Actually equal credit to Tom Hanks a.k.a Carl Hanratty. Abagnale (Leanardo DeCaprio) is a born con artist. Probably a genetic phenomenon, thanks to his dad (Christopher Walken). Abagnale starts his conning career by fooling his fellow classmates as a prof(!) for a complete week (along with assignments, tests and even a parents meet!). One leads to another till he’s conned his way into the cockpit of Panama airways, as a smart young pilot, forging pay-cheques to glory. The FBI, specifically Carl Hanratty is out there to get Abagnale’s smart a**. There is a fabulous gig pulled by Abagnale, rather blatant display of courage, wherein he actually convinces Carl that he’s a undercover secret agent out to bust the false cheque racket.
Finally, as would every dog has his day, smart a** is caught by Carl somewhere in a printing press in France. After some years of prisonhood, the the anti-climax is that he is offered a job in the FBI to track racketeers! This is very similar to the employment of hackers by the US govt to catch hackers and beef data security!
All in all a fast movie, no much thinking needed, can have a hearly laugh and a chill pill for that much awaited weekend.
Even though a Steven Speilbert direction, I would be surprised if it would WIN a oscar. At best a nomination or two. But I guess Chicago and About Scmidt is gonna give it a boot or two!