Steven Spielberg has been busy lately and I have to say that I like his new direction. Well it's not a definitive direction as much as it's a deviation. This summer he released Minority Report, one of the best films of the year, which touched on more dark, Kubrickian themes (i.e. free will vs. destiny). It accomplished much more than A.I.,which self-destructed in the last half-hour, as soon as it brought aliens into the picture. Indeed he has done sci-fi before but he seems to have honed skills. His new film, "Catch Me if You Can," also retreads over a common theme in his films: divorce. Like Elliot from E.T. , Frank Abagnale(Leo DiCaprio) is a child who is trying to fill the void over his parents divorce. Elliot had an alien, Frank has his identity to play with.
Abagnale goes from impersonating a substitute teacher at his high school to posing as a pilot, doctor, and lawyer. He does have his reasons for conning. His parents divorce was brought on by his father (Christopher Walken finally getting a good role) getting into trouble with the IRS. Instilled in Frank is a need to fight the system, or trick the system if need be. He does just that by taking on different identities and also by forging his own checks.
Spielberg does a great job of showing the innocence and naivete of the 60's; the film is mostly over-exposed to give it that nostalgic glow. Everyone believes Frank no matter what role he's playing. In their defense, Frank is great at what he does. He exudes such confidence and charisma that it's impossible not to believe him. Of course this was the time before surveillance cameras, tight airline security, background checks, internet, etc. A con of this magnitude would not be possible today.
In between is great fun and quite touching. DiCaprio, whom I didn't really buy in Gangs of New York(see below), sinks his teeth into this role and nails it. At 27, he still manages to look like a teenager, it's easy to see how he could convince you of anything. One surprise is Amy Adams, who plays Frank's fiance, Brenda. She brings so much vulnerability and innocence to her character, I think we'll be seeing her again soon.
Hot on his trail is Carl Hanratty(Tom Hanks, with a great Boston accent). Carl becomes obsessed with catching Frank but also admires his intelligence and cleverness. There is a great scene where Carl thinks he catches him in his hotel room but Frank talks his way out of it, saying that he's with the Secret Service. Only when it's too late does Carl realize he has been conned as well. We realize that both men, while one is at the office and one is on the run, are alone. When Frank calls Carl on Christmas Eve, Carl is quick to laugh and point out that Frank has "no one else to call," then a wider shot shows that he is the only one left in the office. He obviously has no where to be if he's working late on Christmas Eve. The two also have divorce in common. Carl's wife has left him and taken their child. It's possible that while Frank is trying to redeem his parents marriage, Carl is trying to redeem his by catching a kid that got away.
Spielberg doesn't lay it on too thick, as he sometimes does in his films. Instead divorce is a motivation, a catalyst that sets Frank out on his journey. I don't mind if he uses the same themes as long as he keeps them fresh. Right now, he seems to be on the right track.
