Directed by Steven Spielberg and Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, the film Catch Me If You Can was released on Christmas Day, 2002.

The film was met with a positive initial response, with it being nominated for the Oscar for its score, as well as many positive reviews from critics and general audiences. The positivity continues today, with the film currently boasting a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes.

But what about the movie keeps it held in such high regard? The answer to that lies in the film’s unbelievable true story that is Based on the semi-autobiographical book written by Frank Abagnale Jr and Stan Redding. The Film follows Frank Abagnale Jr, DiCaprio, in the late 1960’s as he impersonates an airline co-pilot, surgeon, and lawyer, forging checks for millions of dollars, all as a teenager. 

Although he manages to use his forging skills to live a life of luxury, using his charisma and quick qit to get himself out of trouble and assume new identities, he is constantly being hunted down by FBI agent Carl Hanratty, Tom Hanks. Every time Hanratty gets close, Frank manages to slip away, until finally, the FBI manages to capture him and send him to prison.

This wouldn’t be the end for Frank, however, as the FBI discovers that they can put Frank’s check-forging expertise to good use. Making a deal with the FBI, Frank manages to escape jail time by agreeing to work with the FBI. Although reluctant at first, Frank eventually learns to find purpose in life and becomes friends with Hanratty, the man who was for so long his adversary.

It’s a story so outrageous, it has to be true. Very rarely do real life events happen in a way so cinematically, dramatically, and poetically. Although some of the events of the movie are exaggerated, it is the parts of the movie that are the most unrealistic that are grounded the most in reality, and while watching the movie, the viewer is guaranteed to be impressed and amazed, even if it isn’t their first viewing of the film.

An example of one of these amazing moments is when Hanratty manages to track down Frank to his exact hotel room and have him at gunpoint. For any other man, it would have ended here, they would have been caught and put under arrest, but not for Frank. Using his quick wit, Frank convinces Hanratty that he is a secret service agent and that the real “Frank” has already been arrested. For a moment, Hanratty think’s that the search is over, before coming to the realization that he was lied to, looking out the window to see Frank getting away.

That is just one of the many outstanding scenes of the film, which can currently be watched on Netflix. This film is, without a doubt, a timeless classic that deserves a watch.