The story is Frank Abagnale lied about a lot of things, but the main points such as pretending to be a pilot riding in the jump seats along with going to jail in France were true. Something's were actually made up for the movie such as him still seeing his father after he ran away.

I met Frank Abagnele in roughly 1985 when i was in high school. He generally told a similar story of being a pilot and getting caught blah blah blah. But He literally told us the story of escaping the plane by crawling through the toilet. He also spoke that they were gonna make a movie but I never heard about it. Not until over 15 years later when this movie came out. I remember upon seeing this movie in theaters waiting for one thing, "would they show him escape a plane bathroom crawling through a toilet." I was not disappointed.

Fun fact: The French cop that arrests Frank in the movie is the real Frank Abagnale. Also, this is such a quality movie. Its so much better than it makes it out to be. Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks are phenomenal and Christopher Walken is always a win. Plus, another gem of music from John Williams.

Christopher Walken broke my heart in this one. That air of quiet desperation behind a brave front is very 20th century American dude. One of my favorite performances from anyone in anything, I think.

What I got about the dad the first time I watched it was that Frank Jr. idolized him growing up and that last scene with his dad was when he at last realized his father wasn't just a romantic doing mischievous harmless things with a wink but that he actually had no sense of right and wrong. He idolized everything about his parents and of course his mom wasn't the devoted eternal love of his dad and the seemingly perfect marriage fell apart quickly once the money was gone. They mirror his schemes that can turn sour at any second. All throughout his journey he was telling himself that he was a romantic hero, just like his dad. The moment he realized his dad wasn't that, he fell apart. No more will to continue doing what he was doing, which by then just felt like meaningless acts of crime to him.

"I love watching competent people do things competently"

This movie talks more about Spielberg's life. A boy with separated parents who never got over this separation and it affects all of his work and his life. All he learns about artifice is from watching movies (like Spielberg). The Fabelmans tells the same story without Frank Abagnale.

You can see from the lightness of the performance that Spielberg and the actors had a lot of fun doing this movie. Elizabeth Banks is frikkin' hilarious in her mini part.

The dynamic of DiCaprio & Hanks in this film is golden, cool reaction as always Simone & George, you both take care and have a nice day

Spielberg made Catch Me if You Can and Minority Report within a short time of each other. Two very different films and both excellent. Tremendous acting performances in both films and top notch directing. Great insights on the father and son dynamics.

The situation is murky for the counterfeit checks. Yes, Secret Service does investigate counterfeit currency but FBI is in charge of financial institution fraud, when they feel a bank or lender has a problem that may affect the national economy. Because all Frank’s checks were from the same bank it may have thought the bank itself had been breached and was in danger of being a country wide problem.

“Love flies out the window when poverty comes through the door.” “Then were they in love in the first place?” So beautifully summed up. This movie oozes charisma and charm. To think Spielberg only took on directing this film after considering others first. Thank god he did.

"God I wish I were an Airplane" and Simone's reaction made my week.

I don’t care as much that the “true” story isn’t really all that true, I still love this movie.

Spielberg did not intend to direct this one, he was just going to produce. But then he couldn't find a director and he really liked the project so he said "eh, I'll do it myself."

Simone says: "it's the true story of a real fake-O!" Me: (spits out coffee) DAMMIT, Simone! 😜😂

I might not always laugh at some quips and comments, but George's "I wish I was an airplane" got me so good 😭

"Love flies out the window 🪟 when poverty walks through the door." Great call George. And great reaction to this classic Spielberg film! 👍🏿

Trivia: The French Policeman who arrests DiCaprio is the real Abagnale.

One of my favorite John Williams Scores.

I think a big aspect of the father's eventual behaviour was jealousy. He loves his son, he loves that his son is sticking it to the man and his son's success is sorta vicariously his own, but under all that is the fact that he kept failing in life while his son was moving up. His son can just offer a quality car just like that, while he is such a failure he cannot even accept the gift.

I’d love a video that consists of nothing but a compilation of Simone’s “welcome everybody!” intros and George’s perplexed expressions.

In a career containing so much awesomeness, this is one of my favorite John Williams scores. So playful but in a dark way..

This is one movie I never get sick of watching. Love everything about it, the acting, the actors, the story, the cinematography, the tone of the music throughout, this movie is perfect in every way. Love that you guys watched it

Fun fact: that "French" town where Frank was arrested was actually Quebec City! They also did some filming in Montreal, where the movie wrapped on May 12, 2002 and they had a big wrap party!

It's actually crazy how friendly you two seem, you give off such comforting vibes. You two really vibe great off each-other

In some places, even in the US, you can just take the bar exam and if you pass, you pass. There's no requirement for specific classes or anything.

Performances like this are why I'm pumped for Walken to play the emperor in Dune pt2.

Brenda's story is so heartbreaking. The line "I had an abortion and I wasn't their daughter anymore" guts me every time.

15:20 --- Walken's emotional performance in the re-retelling of the story was the last take they did, and the first time he played it so emotionally. Spielberg was very much taken by surprise. Leo just went with it like any other take, but he was also surprised.

Credit Spielberg for another masterpiece. The pacing, the Score, the dialogue. It’s a classic and fun film every time.

Christopher Walken was nominated for Oscar for his performance. Very well deserved. Also, George, love your Mr. Sparkle t-shirt.

One can only hope this is one step closer to The Terminal ending up on their list

Hi Simone & George!😊 Simone is giddy today!😆 Tom Hanks' role is fictional. It is a compilation of several agents that chased Frank. Some of Frank's claims have been scrutinized over the years. Yes George, several of Frank's claims have proven to be fictional. I believe Franks father was living vicariously through his son. He had all his things taken away, and Frank's life was the opposite. Great reactions to this well-made film, Kids!!!!🎬👏👏👏👏

'Road to Perdition' for an S tier Tom Hanks film.

Great film to work on. I was a prison guard who puts Leonardo's character into his cell during the "The Christmas Song" scene.

This is a fantastic movie. Tragic as hell, too. If you haven't seen it already, I recommend another Spielberg/Hanks film called The Terminal. It gets me every time.

“You can’t fake being a doctor.” Dr. Malachi Love-Robinson has entered the chat

lol simone getting all bashful in the intro where she stopped herself is *chefskiss I think you guys will LOVE this..cant wait

The secret service investigates counterfeiting. Check fraud is another matter entirely.

It’s actually a lot harder to forge cash than you think. The US treasury uses a specific paper that only comes from one supplier. The paper itself is protected more than the money that gets printed on it.

OCR is the font used on checks. You can download it yourself and look up the special characters used. Also, in the states, a check can be written on ANYTHING.

This is such a satisfying movie in every way.

Amy adams, elizabeth banks, Jennifer Garner and Ellen Pompeo? Damn thats some A class leading ladies right there 💃 Love this movie and one of my all time favs! Never fails to make me cry ❤

There is a behind the scenes clip of the leo and walken at the restaurant scene. When walken is so heartbreaking and he tears up. There is video of leo off camera and walken is so tremendous you see leo start to cry for real.

If Simone gets an OMG counter, it's only fair that George get a mmhm counter. Just sayin ;)

omg the first time i actually understood what simone intros meant, such a random meme lmfao

I think the scene with Frank and his father (The "Where you going tonight? Hawaii?" part) is not so much about screwing over the man or getting one up on the government. It's about Frank Sr living vicariously through him. Frank is doing what Frank Sr always did, he's just doing it better. He wishes he was in his son's position.. but is also proud. I think the question touches at a hint of bitterness just because of the curtness of it all, but really he is just proud that his son is a better conman than him and wants details so he can live vicariously. That's the way I read the scene, but I'm sure I could be missing some things.

The check printing scene where he gets arrested(interior) was filmed a block from my childhood home. I remember my mom picking me up from a HS match and was like "hurry up, Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks are filing a movie behind our house." Spielberg had come out during a break and sat on the curb with my mom and some other ladies from the block and they just sat and shot the shit for a bit. He signed some autographs, let them run home and grab whatever they wanted. My mom said she was incredibly nice, kind spoken and just a happy guy. He then said to help themselves to craft services after everyone was done. When I got there, people were eating and both actors came out and just went to their trailers. Tom Hanks waved, Leo ignored everyone. After everyone went in they waved us over and we grubbed down on cold craft service food lol It was a mundane small business warehouse in a business center of cookie cutter buildings that we used to ride bikes through on the daily. The Denver airport was filmed at the only airport in Ontario, CA that my mom and I used to pick up my dad at whenever he flew in from business trips, before they built ONT Int.

My family says “you’re a kid, go wghhome!” At least weekly 😂😂

People will tell you if you wear a uniform and look like you belong, you can get anywhere. But you really need lots of confidence to do it. Or no fear.

I’m pretty sure when frank was posing as a doctor he studied medical books so he was atleast aware of the papers he was signing he was basically an admin dr and probably personally asked the other residents to give their opinion on stuff.

Fun fact: Spielbergs first choice for Frank Abagnale Jr was Johnny Depp.

I think this is the best Leo performance. He has to do that strange balance between comedy and drama while being a charming anti hero.

@14:44 I'm a retired DEA agent and have a little experience with the responsibilities of other federal agencies. When interacting with the Secret Service I always found they were more focused on credit card fraud and counterfeiting of government created securities like bonds and treasury notes (and obviously currency) but not so much check fraud that didn't involve government issued checks. The FBI also has overlap with a lot of other federal agencies (they can investigate drugs if they want to although largely pulled out of that after 09/11) and could always involve itself in a pattern of crime which involves crossing over state lines (which checks would do while clearing) and obviously with Abignale jumping from state to state.

The marriage was the worst idea. Brenda was never going to be that ride or die woman. But Frank was an impulsive kid.

You need to listen to Frank himself telling the story. Think there are some versions on KZfaq. But the $400 back from Jennifer Garner was the best part of the movie 😂

The REAL Frank Jr was the french cop arresting Leo.

More Tom Hanks? I saw Philadelphia in a recent poll for Denzel Washington, it is one of those movies that is still relevant today and also a time capsule. In the mid to late 90s my mother was a nurse that worked at a specific type of hospice, I am deliberately avoiding what type of hospice she worked at to avoid spoilers. She also shared another trait with the main character this movie. This was a very important movie to me growing up.

Hey Canadians, the church outside the printers in France is actually old Quebec City just below Chateau Frontenac.

I felt like his father was living vicariously through his son's escapades because he could no longer do it himself. He was addicted to it even though it was his son doing it.

Regarding what you suggested about printing money instead of checks: Money isn't paper, it's FABRIC. I didn't know that until a few years ago. Counterfeit experts often refer to fake bills simply as "paper" because that's exactly what it is, whereas real money is not. And so people who make counterfeit bills can't possibly make money that will stand up to scrutiny, because they simply don't have access to the equipment that weaves the bills. I tend to draw a line between "Jurassic Park" and "Schindler's List" in Spielberg's career. Everything that came before the line was escapist fare, with a few exceptions. Everything after the line (with exceptions) are serious dramas with more mature stories and themes that wouldn't appeal to kids. Of the films he's made since "Schindler's", this is definitely one of my favorites, and a role that DiCaprio was very well-suited to. I feel that he'd been miscast in a number of pictures (like some of the ones Scorsese directed), but he's exceptional in this. The rest of the cast ain't bad either.

1:54 Simone: “Is he faking, being all the things?” Roll credits! 🤣🙌

George, the counter was funny, but you missed one at 30:10 when he is on the wheels of the plane. Then counted 32 again right after that.

Every time I see this now, when he says "I'm the second mouse" my brain flashes to Leo in The Departed yelling "I'm not the fucking rat"

You know it's a good day when George wears the Mr. Sparkle shirt.

This movie is essentially a coming-of-age movie. The relationship between Frank and his dad is so poignant. Easily Christopher Walken's best performance.

The gist I got from Frank's dad was the he was living vicariously through his son's exploits.

Thanks for this Guys. Actually, he was sentenced to 12 years IN ISOLATION. He never returned until 10.20 am when it should have been 9am hence Hanratty's anxiety and he made millions from his later Bank work:)

Love humbles people, that is why him telling the truth to the father of his fiancé, was so smart, because he literally just told the truth as he saw it, and while it was true, the father bought it too, because Love humbles people.

A good one to check out after this is CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND: George Clooney's first film as a director. It's about the late Chuck Barris, who was a game show host and creator of shows like THE DATING GAME and THE GONG SHOW from the 70s. It's based off his memoir where he claimed to also be a CIA assassin.

What's amazing about this movie is you're basically watching a movie about one of the earliest forms of hackers; The Social Engineer and that's what Frank Abignale Jr. was, a social engineer.

I was lucky enough to meet Frank Abignale Jr. in Miami in 2005, and he's very open with the truth of his exploits. While it's true that the story of this film is a con, his life wasn't without some hair raising twists and turns, which happily he shared with me. In 1984 for example he travelled to LA while posing as a cybernetic organism conisting of a hyperalloy combat chassis/endoskeleton surrounded by living tissue, and walked right through a police station without anyong realising he was actually Frank Abagnale Jr. It was only when he bumped into an actual Cyberdyne Systems model 101 (T800) that he was rumbled. According to Frank audiences preferres an everyman adversary so Tom Hanks in this movie replaces the real T800 character

That was Elizabeth Banks as the laughing girl at the bank explaining check routing, writer/director of Pitch Perfect, Charles Angels reboot.

28:37 THIS GUY, Frank John Hughes, worked with Spielberg and Hanks before, as Ol’ Gonorrhea himself, Wild Bill Guarnere.

I feel like you'd really like The Fabelmans. A Speilberg movie that is loosely but pretty closely based off his life and how he got into filmmaking.

The man playing Piano in the restraunt is my Grandfather😊

15:35 cat purring ^^

MICR encoders are not hard to acquire. I used to use one when I had to do a special draw against someone's account to catch up on their insurance premiums. This was before e-transfers etc.

One of my favorite questions ever asked by teachers... "How'd you cheat?" I didn't... Love that line.

28:40 this "French location" in front of the church was actually filmed in "Place Royale" in Quebec City...Canada

One thing that's really interesting is that watching The Fabelmans(The last movie Steven Spielberg put out) makes Catch Me If You Can even better of a movie because they share so many of the same themes. Like Frank Abagnale, Sammy Fabelman has a fucked up dysfunctional home situation, and he escapes his family drama through a hobby, except his hobby is filmmaking instead of con artistry. Notably, Frank also seems to be a movie/pop culture buff like Sammy given that he watches a lot of TV, loves the movie Goldfinger, and that Barry Allen/The Flash is one of his aliases. Both Frank and Sammy have a certain amount of resentment for their mom for cheating on their father and in their imo wrecking their family life, the same way that allegedly Spielberg has issues with his mom. Both movies feature a lot of 1960s nostalgia, probably because that's when Steven Spielberg grew up, but also because he's trying to emulate both caper movies and melodramas(Like those from Douglas Dirk) of that era.

George: provides insightful comments and tries to guess where the plot goes next. Simone: breaks the 2nd 34 times.

I watched this movie at school. Not as part of a class but in dorm as a boarder. After seeing the movie we listened to an audio recording of Frank telling his story. It was very interesting and entertaining.

having a uniform and being convincing in what one is faking works really well. One famous german example was in 1906 "the Captain of Köpenick" (der Hauptmann von Köpenick", Wilhelm Voigt, a shoemaker and long-time convict. He bought uniform parts in different shops and used them to commandeer soldiers from the local barracks and a shooting range, went with them by train to Köpenick, wehre he took over the city hall, had the police suspend all telephone lines for half an hour, and arrested the treasurer for susipcion of draudulent bokk-keeping. He then confiscated all the money (some 4000 Mark, for comparison: that's more or less what the Reich Chancellor had as monthly salary). He then commandeered some carriages, ordered the soldiers to transfer the arrested persons to Berlin, changed into civilian clothes and vanished. He was later arrested and convicted to four years in prison, but pardoned in 1908.

Video's introduction (hm hmm) made my day, thanks Simone! 🤣

Omg that intro 😂 now that’s a reference I’ve not heard in a looooong time

At 28:38, the old church in Mont Richard is filmed in Vieux-Quebec in Quebec City.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Simone, you can't start that legendary quote in the intro and not finish it.

Amy Adams just makes you feel SO BAD for her character. She makes that character just painfully adorable.

I remember reading an article about large security vulnerabilities. The one that stands out in my memory years later was about a company that purchased another because they wanted their warehouse space. The company that was bought made credit card readers and the warehouses were full. Normally the readers would be restricted by selling with a very high price. Really that's not a good safeguard, but that's what they apparently did. The new company apparently just wanted the warehouses so they were unloaded very cheaply. The article reported that the reason these credit card readers were important is that they were easy to rewire into credit card writers. At that point many ATMs only checked the cards to make sure the personal identification numbers entered only matched what was recorded on the cards. Especially locations that were satellites far from.main branches that wouldn't, or couldn't, communicate with primary branches very often. So a warehouse emptying company accidentally may have opened a door to make many accounts vulnerable to illegitimate cardholders. Just trivia from an old article, but interesting.

I love the OMG count continues AFTER the movie!! LOL!!!!

This is why the first couple of seasons of the show White Collar were just so fun to watch. imagine if they reacted to the first episode.

That $799 car was from the mid 50's, so it was at least 8 years old. In 1963 the avg cost of a new car was $3,250, about $31k today.

This movie has always been in my top 20 movies of all time.

Amy Adams. One of the few Oscar nominated Hooters girls.

29:00 I don't know how fetch police worked in the 60s either, but to the best of my knowledge, they were and still are a branch of the French military, not a civilian organization, so take that into consideration.

I saw Frank a few times on Johnny Carson's show in the 80s. He told several of the stories depicted here.

The scene with the Judge gets me every time. "Son, what in the HELL is wrong with you?"

I think Walken should have won the Oscar for this role that year instead of Chris Cooper in Adaptation, personally.