Catch Me If You Can exceeds the stylistic and thematic ambition of Minority Report. The film is not merely a glib look at a real man’s life filtered through the forgiving, kaleidoscopic lens of Hollywood. It’s an enduring and evocative portrait of one man’s unique gift in a time that precedes the casual technicalities of modern police procedure.
Spielberg’s exhilarating pursuit that ennobles our own idiosyncratic search for identity amongst our peers. From the stylish credits and John Williams’ jazzy score, the incredible story of opportunist con artist Frank Abagnale Jr (Leonardo DiCaprio) bounces along at a fast-pace and with a Spielbergian theme of distant fathers.
Ricocheting around the USA from ‘Florida’ to ‘Louisiana’, the movie was shot largely around Los Angeles, and in Quebec (the ‘French’ scenes).
Montreal and Quebec stood in for ‘France’. Place Royale, Quebec City, with Notre Dame des Victoires in the background, stood in for the square of ‘Montrichard’ where Abagnale is arrested.
Auberge Sainte Antoine: The Most Romantic Hotel in Quebec City
The Perfect Place to Pop the Question…
Auberge Saint-Antoine, in the cradle of Old Québec City, sits on a property dating back to the 1600s. Owned by the prominent Price family, this hotel perfectly blends Old World charm with 21st century luxury.
Why the concept’s so fresh: If you’ve ever fantasized about sleeping in the Smithsonian, you’ll love waking up in your suite. With a Chinese porcelain fragment embedded in your night table, you’re the Indiana Jones of Le Petit Champlain. Each guest floor is dedicated to one of the original owners of the property, and each room is named after an artifact from that period. In 2002, Saint-Antoine underwent a $16 Million expansion that uncovered priceless historical artifacts. Over 5000 objects found on the archaeological site were restored by the Centre de conservation du Québec, and more than 250 of these significant finds contribute to owner Llewellyn Price’s boutique hotel-meets-Musee des Beaux-Arts concept. Saint-Antoine honours its distinct history by showcasing relics in stunning museum vitrines throughout the hotel.
Why you’ll never leave your room: You’ll lather up like a rock star in the Olympic-sized deep soak bath, acoustics blazing on the in-suite Bose sound system. With a true snuggle bunny’s bed of luxury linens, goose down duvets and pillows – a Cinderella sleep is guaranteed. Many suites boast private terraces and fireplaces. All suites feature dramatic throw-open windows, high speed Internet, heated bathroom floors and no-fog mirrors.
Where to pop the question: After sampling Chef Francois Blais’ rustic take on traditional French Canadian cuisine, coax your beloved to the secluded vaulted study next to the elegant bar. There’s a perfect romantic symmetry to this space. If you need a little roar in your arsenal for the night, I can attest that Blais’ wild boar delicacy is the most exquisite game I’ve tasted in Canada.
Most Explosive Architectural Feature: The conservation of a 17th Century cannon battery that slopes through the lobby.
8 Rue Sainte-Antoine, Québec City 1-888-692-2211