Catch Me If You Can

[Rywill]

I saw this yesterday. It's pretty good--thumbs up from me. It's a mostly light-hearted movie, which seems kind of weird, but I guess works if you imagine that the protagonist is stealing money from Pan Am's Magical Money Factory rather than from the pension funds of a bunch of hard-working airline employees. The movie has a good plot, interesting characters, and good acting from the two leads. I was really surprised that Tom Hanks took this role, because there really isn't a lot for him to do--his character is pretty two-dimensional, not at all the sort of thing he usually takes. Leonardo DiCaprio is excellent, though, and it's good to see Spielberg getting back to what he does best.

I wonder how much of the film is based on real events and how much of it was invented for this movie. I think most of the scams portrayed in the movie are real, and to me, that's the most amazing thing about the whole story: that this guy could get away with all of this. I guess it was a different, less sophisticated time. And probably the lack of computers had a lot to do with it, too--nowadays, it's easy to double-check someone's ID against a central database, but back then, I guess if you had a realistic-looking ID card, that was good enough. Interesting stuff. Anyway, good movie.

[Sean Tudor]

I wonder how much of the film is based on real events and how much of it was invented for this movie. I think most of the scams portrayed in the movie are real, and to me, that's the most amazing thing about the whole story: that this guy could get away with all of this. I guess it was a different, less sophisticated time. And probably the lack of computers had a lot to do with it, too--nowadays, it's easy to double-check someone's ID against a central database, but back then, I guess if you had a realistic-looking ID card, that was good enough. Interesting stuff. Anyway, good movie.

I haven't seen the movie although this looks like DiCaprio's best film yet. I was wondering how do you fake being an airline pilot ? I mean you would have to have some basic flight experience.

[GMicek]

I was pretty excited to see this movie to tell you the truth, good actors, good concept, good director. But I know a few people who have seen it so far and they really didn't like it. Not saying I'm not going to see it, but I might just wait for video.

[DavidCPA]

I wonder how much of the film is based on real events and how much of it was invented for this movie. I think most of the scams portrayed in the movie are real, and to me, that's the most amazing thing about the whole story: that this guy could get away with all of this. I guess it was a different, less sophisticated time. And probably the lack of computers had a lot to do with it, too--nowadays, it's easy to double-check someone's ID against a central database, but back then, I guess if you had a realistic-looking ID card, that was good enough. Interesting stuff. Anyway, good movie.

Less sophistocated time, yes, but we have more sophisticated criminals now.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/azstar/20021228/lo_azstar/data_theft_poses_risk_to_30_000_in_s__ariz_

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021227/ap_on_re_us/records_stolen_1

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20021212/wr_nm/crime_ebay_email_dc_2

[Rywill]

I haven't seen the movie although this looks like DiCaprio's best film yet. I was wondering how do you fake being an airline pilot ? I mean you would have to have some basic flight experience.

Yeah, this was something I wondered about too, because I read that he had impersonated both an airline pilot and also a doctor. Those statements are true but misleading. He never flew an actual airplane; he impersonated a pilot to add to his prestige so he could cash phony checks, and so he could get free air travel (apparently airlines had this gentleman's agreement that pilots, even from rival companies, could fly for free in the "jump seat" in the cockpit).

Similarly, when impersonating a doctor, he never treated any patients. He had an administrative job, running a wing in a hospital. Obviously, both are still impressive feats of deception, but they aren't exactly what they sound like at first.

[Anonymous]

I thought it was a movie about herpes.

[Anonymous]

Guess we know now why Pan Am went bankrupt :)

[Anonymous]

Catch Me If You Can is Spielburg's best movie since Close Encounters. That was a long time ago and he's made a lot of bad movies since then, too many to even remember.

It's also the best John Williams score since the invention of the personal computer, and the best Leonardo DiCaprio performance I've seen (haven't seen Gilbert Grape, though). Tom Hanks is understated and while his performance might not be any better or worse than usual, the writing is much better than most of the films he does.

In short 4 of the most irritatingly bland personalities in show business have teamed up to make a thoroughly enjoyable movie, one that is the best-crafted film of the year. The fact that it is piffle is irrelevent as far as I'm concerned, because I go to the movies to see good moviemaking, not to learn about "important issues" (see the rest of Spielburg's movies of the past 10 years). This movie is constructed in the spirit of Billy Wilder comedies with a big, sad heart (Some Like It Hot, The Apartment) and it completely succeeds in its aims. Way to go, Spielburg!

[Jason Levine]

I was wondering how do you fake being an airline pilot ? I mean you would have to have some basic flight experience.

No, he didn't. I haven't seen the film yet, but the real Frank Abagnale, Jr. faked being an airline pilot only to the extent of wearing the uniform and cashing the checks. He used the uniform to cash the checks and shag the free rides that pilots get as passengers, and get girls. While he did ride in the cockpit jump seat on occasion, he never actually took over the controls. I saw an interview in which he said that, on one occasion, the pilot got up and announced he was going back in the cabin and ask Abagnale to take over. He said that he was within a second of blurting out a confession when the co-pilot said he would take over instead.

[Captain Cookiepants]

This, and the $1 counterfeiter, are my two favorite criminal stories, they're just fun and it's amazing they each got away with it for so long.

But I HATE DiCaprio, some of it is residue from being dragged to 'Titanic' over and over, but a lot is just that I don't like movie stars that I could stomp. A reason I hate Keanu Reeves too.
I'm a member of Accion Mutante; anyone that got where they are through sheer looks alone is worthy of scorn and contempt. I also don't listen to 'pop' music either.

Edit: It's 5:30 in Nevada and this guy is on the Game Show network on 'To Tell The Truth!!!!' Right now

[Jim Preston]

Catch Me If You Can is Spielburg's best movie since Close Encounters. .... Way to go, Spielburg!

I'm wondering if it is fair of me to completely dismiss your opinion because you cannot even spell the man's name correctly.

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering if it is fair of me to completely dismiss your opinion because you cannot even spell the man's name correctly.

I don't know, is it fair to point out that you're an asshole, and nobody cares whether you can spell or not?