I hadn’t seen this movie after (checks imaginary watch) 20 years, but something compelled me to take another look at it recently. Maybe it was the mid-1960s still swirling in my brain from having watched One Night in Soho (2021) not that long ago, but whatever it was, I decided to revisit Catch Me If You Can (2022), starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, as con man Frank Abagnale, Jr., and FBI agent Carl Hanratty, respectively. Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, and cameos by then-up-and-comers Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams, round out the big names in the film, which was directed by Steven Spielberg. The film covers Abagnale’s legendary (though possibly completely invented) claims that he successfully impersonated a Pan Am pilot, a doctor, and lawyer, and passed millions of dollars in bad checks all before being apprehended by the dogged Hanratty at the age of 22.
Setting aside the disputed claims in Abagnale’s allegedly “true story,” the film is a good caper flick with decent mid-century costumes designed by Mary Zophres, whose work includes some of my favorite costume flicks like O, Brother Where Art Thou? (2000), True Grit (2010), and Hail, Caesar! (2016). Let’s take a look!
Have you watched Catch Me If You Can (2002)? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
I’ve had drinks at the TWA terminal at JFK in one of the old planes. It was magnificent. There’s also a great exhibit with a recreation of Howard Hughes’ office and TWA flight attendant uniforms over the years.
Beautiful Bouffants and Beehives!
Charming film and, along with Munich, one of Spielberg’s better post-2000’s efforts. Didn’t realize this was Mary Zophres’ work. She has quite the résumé.
Also loved hearing Dusty Springfield’s “The Look of Love”. And I dare say it’s attached to a better film here than ahem… originally.