Catch Me If You Can is a 2002 comedy-drama crime film based on the life of Frank Abagnale Jr., who, before his 19th birthday, successfully conned millions of dollars by posing as a Pan American World Airways pilot, a Georgia doctor and Louisiana attorney and parish prosecutor. His primary crime was check forgery, becoming so skillful that the FBI eventually turned to him for help in catching other check forgers. Steven Spielberg directed the film, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Abagnale, as well as Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Amy Adams, Martin Sheen, and Nathalie Baye.
Development for the film started as far back as 1980. With the beginning of the 21st century, filmmakers such as David Fincher, Gore Verbinski, Lasse Hallström, Miloš Forman and Cameron Crowe were at one point involved with Catch Me if You Can. Spielberg (who was originally involved as producer) decided to become the project's director, dropping out of Big Fish and Memoirs of a Geisha. Filming took place from February to May 2002. Catch Me If You Can received financial and critical success, and the real Abagnale greeted the film positively.
Plot
Frank Abagnale Jr, 16 years old, lives happily in 1964 New Rochelle, New York with his father Frank Abagnale Sr and French mother Paula. When a loan for Frank Sr. is denied at Chase Manhattan Bank, due to a series of IRS tax frauds by Frank Sr, the family is forced to move from their grand home to a small apartment. Paula carries on an affair with Jack, a friend of her husband. In the meantime, Frank poses as a substitute teacher in his French class. Shortly, Frank's parents file for divorce, and Frank, scared, runs away. When he runs out of money, he begins to use confidence scams. Frank's cons grow ever bolder and he even impersonates an airline pilot. He forges Lufthansa & Pan Am payroll checks and succeeds in stealing more than $2.8 million.
Meanwhile Carl Hanratty, an FBI bank fraud agent, begins to track down Frank with little help from his superiors. Carl and Frank meet in a hotel, where Frank convinces Carl his name is Barry Allen of the Secret Service. Frank leaves, with Carl angrily fooled. Later, at Christmas, Carl is still working when Frank calls him, attempting to apologize for duping Carl. Carl rejects his apology and tells him that he will soon be caught, but laughs when he realizes that Frank actually called him because he has no one else to talk to. Frank hangs up, and Carl continues to investigate. At a restaurant, a waiter points out to Carl that Frank's false name, "Barry Allen," is from The Flash comic books. Carl then realizes that Frank is probably a teenager.
Frank, meanwhile, has not only switched to becoming a doctor and a Louisiana lawyer, but has also fallen in love with a girl named Brenda. Carl tracks him to his engagement party where Frank admits the truth about himself to Brenda and asks her to run away with him. As he escapes, he asks Brenda to meet him in two days so they can elope. At the Miami International Airport, Frank sees her waiting as agreed, but he spots FBI agents everywhere and realizes that he has been set up (with Brenda as the bait) and posing as a representative for Pan-Am, goes to a nearby girl's college to "recruit" girls to be "stewardesses-in-training," and returns to the airport the next day, using the girls that he recruits as a distraction to the FBI agents, making his escape to Europe.
Seven months later, Carl shows his boss that Frank has been forging checks all over the world and that he is out of control. He wants permission to fly to Europe to look for him. When his boss denies him the permission, Carl takes Frank’s checks to professional printers who deem that they were printed in France. Remembering that Frank’s mother, Paula, was born in Montrichard, France, Carl goes there where he finds Frank. He tells him the French police will kill him if he does not go with Carl quietly. Frank assumes he is joking, but Carl assures Frank he would never lie to him, and Carl takes him outside, where the French police escort him to prison. Carl promises to have him extradited to the U.S.
The scene then flashes forward to a plane returning Frank to the U.S. from France. Carl informs him that his father has died. Consumed with grief, Frank escapes through the bathroom plumbing and out the landing gear when the plane lands in New York. He goes back to his old house, where he sees his mother and Jack Barnes, as well as a little girl that Frank realizes is his half-sister. Frank gives up and is sentenced to prison, getting occasional visits from Carl. When Frank easily points out how one of the checks Carl is carrying as evidence is fake, Carl gets an idea and calls for an interview with the FBI. At the interview, the FBI informs Frank that he can serve out the remainder of his sentence working in the FBI's bank fraud department, under Carl’s custody, to which Frank accepts. Though somewhat content, Frank still misses the thrill of the chase and attempts to be a pilot again. Carl catches him, but lets him fly anyway, remarking "sometimes it's easier living the lie," and says he knows Frank will be back, as no-one is chasing him.
On Monday, though delayed, Frank does return, and finally reveals to Carl that not all of his careers were cons—Frank passed the Louisiana Bar exam by studying for it for two weeks. The epilogue shows that Frank is happily married with three sons, lives in the Midwest, and is still good friends with Carl. Frank has helped catch some of the world's most elusive money forgers and earns millions creating unforgeable checks.
Cast
Leonardo DiCaprio and the real Frank Abagnale.
- Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale, Jr.. Before his 19th birthday, Frank successfully conned millions of dollars worth of checks as a Pan Am pilot, doctor, and Louisiana parish prosecutor.
- Tom Hanks as Carl Hanratty, an FBI Agent who pursues Frank Jr. for most of the film. Hanratty is often mocked by other agents, who do not take check fraud seriously. Hanratty is divorced, and his daughter and wife live in Chicago. In the end, Carl and Frank Jr. become great friends.
- Christopher Walken as Frank Abagnale Sr, Frank's father, and a World War II veteran. Frank Sr. loses his wife Paula and most of his wealth after he committed IRS tax evasion. Frank Sr. dies after falling down a staircase in a train station.
- Nathalie Baye as Paula Abagnale/Barnes. Frank Sr. meets her when she is 18-years old in Montrichard, France during World War II. Six weeks later the couple marries. They divorce when Frank is 15, leaving Paula to marry Jack Barnes. Towards the end of the film, they have a daughter.
- Amy Adams as Brenda Strong. Before becoming a nurse in Georgia, Brenda has an abortion. Her strict Lutheran parents disown her, until they meet Frank Jr.
- Martin Sheen as Roger Strong, Brenda's father, and Carol's husband. Roger is a well-recognized district attorney in Louisiana, and is not easily convinced that Frank Jr. graduated from law school. His alma mater is University of California, Berkeley Law School Boalt Hall.
- James Brolin as Jack Barnes, an associate of Frank Sr at the New Rochelle, New York Rotary Club. Barnes later carries an affair with Paula, leading to the divorce of Frank Jr's parents.
- Nancy Lenehan as Carol Strong, Brenda's mother and Roger's wife. When thinking that Frank Jr. is a doctor, lawyer and Lutheran, she is highly ecstatic for her daughter's marriage.
Ellen Pompeo, Elizabeth Banks and Amy Acker have small roles. Brian Howe, Frank John Hughes and Chris Ellis portray FBI agents. Jennifer Garner cameos as a call girl. The real Frank Abagnale cameos as a French police officer arresting his character.
Production
Frank Abagnale sold the film rights to his autobiography in 1980.[1] Producer Michel Shane purchased the film rights in 1990,[2] for Paramount Pictures.[3] By December 1997, Barry Kemp purchased the film rights from Shane, bringing the project to DreamWorks, with Jeff Nathanson writing the script.[4] By April 2000, David Fincher was attached to direct over the course of a few months, but dropped out in favor of Panic Room. In July 2000, Leonardo DiCaprio had entered discussions to star, with Gore Verbinski to direct.[5][6] Steven Spielberg signed on as producer, and filming was set to begin in March 2001.[7][8]
Verbinski cast James Gandolfini as Carl Hanratty, Ed Harris as Frank Abagnale Sr. and Chloe Sevigny as Brenda Strong.[9][10] Verbinski dropped out because of DiCaprio's commitment on Gangs of New York.[11] Lasse Hallström was in negotiations to direct by May 2001, but dropped out in July 2001. At this stage Harris and Sevigny left the film, but Gandolfini was still attached.[10][12] Spielberg, co-founder of DreamWorks, offered the job of director to Miloš Forman, and considered hiring Cameron Crowe. This only prompted Spielberg to consider directing the film himself, dropping out of projects such as Big Fish and Memoirs of a Geisha.[8][13] Spielberg officially committed to directing in August 2001.[2]
The original start date was January 2002,[2] but was pushed to February 7 in Los Angeles, California.[14] Other locations included Burbank, Downey, New York, LA/Ontario International Airport (which doubled for Miami International Airport), Quebec and Montreal.[15] The film was shot in 147 different locations in only 52 days. DiCaprio reflected, "Scenes that we thought would take three days took an afternoon."[16] Filming ran from April 25—30 in Park Avenue, just outside the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Production moved to Orange, New Jersey and returned to Brooklyn for bank and courthouse scenes. Shooting also took place at the TWA Flight Center at John F. Kennedy International Airport.[17] Quebec City was chosen for its European character and French feel. A portion of the historic downtown area was modified to resemble Montrichard.[18] Filming ended on May 12 in Montreal.[19]
Fictions
Despite the various changes from real-life events, Abagnale believed Spielberg was the only filmmaker who "could do this film justice."[20] However, Abagnale had little involvement with the film. In November 2001, he had "never met nor spoken to Steven Spielberg and I have not read the script. I prefer not to. I understand that they now portray my father in a better light, as he really was. Steven Spielberg has told the screenplay writer (Jeff Nathanson) that he wants complete accuracy in the relationships and actual scams that I perpetrated," Abagnale reported. "I hope in the end the movie will be entertaining, exciting, funny and bring home an important message about family, childhood and divorce."[20]
Abagnale never saw his father after he ran away from home. Spielberg "wanted to continue to have that connection where Frank kept trying to please his father; by making him proud of him; by seeing him in the uniform, the Pan-American uniform."[21] However, Abagnale praised the idea. "Even though I didn't see my dad again, every night after living a brilliant day and meeting many women, and making much money, I'd come back alone to a hotel room and I would just think of my mom and dad and fantasize about getting them back together again, and cry. It's the justification of a fantasy."[21]
Abagnale was depicted as an only child in the film. In fact he was one of 4 children. [22]
Abagnale's mother never remarried nor did she have any more children after her divorce. [22]
In one scene Frank, Jr. is interviewing college girls to be his stewardesses-in-training, one girl sings John Denver's "Leaving On A Jet Plane" as a part of her interview. This is anachronistic, because when Frank does this, it's 1966, but the song wasn't released until the next year.
Carl Hanratty (portrayed by Tom Hanks) is based on FBI agent Joe Shaye. In the shooting script the character was referred to as Joe Shaye, but was changed to Carl Hanratty for unknown reasons.[23] Abagnale simply escaped from the back of a Boeing 737, not through a toilet. Spielberg "added that for laughs."[21]
On the flight back from France to the US, Abagnale looks out the window at La Guardia airport and says he recognizes runway 44, which is an impossible runway number. Runways are numbered by magnetic compass heading without the last digit, so the maximum possible runway number is 36.
Themes
Catch Me if You Can deals with themes of "broken homes" and "troubled childhoods." Spielberg's parents divorced when he was a teenager, similar to Frank Abagnale's situation. "Some of my films have had to do with broken homes and people on the run from their sad pasts," Spielberg stated. "But there are those strands that got me to say: you know, there's something also about me that I can say through the telling of this kind of lighthearted story." Carl Hanratty also is divorced from his wife, who lives with their daughter in Chicago.[21] Spielberg also wanted to create a film that sympathized with a crook (in this case Frank Abagnale). He explained, "Frank was a 21st century genius working within the innocence of the mid '60s, when people were more trusting than they are now. I don't think this is the kind of movie where somebody could say, 'I have a career plan.'"[21] References are made throughout the film to The Flash. Frank has some Flash comics in his room and one of his aliases is "Barry Allen"
Reception
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"I know that Hollywood has made a number of changes to the story, but I am honored that Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks participated in the making of the movie inspired by my life. It is important to understand that it is just a movie, not a biographical documentary."
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Game Show Network aired the 1977 episode of To Tell the Truth that featured Frank Abagnale. Segments were shown on December 29, 2002 and January 1, 2003 as promotion.[24] The marketing department was adamant to market the film as "inspired by a true story." This was to avoid such controversies with A Beautiful Mind and The Hurricane which deviated from history.[21] The premiere took place at Westwood, Los Angeles, California on December 18, 2002.[25]
Catch Me If You Can was released on December 25, 2002, earning slightly above $30 million in 3,225 theaters during its opening weekend. The film went on to gross $164.6 million in North America and $187.5 million in foreign countries, coming at a worldwide total of $352.1 million. The film was a financial success, recouping the $52 million budget six times over.[26] Catch Me If You Can was the eleventh highest grossing film of 2002. Minority Report (also directed by Spielberg) was tenth highest.[27] Based on 186 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of reviews were positive.[28] The film was more balanced with 40 critics in Rotten Tomatoes's "Top Critics" poll, receiving a 90% approval rating.[29] By comparison Metacritic collected an average score of 76, based on 38 reviews.[30]
Roger Ebert heavily praised DiCaprio's performance, and concluded "This is not a major Spielberg film, although it is an effortlessly watchable one."[31] Mick LaSalle said it was "not Spielberg's best movie, but one of his smoothest and maybe his friendliest. The colorful cinematography, smart performances and brisk tempo suggest a filmmaker subordinating every other impulse to the task of manufacturing pleasure."[32] Stephen Hunter believed DiCaprio shows "the range and ease and cleverness that Martin Scorsese so underutilized in Gangs of New York."[33]
James Berardinelli observed, "Catch Me if You Can never takes itself or its subjects too seriously, and contains more genuinely funny material than about 90% of the so-called 'comedies' found in multiplexes these days." In addition Berardinelli praised John Williams' film score, which he felt was "more intimate and jazzy than his usual material, evoking (intentionally) Henry Mancini."[34] Peter Travers was one of few who gave the film a negative review. Travers considered Catch Me if You Can to be "bogged down over 140 minutes. A film that took off like a hare on speed ends like a winded tortoise." He also disliked Hanks' performance.[35]
At the 75th Academy Awards, Christopher Walken and John Williams were nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Original Music Score.[36] Walken won the same category at the 56th British Academy Film Awards, while Williams, costume designer Mary Zophres and screenwriter Jeff Nathanson received nominations.[37] DiCaprio was nominated the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama.[38] Williams also earned a Grammy Award nomination.[39] Elements of the film were later parodied in The Simpsons episode Catch 'Em if You Can.[40]
A musical adaptation of the same name premiered at the 5th Avenue Theater in Seattle, Washington in July 2009.[citation needed]
References
- ^ a b Frank Abagnale (September 3, 2002). "Comments". Abagnale & Associates. http://www.abagnale.com/comments.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ a b c Claude Brodesser; Dana Harris (August 21, 2001). "D'Works to play Catch". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117851580. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ Charles Lyons; Dade Hayes (January 8, 2002). "D'Works sets play date for pricey Catch". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117858155. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
- ^ Dan Cox (December 15, 1997). "TV vet Kemp prepping pix at U, UA, D'Works". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR111775699. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
- ^ Michael Fleming (April 4, 2000). "Noon strikes twice at Spyglass for 3 scribes". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117780175. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
- ^ Claude Brodesser; Charles Lyons (July 31, 2000). "DiCaprio plays Catch". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117784383. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ Michael Fleming (August 22, 2000). "Fox rocks with Mamas & Papas pic". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117785385. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ a b Michael Fleming (July 30, 2001). "Dish: Billionaire Reveres films". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117850489. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ Claude Brodesser; Dana Harris (November 6, 2000). "Inside Move: DiCaprio misses Catch". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117788759. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ a b Stax (July 6, 2001). "Another Catch for Leo's Next Flick". IGN. http://movies.ign.com/articles/301/301130p1.html. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
- ^ Michael Fleming (February 15, 2001). "Beresford goes home again; Project pulled". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117793762. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ Charles Lyons; Dana Harris (May 22, 2001). "Hallstrom plays Catch". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117799905. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ Claude Brodesser; Cathy Dunkley (August 5, 2001). "IEG, DiCaprio Gang up". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117850751. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ Army Archerd (February 11, 2002). "Kudos to Opening Ceremonies". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117860556. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ Army Archerd (April 2, 2002). "Tonight Show employees get anni bonus". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117864812. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ "Catch Me if You Can". Extra. December 12, 2002. http://telepixtvcgi.warnerbros.com/dailynews/extra/12_02/12_12b.html. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ Army Archerd (April 30, 2002). "Who will fill Frank Sinatra's shoes?". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117866260. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
- ^ Brian Linder (May 2, 2002). "Spielly Update: Report, Catch Me". IGN. http://movies.ign.com/articles/358/358398p1.html. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
- ^ Army Archerd (May 14, 2002). "Sierra Madre inspires Spider-Man helmer". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117866934. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
- ^ a b Stax (November 15, 2001). "The Man Behind Catch Me if You Can". IGN. http://movies.ign.com/articles/316/316167p1.html. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
- ^ a b c d e f Steve Head (December 17, 2002). "An Interview with Steven Spielberg". IGN. http://movies.ign.com/articles/380/380514p1.html. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ a b Source: speech by Frank Abagnale in New York June 24th 2009
- ^ Claude Brodesser (August 28, 2001). "D'Works tracking top cop for Catch". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117851972. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ Josef Adalian (December 10, 2002). "Inside Move: Net game for movie link". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117877261. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ "H'w'd plays Catch". Variety. December 18, 2002. http://www.variety.com/vstory/VR1117877691.html?categoryid=38&cs=1. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ "Catch Me if You Can (2002)". Box Office Mojo. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=catchmeifyoucan.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
- ^ "2002 Yearly Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2002&p=.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
- ^ "Catch Me if You Can". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/catch_me_if_you_can/. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
- ^ "Catch Me if You Can: Top Critics". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/catch_me_if_you_can/?critic=creamcrop. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
- ^ "Catch Me if You Can (2002): Reviews". Metacritic. http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Catch_Me_if_You_Can&action=edit§ion=4. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
- ^ "Catch Me if You Can". Roger Ebert. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20021225/REVIEWS/212250301/1023. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ Mick LaSalle (December 25, 2002). "Holiday Movies". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/12/25/DD157158.DTL. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ Stephen Hunter (December 25, 2002). "A Merry Chase". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A35249-2002Dec24. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ "Catch Me if You Can". James Berardinelli. http://www.reelviews.net/movies/c/catch_me.html. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ Peter Travers (January 2, 2003). "Catch Me if You Can". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5947725/review/5947726/catch_me_if_you_can. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ "74th Academy Awards". Internet Movie Database. http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Academy_Awards_USA/2003. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ "56th BAFTA Awards". Internet Movie Database. http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/BAFTA_Awards/2003. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ "Golden Globes: 2003". Internet Movie Database. http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Golden_Globes_USA/2003. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ "Grammy Awards: 2003". Internet Movie Database. http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Grammy_Awards/2004. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ "Catch 'Em if You Can". Matthew Nastuk, Ian Maxtone-Graham. The Simpsons. 2004-04-25. No. 331, season 15.
Further reading
- Catch Me If You Can: The Amazing True Story of the Youngest and Most Daring Con Man in the History of Fun and Profit (ISBN 0060529717) by Frank Abagnale Jr. and Stan Redding
External links
