Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Have you ever wanted to live someone else's life? Catch Me If You Can is a movie illustrating the life and crimes of a man who did just that. Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, Catch Me If You Can is an engrossing film. Based on a true story, the movie follows the life of Frank Abignale Jr. (DiCaprio), one of the biggest thieves that 1960's America had ever seen. Through the use of fraudulent checks, fake jobs, and pure charisma, Abignale appropriates over 4 million dollars in stolen money before the age of 19. Never far behind, FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Hanks) chases Abignale across the world and back again.

At first glance you wouldn't think an audience could empathize with a criminal on the run, but Spielberg infuses such a like-ability in Abignale that you cannot help but root for his escape. Although he was one of the biggest thieves of his time period, Abignale didn't steal anything in hopes of personal gain or advancement. He just wants to restore the old life he lost due to the shortcomings of his down-and-out father and his adulteress of a mother. On a quest to make something of himself so he can restore his family's relationship, Abignale finds himself pretending to be an airline co-pilot, a doctor, lawyer, and a teacher, just to name some of his jobs. He uses these occupations to pretend to be something he isn't, because he cannot bear to think that his life has become so lonely and different than it was in his childhood. By living a life that is not his, he is able to avoid his own problems. In a series of letter narrations(over the course of time) to his father, Abignale tells of the many new fantastic jobs he has, and always ends his note with a promise to get the family together for a Sunday dinner, which becomes clear that it will never happen. This makes the audience empathize with Abignale, because he is after all, just a kid trying to make things right as best he can.

One reason I think this movie is an amazing one is because of the parallels that are displayed between the two main characters. Each character in a way, is extremely lonely and isolated from their respective families. Even though they are on opposite sides of the law, Abignale calls Hanratty on Christmas every year, because he has nobody else to call. Hanratty is the same way, and that leads to their great friendship after the capture of Abignale. These characters are alike in so many ways, so much so that they can't help but become the best of friends by the film's end. Loneliness is such a huge theme in this film, but Spielberg shows that it only takes one friend to drive you out of a withdrawal, even if they aren't on your side.

This film has phenomenal lead characters, and they help make Catch Me If You Can the great movie that it is. There is never a moment of boredom through the duration of the film, and the twists and turns will keep you guessing, even as they take you all over the world. I strongly recommend anyone to go see this film because it is, in my opinion, flawless piece of film-making. Even when you can escape the life you live to lead a different one, you always have to come back to reality, no matter how bleak it may seem. We all are meant for certain things, and if we pretend to be someone else we are just fooling ourselves. Catch Me If You Can is a must see.