If your career takes a battering and you have been away from the screen for a few years working with two of world’s most accomplished directors is certainly a must.
While the rest of the world were constantly being fed tales of Leonardo DiCaprio’s nights of debauchery and womanising ways since he starred in the disappointing Beach, he was busy working on what are undoubtedly going to be two of the year’s biggest films.
First up came Gangs of New York where he bagged a lead role in Martin Scorcesse’s 30-year project, but was overshadowed by a magnificent display of acting from Daniel Day-Lewis.
However it is in the second of these movies, Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can, where DiCaprio really shines.
Based on the true story of Frank Abagnale Jnr, who throughout the 1960s managed to scam around $2.5 million dollars across the world before he was 21-years-old, it only takes a few scenes to realise that no one but DiCaprio could successfully carry out such a role.
Devastated by his parents split, Abagnale runs away from home and quite literally stumbles across a remarkable ability to brilliantly forge banker’s cheques.
It is from here that the pace of the movie rapidly increases and the entertainment becomes even more gripping as you become involved with anti-hero Abagnale.
Quickly Abagnale develops a scheme where he is scamming millions of dollars and spending his loot on cars, woman and property.
Some of his best scenes are when he uses his skills to their very best by passing himself off as first a pilot, then a doctor, before finally trying his hand as a lawyer and carrying them all out with convincing aplomb.
Thankfully Spielberg brilliantly brings things into perspective through the character of FBI agent Carl Hanratty played by Tom Hanks. His determination in wanting to catch Abagnale brings out the sort of naivety associated with a teenager.
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Just when you think Abagnale is impregnable his true age is subtly revealed when he deals with the wily Hanratty, particularly when he discovers he is still hurting from his parents break-up and his love of cartoons.
It is an expertly directed, deeply moving black comedy which sees its main characters superbly acted by DiCaprio and Walken and proves that Hanks' subtle and edgy performance in Road To Perdition was more than just a one-off.
More importantly this is DiCaprio back to his very best which we have not seen since What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.
Catch Me If You Can
Cert: cert12A
