The chase is on in Catch Me If You Can

Catch Me If You Can

Director: Steven Spielberg

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, Amy Adams

Cert: 12.

Leo is certainly running hot these days; literally in this case.

This is the true story of super conman Frank Abagnale who during the l960s worked some of the most wonderful scams ever in America. He pretended, with vast success, to be an airline pilot, a doctor and a lawyer and he chalked up financial frauds which netted him millions of dollars.

Perhaps the biggest 'con' of all was that on his eventual capture he did a deal with the FBI: if they didn't put him away he would show them how to combat the sort of crimes he had been perpetrating.

They accepted his kind offer and today Abagnale is a successful businessman with his own security advice company. You just have to admire the man.

And you have to admire this light and entertaining caper movie, one of the best directing Spielberg has done in years. Forget the moral dilemmas associated with this glorification of a crook and simply wallow in a frothy - in a curious way, even innocent - story told so brilliantly.

DiCaprio, now back at his best and busiest, is ideally cast as Abagnale, cutting a wide path through those so easily fooled into believing his claims. DiCaprio brings a rich mixture of joy and sorrow to his character and he is matched by the terrific performance of Tom Hanks as the button-down FBI agent who never seems to quite manage the capture of the conman.

It's a lot of fun; but don't try any of it at home!

Star Rating: 4/5