Catch Me If You Can
About Catch Me If You Can
A gifted forger and confidence man attempts to stay one step ahead of the lawman determined to bring him to justice in this comedy-drama from Steven Spielberg, based on a true story. Frank W. Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a 16-year-old high school student who finds himself emotionally cut adrift when his mother, Paula (Nathalie Baye), leaves his father, Frank Abagnale Sr. (Christopher Walken), after Frank Sr. falls into arrears with the Internal Revenue Service. One day at school, Frank Jr. attempts to pass himself off as a substitute teacher, and easily makes the subterfuge work. His small-scale success gives Frank some ideas, and he soon discovers bigger and more profitable ways of hoaxing others, passing himself off as an airline pilot, a doctor, and an attorney. Along the way, Frank learns how to become a master forger, and uses his talent and charm to pass over 2.5 million dollars in phony checks. Frank's increasingly audacious work soon attracts the attention of Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), an FBI agent who is determined to put Frank behind bars. Frank seems to enjoy being pursued by Carl, and even goes so far as to call Carl on the phone to chat every once in a while. While posing as a doctor, Frank falls in love with Brenda Strong (Amy Adams), a sweet girl working as a candy striper. When Frank asks Brenda to marry him, he decides to assume a new identity to impress her father, Roger (Martin Sheen) -- who happens to be the District Attorney of New Orleans, LA. Catch Me If You Can was based on the autobiography of the real Frank W. Abagnale Jr., who has a cameo in the film and today works on the side of the law as a top consultant on preventing forgery and designing secure checking systems. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
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Quick Facts
US Release Date
12/25/02
MPAA Rating
Rated PG-13 for for some sexual content and brief language.
Running Time
140 mins.
Locations
- Los Angeles, California, USA
- Montreal, Canada
- New York City, New York, USA
- Quebec, Canada
Language
- English
Box Office Total
$164,435,221
Awards
- Winner of the Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic award at the 2002 Screen Actors Guild Awards.
- Winner of the Best Supporting Actor (Runner-up) award at the 2002 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Picture award at the 2002 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Picture award at the 2003 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards.
- Winner of the Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic award at the 2002 National Society of Film Critics Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Director award at the 2002 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic award at the 2002 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie Awards.
- Winner of the Best Director award at the 2003 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards.
- Winner of the Best Score award at the 2003 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Score award at the 2002 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie Awards.
- Nominated for a Best Composer award at the 2002 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards.
Distributor
- DreamWorks
- DreamWorks Home Entertainment
