing against type as Frank's dad - a nice and decent man who loves his son and just wants what he believes he has earned from his life. DiCaprio is engaging as Frank and Hanks (in more of a supporting role) is fun and watchable as the pursuing fed. But this is Spielberg's show. And as such it is immaculately directed and produced while conveying the time period it is set in perfectly. I love the 60's look to it - especially when Frank is playing airline pilot and then copying Connery in the clothes and car department. Wonderful stuff.
Yep, light and frothy this film mostly is, but it is some of the finest froth you could ever taste.
Post a Comment