Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2002: Tom Hanks in Catch Me If You Can

Tom Hanks did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Carl Hanratty in Catch Me If You Can.

Catch Me If You Can works for several reasons, as one of Steven Spielberg's very best later career films. A film I never hesitate to praise, and despite its success in many ways, seems to fly slightly under the radar within Spielberg's filmography. One of the reasons for this success is the star pairing featured through Leonardo DiCaprio as teenage conman Frank Abagnale, and Tom Hanks as the FBI agent trying to catch him Carl Hanratty. Now this pairing is effectively used in direct scenes together, but more often apart as Hanks searches for the elusive and cunning Frank. Now in this, I find that we see how Hanks's performance is very much emblematic of the success of the film. This as half of Hanks's work actually in fact evokes his earliest roles, that of the comic actor. Hanks playing the straight laced Carl among a group of obnoxious other fellow agents. In this Hanks plays a wonderful overly straight man. This as Hanks's work very much seeks to make the investigation entertaining through the specific way he presents Hanratty's kind of overly bookish determination, right down to his "just the right kind of silly" convertible sunglasses. Hanks has a nice elegant touch here even when presenting some general exposition over Frank's crimes, Hanks is little frustrations sneers are ideal in granting a nice humor to the moment just as the scene gets across what is needed. 

Hanks creates the right balance in that he doesn't make Carl a joke, but delivers a definite sense of comedy to each of these scenes. His performance makes for the right kind of drive in the investigation for this film, this as he's not trying to find a true monster, rather just finding a kind of thief. Hanks brings a deft timing then even in his first interaction with Frank, who poses as a secret service agent to escape him. Hanks in this scene is wonderful in bringing enough intensity initially as he first confronts Frank, and shows the right sense of confusion and calculation as he gauges the story he takes in. He's equally good though in bringing a real, but also still comic anxiety when he realizes the truth and sees Frank elude him. Hanks's perpetual state of frustration and drive is just wonderfully realized within his performance. He makes highlights every little bit of extra moments so well, such as his extra annoyed delivery of his rather hostile knock knock joke towards his fellow agents, or even in his boredom and disbelief as he just struggles to do his laundry without issue. Hanks's performance makes Carl a particularly enjoyable antagonist and more so foil to Frank. Instead of the guy who seemingly is floating through life, we have the guy struggling with every bit of his investigation. Hanks makes Carl both dogged and haggard in the right kind of equal measure. 

Now what is truly emblematic though is as much as the film is a great entertainment, there is more to it than that, and we get that within Hanks's performance just as we get that entertainment value from him. We are granted a sense of a bit more on the second interactions between Frank and Carl, as Frank calls Carl on Christmas. Hanks's delivery of this scene finds just the right balance in the moment. A bit of internalized somberness towards Carl's only seemingly lonely state as he speaks towards covering for other men, a direct bit of anger mixed with pride as he tries to both admonish Frank and explain how Frank barely got the best of him. There's a bit more though, as he speaks there just the smallest bit of understanding in his initial "you had no one else to call" towards Hanks, before switching it towards a bit purposeful direct hectoring towards the man who made him look like a fool. Again though this nagging sense of something more that kind of connects the two men is seen again when Carl visits Frank's father (Christopher Walken). This scene seems straight forward enough as Hanks's eyes glance around showing a man looking for clues, while delivering each word with a kind of perfunctory inquisition. The essential part of the scene though is when Frank's father accuses Carl of not being a family man for thinking he'd give up his son. Hank's reaction is perfection, this as there a bit of surprise within the moment, but again just this perfect glint of sadness suggesting Carl's own loneliness. 

The evolution of the Carl and Frank relationship is beautifully done with a substantial part of that being Hanks and DiCaprio's performance. Hanks here playing with DiCaprio never to try to outdo him, but rather to so artfully defer to him in a certain sense, without being overshadowed. This as while Carl's frequent solo perspective makes Hanks border on supporting the nature of the character, as so well realized by Hanks is truly a supporting one in the best of ways. Hanks finds the natural progression in creating a sense of empathy with Carl with Frank. There are still some proper playful moments, such as Hanks's deadpan reaction as Carl unashamed eats an eclair without sharing, but there's a real emotional depth in their work together. This as there second face to face scene, where Carl gets Frank to surrender, Hanks's performance is quiet, yet direct. There is an earnestness within the warning he gives to Frank. Hanks suggesting both a genuine threat but also an as genuine concern for Frank within the situation. When later Carl is the one who has to inform Frank of his father's death, Hank's performance is one of pitch perfect empathy. First his reaction that shows just the glimpse of despair over the idea, then his delivery that is straight forward, but also entirely sincere. Hanks earns the friendship that develops as this really second father figure, as he goes far to bring Frank into the FBI to try to limit his incarceration. Now in this we find the connection between really two lonely people, Carl as the father without a family, as he's estranged from his daughter, and Frank estranged from his whole life. Hanks finds just the right tone here. This as he doesn't over do the warmth, yet it is always so palatable and a certain point quite poignant. When Carl tells Frank the truth of his own isolated personal life, Hanks's direct as man reaching out, but still tempered still as essentially his former opponent of sorts. Hanks grants the sense of a teacher trying to truly connect with him, but also giving him the limits. I love even Hanks's reaction in the final segment of the film as he awaits to see if Frank has changed his ways or not, by whether or not he will be returning to work. Hanks's quite reactions of concerns are genuinely moving though understated still. Especially adore Hanks's final subdued reaction of relief at seeing Frank. Hanks never breaks the nature of the character, but shows his heart in the way that is honest to the character. This in turn making the reveal of it all the more affecting. Hanks's work delivers on both just the pure entertainment of the film, but also that essential heart of it within the idea of loneliness. Hanks does it with such ease, yet so effectively, that I have, while always praising the performance I'll concede before examining it a bit more closely, I might've taken it a little for granted.