New On Video: 'Catch Me If You Can'
Also New: 'The Emperor's Club'
POSTED: 6:06 p.m. EDT May 9, 2003
'Catch Me If You Can' (PG-13) Director Steven Spielberg has no problem catching your attention with "Catch Me if You Can," an entertaining caper comedy-drama based on the incredible true story of con artist Frank Abagnale, Jr.
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Abagnale, a 1960s teenager disenfranchised by the sudden divorce of his parents, Frank, Sr. (Christopher Walken) and Paula (Nathalie Baye). Running away from home and effectively, the painful truth of his life, Abagnale finds comfort in a perpetual batch of lies posing as an airline pilot, a doctor and more.
But since Abagnale has been forging millions of dollars of the checks in the process, the F.B.I. agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) has taken a special interest in case -- leading to a cat-and-mouse chase that spans over a number of years and countries across the globe.
It shouldn't come as a big surprise that "Catch Me if You Can's" strongest suit is its performances. DiCaprio -- who never seems to age -- owns the role of the junior Abagnale, possessing a disarming, killer charisma that's impossible not to like. If the real Abagnale (who wrote the original book "Catch Me if You Can") had one-tenth of DiCaprio's swagger in this film, it's easy to see why he got away with what he did for such an extended period of time
The great part about DiCaprio's performance in the film is that he comfortably steps back and lets his co-stars share in limelight, rather than making the movie a one-man show. From veteran performers (Walken and Martin Sheen) to relative newcomers (Amy Adams, who plays Abagnale's love interest), the overall effectiveness of the film is raised by the wonderful interaction between the characters. It's a great ensemble team.
The most valuable team player, though, is Hanks, who takes on an uncharacteristic supporting role as the anal-retentive detective Hanratty. But Hanratty and Abagnale aren't your typical movie adversaries here: instead, while they drive each other mad with the constant chase, they also develop a mutual respect for one another.
Effectively weaving together the tale is Spielberg, who creates an engaging atmosphere right from the moment the film's '60s-retro opening titles start rolling. His partner-in-crime is once again composer John Williams, who crafts one of the best soundtracks of the year with a toe-tapping jazz-infused score. For your rental or purchase money, "Catch Me if You Can" is a real steal.
DVD Features: Documentaries on the making of the film including a look at the score and the casting; a look at the film and real story by the real Frank Abagnale, Jr., and more.
The Emperor's Club' (PG-13) By the look of its trailers, "The Emperor's Club" gives the appearance of being a knock-off of the Robin Williams hit "Dead Poet's Society." But the lesson here is, don't judge a book by its cover. In fact, "The Emperor's Club" is hardly a by-the-book teacher-empowering-student drama.
Kevin Kline stars as William Hundert, an impassioned assistant headmaster of a boarding school who tries to mold his student's characters through the teachings of Greek and Roman history. But Hundert's coliseum starts to crumble when a new freshman, Sedgwick Bell (Emile Hirsch) arrives. As he defies Hundert, the other students embrace Bell's charisma and penchant for trouble.
But underneath Bell's arrogance is a young man pining for attention, so Hundert loosens up and reexamines his approach to teaching, hoping to reach the troubled student. But when he sees enormous progress, Hundert makes an unethical teaching decision to boost Bell's confidence: but, it's a decision that will haunt the instructor until the two meet again 25 years later.
While "The Emperor's Club" often gives the appearance that it's traveling down a predictable road with a feel-good payoff, it instead takes a welcome jolt of reality. It's brutally honest about the pitfalls of dishonesty, and teaches some hard lessons about how that can affect one's life and the people around them. In the end, the film's not a total downer, it just finds its resolution in a place you won't expect.
DVD Features: Audio commentary with director Michael Hoffman; a "making-of" featurette; deleted scenes, and more.
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Abagnale, a 1960s teenager disenfranchised by the sudden divorce of his parents, Frank, Sr. (Christopher Walken) and Paula (Nathalie Baye). Running away from home and effectively, the painful truth of his life, Abagnale finds comfort in a perpetual batch of lies posing as an airline pilot, a doctor and more.
But since Abagnale has been forging millions of dollars of the checks in the process, the F.B.I. agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) has taken a special interest in case -- leading to a cat-and-mouse chase that spans over a number of years and countries across the globe.
It shouldn't come as a big surprise that "Catch Me if You Can's" strongest suit is its performances. DiCaprio -- who never seems to age -- owns the role of the junior Abagnale, possessing a disarming, killer charisma that's impossible not to like. If the real Abagnale (who wrote the original book "Catch Me if You Can") had one-tenth of DiCaprio's swagger in this film, it's easy to see why he got away with what he did for such an extended period of time
The great part about DiCaprio's performance in the film is that he comfortably steps back and lets his co-stars share in limelight, rather than making the movie a one-man show. From veteran performers (Walken and Martin Sheen) to relative newcomers (Amy Adams, who plays Abagnale's love interest), the overall effectiveness of the film is raised by the wonderful interaction between the characters. It's a great ensemble team.
The most valuable team player, though, is Hanks, who takes on an uncharacteristic supporting role as the anal-retentive detective Hanratty. But Hanratty and Abagnale aren't your typical movie adversaries here: instead, while they drive each other mad with the constant chase, they also develop a mutual respect for one another.
Effectively weaving together the tale is Spielberg, who creates an engaging atmosphere right from the moment the film's '60s-retro opening titles start rolling. His partner-in-crime is once again composer John Williams, who crafts one of the best soundtracks of the year with a toe-tapping jazz-infused score. For your rental or purchase money, "Catch Me if You Can" is a real steal.
DVD Features: Documentaries on the making of the film including a look at the score and the casting; a look at the film and real story by the real Frank Abagnale, Jr., and more.
The Emperor's Club' (PG-13) By the look of its trailers, "The Emperor's Club" gives the appearance of being a knock-off of the Robin Williams hit "Dead Poet's Society." But the lesson here is, don't judge a book by its cover. In fact, "The Emperor's Club" is hardly a by-the-book teacher-empowering-student drama.
Kevin Kline stars as William Hundert, an impassioned assistant headmaster of a boarding school who tries to mold his student's characters through the teachings of Greek and Roman history. But Hundert's coliseum starts to crumble when a new freshman, Sedgwick Bell (Emile Hirsch) arrives. As he defies Hundert, the other students embrace Bell's charisma and penchant for trouble.
But underneath Bell's arrogance is a young man pining for attention, so Hundert loosens up and reexamines his approach to teaching, hoping to reach the troubled student. But when he sees enormous progress, Hundert makes an unethical teaching decision to boost Bell's confidence: but, it's a decision that will haunt the instructor until the two meet again 25 years later.
While "The Emperor's Club" often gives the appearance that it's traveling down a predictable road with a feel-good payoff, it instead takes a welcome jolt of reality. It's brutally honest about the pitfalls of dishonesty, and teaches some hard lessons about how that can affect one's life and the people around them. In the end, the film's not a total downer, it just finds its resolution in a place you won't expect.
DVD Features: Audio commentary with director Michael Hoffman; a "making-of" featurette; deleted scenes, and more.
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