Catch Me if You Can Analysis

'Catch Me if You Can' Analysis

The main characters in ‘Catch Me if You Can’ are played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, this gives the film a wide audience base as these actors are very popular among a wide variety of people. The film starts with a game show which tells the audience all the successful cons that Frank Abagnale, Jr. has performed. This makes the audience want to carry on as they are interested in the story of his life.

One of the first camera shots in the film is a mid shot of one of the contestants  pretending to be Frank Abagnale on the quiz show. This introduces the theme of disguise as straight away we have a character pretending to be someone he is not. In this instance the film audience is in the same position as the game show audience in not really knowing whether this is the real Frank Abagnale. 

This shot is effective as it is one that is used a lot on television which makes the scene all the more real. This type of full face image shows the character’s facial expressions to best advantage.

There is a voice over while this shot is on the screen which gives the audience an insight into who the main character is and what the story of the film is based on.  

The above picture is a long shot, which is appropriate in this scene as, by this point, the characters need to be introduced. The long shot shows the audience all three of the characters masquerading as Frank Abagnale.  

By panning from contestant to contestant you see each person in more detail which makes it easier for you to familiarise with them and know who they are.

Over all, this shot shows the time period at which Abagnale was working as a criminal and shows it isn’t very modern as it took place in the 60’s. This is demonstrated by the old fashioned colours, haircuts and smart suits.

The location of the game show switches to show men in a street disagreeing. Later on in the scene you realise that some of them are speaking in French.

The close up shot of Carl Hanratty played by Tom Hanks shows detail to his face so that the audience can see what he is saying clearly. This means that the audience can recognise him and concentrate on the part he is playing. This is also an over the shoulder shot which means that the audience feels that they are in the position of the men he is talking to and the audience also will know he’s talking to the other men. We can see his facial expressions and how what he is saying is coming across to the other men throughout the scene.

There is another over the shoulder shot which demonstrates how Tom Hanks has authority over the men surrounding him as he is towering over the other man. This shot is different as it is almost doubled, as the audience is looking over two sets of shoulders to get to the subject. This shot shows the conflict between the people and by looking over two people’s shoulders it shows the size of the crowd involved.

This shot is a tracking shot as it moves along with the people walking down the corridor. This helps to show the layout of the building and also how gloomy and rundown it is. The men are walking purposefully and this shot shows that they have a common aim.