Review of "Catch Me If You Can" by

Its a journeyman performance by the popular Leonardo DiCaprio in a quasi-remake of "The Man With A Thousand Faces." DiCaprio plays the son of Christopher Walken's ne'er-do-well scam artist whose business ventures are always a bust, but who always talks like he's the king of the world. DiCaprio seeks fame and fortune on his own by pretending he's a doctor, a lawyer, and a handful of other professionals. The amazing part is that when you watch this movie, it all seems quite plausible. Along the way, though, DiCaprio delves into counterfeiting which brings him to the attention of Tom Hanks, who plays the FBI agent who's trying to bust this elusive paperhanger.

Its not the best outing for Hanks, whose understated performance is inherently quieted by the mousey FBI agent he's portraying. Christopher Walken's braggardly father shows his ability to portray the barely controlled rage of his character who believes he's never gotten a fair shake from life. But its Leonardo DiCaprio who really shines in this film. He gives an outstanding portrayal of a son who is always trying to earn his father's respect and praise. DiCaprio is usually dismissed as an actor because of his looks, much as female stars have always endured, but he shows he has much more talent than most people give him credit for. Its a great DVD you'll want to watch many times.