Matthew Simpson

Dr. Bonnie Whitener

EN 102 – 018

28 Feb. 2023

The Art of Deception: Evaluation of Catch Me If You Can

In 2002, DreamWorks Pictures released a movie adaptation of the movie’s namesake

book Catch Me If You Can. The movie tells the story of a young con artist who successfully

impersonated a Pan American World Airways pilot, a Georgia pediatric medical doctor, and a

Louisiana parish prosecutor, all before he turned 19. The film portrays the life of Frank

Abagnale Jr. and his life of crime and deception as a very successful con artist in a very engaging

and thrilling way. It uses the skills of its actors, directing of the plot, and musical score

throughout the movie to keep the viewer engaged and interested.

The plot of the movie is well-directed by Steven Spielberg, a legendary director

responsible for movies such as the Indiana Jones series, Jaws, E.T., Saving Private Ryan, Jurassic

Park, and many more critically acclaimed and beloved movies. The plot is based on the real-life

story of Frank Abagnale Jr. and his life as a con artist. The movie gives the audience a thrilling

and entertaining ride as they watch Abagnale navigate his web of lies to outsmart everyone

including the government. Spielberg structured the movie to be a cat-and-mouse game

between Frank Abagnale Jr. and a determined FBI agent named Carl Hanratty. Beginning with

Frank Abagnale Jr. and his father, we begin to see how he was taught early how to con people

and use his charm and wit to gain an advantage. Later we see Abagnale begin his criminal life

when he runs away from home after finding out that his parents are getting a divorce because
the IRS is coming after his father. We then see Spielberg balance the drama of the story with

humor as we navigate the complexities of Abagnale impersonating a Pan Am pilot, making fake

paychecks, and cashing them. He also becomes a pediatric medical doctor in the state of

Georgia, falls in love, and moves to Louisiana. When he moves to Louisiana, he takes the bar

exam and begins practicing law as a licensed lawyer. Some of these scenes provide a break

from the tension of Hanratty and the FBI, as well as his own past chasing after him. By the end

of his criminal stretch, Frank Abagnale Jr. managed to steal about 2.5 million dollars from

several countries and counties in the United States. The plot is masterfully directed and

executed all the way to Abagnale’s capture in a small village in France where his mother is from.

Abagnale is captured by Hanratty but is detained by local authorities under poor conditions

where we see him use that to attempt an escape when Hanratty is able to get him extradited.

While on the plane back the two characters, Frank Abagnale Jr., and Carl Hanratty bond until

Abagnale escapes by going to the bathroom and sneaking off the plane. He is recaptured

shortly after when he returns to his childhood home where he sees his mother that has a new

family and child. Abagnale serves several years in prison until he meets with Hanratty and helps

with a case. The federal government and FBI arranged a deal with Frank Abagnale Jr. to consult

and help solve crime in the bank division by looking at forgeries and other evidence to catch

new criminals like himself. The story stays very accurate to the actual events that took place in

Abagnale’s life. He said himself that what is depicted in the movie is “90% accurate”. The story

is impressive and accurate because the real Abagnale helped to write the movie.

The cast of Catch Me If You Can included several outstanding actors delivering a

masterclass of a performance such as Leonardo DiCaprio portraying the main character, Frank
Abagnale Jr. He gives the role the perfect amount of charm and portrays the intelligence and

confidence that the real Frank Abagnale Jr. would have, as well as the vulnerability and fear

associated with a very young man in over his head chased by the federal government. As well

as the sense of family pride, always trying to bring his parents back together and get everything

back that they lost from the IRS. Tom Hanks had the duty of portraying the determined FBI

agent, Carl Hanratty. He masterfully illustrates the cerebral, and desperate character trying to

catch DiCaprio’s character. The casting of Hanks playing this stiff, unyielding character is perfect

to oppose or foil DiCaprio’s flamboyant character. The supporting characters of Christopher

Walken and Nathalie Baye are noteworthy as they portray the Abagnale parents. Baye portrays

the mother who struggles with the thought of her son becoming a criminal like her father

whom she wants nothing to do with after his troubles with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Walken, as the father, is very poignant in his performance of the heartbreaking story of a father

who lost everything but is still trying to prove himself to his family and keep in touch with his

adventuring son who tries to support him in everything even in his life of crime. He always

refuses help due to the federal government keeping an eye on him due to his troubles with the

Internal Revenue Service.

The score of the movie Catch Me If You Can is composed by the legendary composer

John Williams. He is most notably known for his work on several iconic films, including Star

Wars, Harry Potter, Jaws, and Indiana Jones. Williams has worked with the director Steven

Spielberg on many occasions and they are able to encapsulate the feel of a film in a musical

element that adds an extra layer to the story and affects the movie in a very positive and

powerful way. Williams created the score to be a lively and jazzy feel, distinctly from the period
in which the actual events took place, the 1960s. The score perfectly captures and emulates the

energy and excitement of Abagnale’s life on the run. It has highly intense moments that play

when the chase gets close, and it also has low points to reflect the emotions felt by the main

character at certain points. The score’s capturing of the spirit of the era and its complexities

offer an extra layer of entertainment and intrigue to the story. The score also helps to transport

the audience to the different regions and locations the characters find themselves in. The movie

uses several different pieces to also complement the visuals that are going on such as when the

main characters travel around the globe, or when the characters find themselves in particularly

exciting situations. Overall, the score allows the viewers to be more immersed in the story and

adds to the sense of adventure and excitement that the movie and its story has to offer.

The movie Catch Me If You Can is a movie with an extremely engaging and entertaining

story that gives its viewers a very enjoyable experience. It does so through its extremely great

score from a legend, John Williams, fantastic acting from actors such as Tom Hanks, and

Leonardo DiCaprio, starring as Carl Hanratty and Frank Abagnale Jr. respectively, as well as the

directing by another legend, Steven Spielberg. All of these things come together to create a

perfect storm of excitement, thrill, intrigue, and intensity. It all creates a well-constructed

balance of humor, drama, and emotion. Catch Me If You Can is a movie that most people would

enjoy, and everyone should watch, because who does not want to watch an amazingly

entertaining story about a young con artist on the run?