I got a lot of emails asking me to start writing film reviews again. So I am back. I had specifically written in my last film review (Raging Bull) that it would probably be my last film review. I never said definate. So her I am back again. Comments are absolutely vital for me. Thanks and enjoy the review.
Psst - This section will contain some inside trivia about the film.
Quotes - Good one liners from the movie.
Oops - Goofs From the movie.
Director - Steven Spielberg
Screenplay - Frank Abagnale Jr, Stan Redding and Jeff Nathanson
Superb cat and mouse chase and true life based movie between Young Conman Frank Abagnale Jr(Leonardo DiCaprio) and FBI agent Carl Hanratty(Tom Hanks). Frank Jr. runs away from house after he finds out that his father Frank Sr.(Christopher Walken) and Mom Paula (Nathalie Baye) are about to be divorced as his father is under scrutiny by the IRS. Frank Jr decides to con people especially bankers by making forge cheques. He cheats the PanAm Airlines by impersonnating a co-pilot, cheats a hospital by becoming a doctor from Harvard Medical School, cheats successful lawyer Roger Strong(Martin Sheen) by impersonnating an assistant attorney general from Berkley Law School and literally cons banks from all over the world till he is caught in his mother’s native village in France. All this before he was 21. Told in series of flashback(a la gulzar movies). Like all Spielberg movies, doesn’t let the viewer rest for one second. Edge of the seat chases, superb humor and amazingly fast paced movie. Excellent Music Score By John Williams. Tight and Crisp Editing By Micheal Kahn and superb production values. Most of all good performances in supporting roles by Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen. But if this movie would be credited to one actor, it would have been none other then Leonardo DiCaprio who has given a performance of his life time. Excellent and mature acting by the young actor who is not even 30 but has worked with top league directors like Steven Spielberg, James Cameroon and Martin Scorcese. Excellent Movie. Don’t miss it for anything. Worth Multiple watches.
Psst -
1) Originally Steven Spielberg was only going to produce the movie but was decided to direct himself after David Fincher, Cameron Crowe and Lasse Hallstrom gave up.
2) The Movie was going to be released on Christmas Day with another Leonardo DiCaprio starrer Gangs Of New York. It was preponed to 16th December 2002 while Gangs of New York was preponed to 9th December 2002.
3) Ed Harris was considered for the role of Chirstpher Walken.
4) Until he saw the results of DiCaprio’s work, the real Frank Abagnale Jr. didn’t think DiCaprio was ’’suave’’ enough to play him. For those who don’t know, Suave means Smooth or Courteous.
5) Although this movie is dapted from Frank Abagnale’s autobiography he was neither a consulatnt to the movie nor did he have any say in the making. However he did play a cameo in the movie towards the end as a French Police Officer who arrests Leonardo DiCaprio.
6) This is Music Composer John William’s 18th movie with Steven Spielberg.
Quotes
1) ’’Do you wanna hear me tell a joke? Yeah, I’d love to hear you tell a joke; Knock knock; Who’s there? Go f yourself.’’
2) ’’How Did You Pass The Bar Exam ?’’
3) ’’Sometimes it’s easier to live the lie.’’
4) ’’Two mice fell into a bowl of cream. The first mouse quickly gave up and drowned. The second mouse fought and struggled until he churned that cream into butter and he crawled his way out. I am that second mouse.’’
5) ’’Just tell me how much and I’ll pay you back; .4 million dollars.’’
6) ’’Do you know why the Yankees always win? Because they’ve got Mantle?
No. It’s because the other team’s too busy staring at the pin stripes.’’
7) ’’He hasn’t got a passport; In the last few weeks he’s gone to Harvard and Berkley, I think he can get a passport’’
8) ’’Can You Concour?’’
9) ’’Why don’t you give me the cheque and I will give you 400 dollars back?’’
Oops
1)When Carl Hanratty and Frank Abagnale Jr are aboard a plane at LaGuardia Airport in 1969, a shot of the New York City skyline shows the World Trade Center towers fully built. However, the towers were not completed until 1973.
2) When Frank is watching a lawyer scen on TV we can see an infra red panel on the TV. TV’s at taht time did not have infra red panels for remote control. They came in agood decade later.