What does retired FBI agent and host of the FBI Retired Case File Review, Jerri Williams, think of the movie Catch Me If You Can? Read the review she wrote in her latest newsletter. 

FBI Movie Review

              The feature film Catch Me If You Can (2002) stars actor Tom Hanks as FBI Special Agent Carl Hanratty, a veteran  agent determined to apprehend young con artist Frank Abagnale Jr.,  played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen also  star in the movie, directed and produced by Steven Spielberg and  DreamWorks.

Here’s the premise: Barely 21 yet, Frank is  a skilled forger who has passed as a doctor, lawyer and pilot. FBI  agent Carl becomes obsessed with tracking down the con man, who only  revels in the pursuit.

The film is based on the memoir of Frank Abagnale Jr., which *recounts his true-life adventures as a check forger when he was a young adult. During  the movie, his successful impersonations allow him to steal millions of  dollars while evading capture by Agent Hanratty, who chases him around  the US and overseas.

My review of Catch Me If You Can for FBI  policy and procedural accuracy, focuses on Agent Handratty’s domestic  and foreign pursuit of Frank. To investigate this global check fraud  scheme, Agent Handratty travels with his team to wherever Frank is  located. One of the most significant advantages of the FBI is  its multi-state jurisdiction and ability to pursue investigations across  state lines. However, agents assigned to cases with  witnesses and documents around the country can’t just hop on a plane to  conduct interviews and gather evidence. Due to case  efficiencies and budget constraints, many investigations require that  requests for investigation be sent to FBI offices throughout the  country. Such requests are known as a “leads” and they are assigned to  “lead agents” who interview witnesses, conduct surveillances, or obtain  documents on behalf of the case agent assigned to the originating field  office.

If an FBI agent wishes to travel to a foreign country to execute an  arrest, the agent must first submit an official request through the  Department of Justice to obtain host country clearance. Then a request  for extradition must be transmitted through diplomatic channels for a  domestic extradition arrest warrant. Upon approval and arrival  in the foreign country, the agent is still not authorized to conduct the  arrest, but optimistically anticipates that they will be allowed to  accompany the foreign country’s law enforcement officials during the  apprehension.

When in France, Frank asks Agent Handratty if he has his gun, and he answers that he is not armed. Most countries (including the US) do not allow visiting foreign law enforcement officers to carry weapons. The agent will need to rely on the host country’s police and security  personnel for protection. Exceptions are often made for agents to be  armed in third world countries where safety is an ongoing concern.

One last observation. The FBI pays informants and cooperating witnesses  to provide information but would never allow one to work full-time in a  field office. Plus, why does Frank get to have his own office? Other than that, the film provides a good understanding of how a  financial fraud case is investigated. If you haven’t seen the movie yet,  you should. Catch Me If You Can is streaming for free on Netflix until September 30 and available to rent on Amazon Prime and YouTube. Watch the official trailer here.

*Was this movie really based on a true story? Check out the new series on Pretend to learn never-before-revealed details about Frank Abagnale’s early years of crime.

-Jerri Williams

Host of the FBI Retired Case File Review podcast