Catch Me If You Can review

Steven Spielberg is such a household name as a director that it might surprise you to learn how many fingers he has in how many pies. In the last five years (and this list is by no means exhaustive) he has executive produced Deep Impact, The Mask of Zorro, The Haunting, What Lies Beneath, Shrek, Jurassic Park III and Men in Black II, as well as the TV series Band of Brothers and Taken. On top of this he wrote the best-selling video game Medal of Honor. Oh, there's the small matter of directing Amistad, Saving Private Ryan, A.I. and Minority Report. All of which were bankers at the box office, many laden with awards. Now comes another change in direction, the delightful Catch Me If You Can, which is right up there with his greatest films and one which should become a perennial favourite in years to come.

Based on a true story, DiCaprio plays Frank Abagnale Jr, one of the 1960s' most legendary con artists. Opening with his home life, everything seems perfect for the youngster whose loving parents (Walken and Baye) have a happy middle class lifestyle. But everything changes when Frank Sr is investigated by the IRS and his mother files for divorce only to marry one of his best friends.

Frank Jr runs away to the big city and soon realises that he has a cash problem. However, with a little bit of ingenuity and some guile he starts passing, then forging, cheques from the account his father has opened for him. Realising that the art of scamming lies more in convincing people with a personal touch, Frank charms his way through the prettiest bank clerks in New York who all fall for his tricks and keep him in dollars.

Soon he aspires to bigger things. Almost unbelievably, Abagnale Jr worked as a co-pilot for PanAm, a senior pediatrician, and an assistant DA in Florida - all without any formal qualifications. Just how and why he became these figures allows Spielberg to tell a hugely enjoyable story. Abagnale's personal charm and his choice of positions that people automatically trusted is explored in a joyful and almost heady manner.

His downfall however was his inability to stop cashing fake cheques and inevitably the FBI began chasing him: notably in the form of Agent Hanratty (Tom Hanks). Thus begins a cat-and-mouse chase. While the two rarely share screen time, their relationship, one of almost grudging admiration (Hanratty for Abagnale's skill as a forger, and the latter for Hanratty's normal life), is one that is very convincingly portrayed.

The big question on everyone's lips is whether or not DiCaprio is up to the job. The answer is a resounding yes, and he delivers his best performance since What's Eating Gilbert Grape?. Despite his handsome features, DiCaprio brings a real sense of likeability to Abagnale. Hanks also excels in a much less starry role as the beleaguered agent, but it is Walken who steals the acting honours with a knockout performance as the put-upon but utterly optimistic father figure.

Thanks to Spielberg's pacy direction, the 141 minutes rarely flag. Greatly aided by some stunning cinematography by Janusz Kaminski, this is a film which self-consciously recalls some classic Hollywood moments, and has a few moments of its own that will become watchable again and again over the years. And of course the great thing is that since Abagnale defrauded institutions and not individuals, the audience's vicarious identification with him is all the greater.