Catch Me if You Can

Far more modest in ambition than most Spielbergs, and so less portentous and bombastic, this is the director’s most likeable film in ages. It’s a jaunty mix of light suspense, romance and comedy in the vein of TO CATCH A THIEF or Donen’s Hitchcock pastiches. Taken from a true story, it centres on middle class WASP teenager Frank Abagnale Jr who, shaken by the separation of his parents, leaves the suburbs for NYC and, starts cashing fake cheques to get by. It helps to pretend he’s an airline pilot – the first of several identities adopted to avail himself of cash, girls and bogus careers that can restore pride to a dad plagued by the taxman. Trouble is, Junior’s japes also interest FBI fraud specialist Carl Hanratty. (Geoff Andrew)