STUFF YOU GOTTA WATCH - Catch Me If You Can

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

(2002)
With Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Sheen, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Reviewed by JB

Sometimes even the best directors just want to have a little fun. After years of huge, important films such as AMISTAD, SCHINDLER'S LIST and SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, Steven Spielberg scales things back for this taut, intriguing cat and mouse thriller. No sharks, mother ships, sprawling World War II battles or marauding martians, just one man tracking down another man in the name of justice. Hanks as a harried government agent and DiCaprio as a young check forger give two of the most astute performances seen in a Spielberg film since the golden days of JAWS and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS. As so often happens, Christopher "I am not of this Earth" Walken steals all his scenes by reprising his now standard wackjob characterization, but for this film, such nuttiness from his character is appropriate. Even the little things in this film are all part of the fun. There's Jennifer Garner in a sexy cameo as DiCaprio's one-night stand, and superb retro animated opening credits, worthy of a frothy, colorful Hitchcock caper starring Grace Kelly. Spielberg should stop thinking "big statements" and make more like this one. - JB

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ADD ANOTHER QUOTE AND MAKE IT A GALLON

"Just tell me how much he owes and I'll pay you back."
"So far, it's about 1.3 million dollars."