Finally, a Steven Spielberg movie makes it to 5 Annoyed Monkeys Holding Balls.  He only makes, what, 40 movies a year?  You'd think one of them would have made it before now.  Well, no matter, because this one made it, if only for its catchy, jazzy soundtrack.

 However, John Williams does not deserve all the credit for making this the best "con artist takes the money and runs" flick since "Ocean's Eleven" (2001) (which incidentally, came out last year around this time).  Very (surprisingly) fine acting, combined with an enjoyable (albeit long) screenplay make "Catch Me If You Can" a great flick in general.

 Frank Abignale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a 17-year-old with a very wily father (Christopher Walken).  Having learned the tricks of the conning trade early, Frank runs away from home after his parents get a divorce but soon runs out of money.  Then he gets an idea.  He impersonates a pilot and begins forging checks.  He starts small, but then moves onto larger, higher-digit figures.  He solves his financial troubles, however his criminal record has just begun.  Officer Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) is hot on his trail.  Can he get away with it?   I highly recommend you see it and find out.

 I am a man who can admit when he is wrong, as proved by my newfound respect for Kirsten Dunst after seeing "The Cat's Meow" (1999).  This movie has given both Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks a "tabula rasa" (It's Latin.  Look up the translation, I dare ya') in my book.  This proves, once again, that even someone's least favorite actors can turn out a good film or two.  Don't get me wrong.  I shall not forget the extreme sappiness of Leonardo's character in the second-half of "Titanic", nor the unbearably convoluted and pointless emotions displayed by Tom in the last 20 minutes of "Castaway".  But basing an actor's worth on one performance is no longer something I will practice. That is my New Year's resolution for 2003.

 Christopher Walken also did a very awesome job in this movie, as always.  I wouldn't expect any less of him.  Martin Sheen also does very well as the father of Frank's eventual love interest, and Jennifer Garner (you may know her from "Alias") plays a hooker with a heart of gold.well.with a heart anyway.
 That's all the interesting people there are in this movie, but believe me, it is enough.

 Even though Spielberg directs, the ending is not a total cop-out.  In a sense, the ending brings a dose of reality back to the movie and at the least, it doesn't feel like a Spielberg ending.  This was surprising because it's a Spielberg flick and that automatically means a fluff ending.  See any post-1990 Spielberg film (not including "Schindler's List") and see for yourself what I'm talking about.

 2001 provided "Ocean's Eleven", 2002 provided "Catch Me If You Can.".  I can only hope 2003 will also provide me with a jazzy heist flick the soundtrack of which I will be obliged to acquire for fear of losing the catchy tunes within.

 In conclusion, with regards to this movie, I highly recommend that you.ahem.catch it if you can.

In November, 1924, William Randolph Hearst and several guests set out for a 3-day cruise on his yacht as a birthday celebration that resulted in a still-unsolved covered-up death.  They started from San Pedro, California and ended up in San Diego.  Among the guests were some of the most influential and well-known people in the entertainment industry.  The guests included rising film actress Marion Davies (Kirsten Dunst), the self-absorbed by brilliant Charlie Chaplin (Eddie Izzard), once-powerful studio executive and film pioneer Thomas Ince (Cary Elwes), ambitious gossip columnist Luella Parsons (Jennifer Tilly), and the eccentric British novelist Elmor Glyn (Joanna Lumley).  While Charlie Chaplin tries to win the heart of Marion from Hearst (Edward Herrmann), Ince conspires to merge the Hearst media empire with his film studio holdings.  The rest of the guests watch on as the tension between Hearst and Chaplin builds to a climax.

 It has been a landmark 24 hours for my personal opinions of my least-respected actors and actresses, as displayed by my review of "Catch Me If You Can" (2002) but the one that kicked it all off was Kirsten Dunst's performance as Marion Davies in this movie.  Watching her, I realized she was displaying more emotions than just:

 By God, Kirsten Dunst actually acted in this movie.  When did she learn to do that!?  Since this movie was made pre-"Bring It On", at first I assumed she lost the ability to act after the new millennium began.  There are extenuating circumstances when it comes to Ms. Dunst however.  Her performance in "Spider-Man", I felt, was stale and unimaginative, but I now realize that was through no fault of her own.  She worked with what she was given, which wasn't much, and I can forgive her for any acting misdeeds as they pertain to that movie.  "Bring It On" didn't exactly allow her to spread her proverbial wings acting-wise either, so I will chalk that one up to script problems as well.  Maybe it was the script, maybe it was the director (Peter Bogdanovich), maybe it was the catering on the set, or maybe it was the brilliance of Eddie Izzard that helped her to shine in this movie.  Whatever it was, she played Marion with zeal and enthusiasm, and for that I commend her.  I can admit when I'm wrong, and I was wrong about Kirsten Dunst.  She can act, if only in films where she is being fought over by 2 men, one a Roaring Twenties media mogul and one a brilliant entertainer.

 As for Eddie Izzard, what can I say?  He was.ahem..Glorious.  He is as fine an actor as he is a comedian, and I would go to see him in any movie he was in, regardless of if it were a drama or a comedy.  His portrayal of Charlie Chaplin was brilliant, and every moment of screen time with him in it was a veritable joy.
 
 I've seen Jennifer Tilly in something and I'll be damned if I can remember what it was without going to IMDB.com, but I enjoyed her in "The Cat's Meow" regardless.  She is the long-lost twin of Joey Lauren Adams, and I enjoy her if for that and that alone.

 I highly suggest you rent "The Cat's Meow".  It's intelligent.  It has Eddie Izzard.  I think those two statements are redundant.  Nonetheless, you will enjoy it, I assure you.