[Yelling at his daughter for snooping]
Roy: Uhhh... uhhh... That was WRONG what you did! And... and... you're a NOSY PARKER! And that's no way for a young lady to behave! And... SHAME ON YOU!

Based on the book by Eric Garcia, Roy Waller is a phobic conman, a matchstick man who has a lot of nervous ticks, routines and must have everything under his control lest he goes nuts, plus he only eats tuna from the can. He and his friend Frank Mercer are partners running a front as a sales agency when really they dupe people out of their money in the guise of a sweepstakes agency.

They're good at what they do, and despite being able to control his cons, Roy can't control his life and his mental disease. Frank suggests one day he go to see a new psychiatrist after his old one leaves town, and the doctor doesn't play by the rules unwilling to give into Roy's outlandish phobias and to make matters worse his estranged daughter Angela from his first marriage has just re-entered his life. Barely able to take care of himself and his partner, he now has to tolerate the young girl who is a bit all over the place with routines that he can't adhere to, but as they grow closer she discovers he's a con man and she wants in despite Franks protests.

I wasn't sure what this movie would bring me, I mean there's been a movie about con men and there's been a movie about daddy-daughter con teams so I basically approached this with a lot of skepticism because there's not a lot you can do with a movie about conmen
that hasn't already been done a hundred times over, but I found I wasn't disappointed, as a matter of fact I was very satisfied as the brain twisting story I was given.

There's not really enough I can say about Nicholas Cage's acting talent that hasn't already been said and I've admittedly doubted his acting abilities in the past, especially his ability to reach beyond the emotion of dark and brooding but he's really proven himself a top shelf actor with a great starring role in "Adaptation" and now this film which pretty much has him all over the place.

Cage displays a sheer tenacity for talent with a character that is so off the wall and odd considering he plays the lead character, with a lot of personality ticks and flaws that not only make him a sight to see, but very likable. Cage is very good here and a lot of fun to watch. I thought all he could do was brood, but damn if he can do much more. He's funny here and quirky almost like a Woody Allen character that jumped off the film and went into another story, and he doesn't change modes when he commits his cons, he's sly and smart but still his quirks get in the way which is displayed on his early con in the film when he has a panic attack after his mark leaves her patio door open.

He feels the need to close his door three times and count in different languages every time he does it out of impulse. Cage is just in his form here and he's great to watch and funny when he has to be, like when he yells at his daughter for snooping around his clean house, and when he's desperately in need of medication.

Sam Rockwell is the smooth and steady player Frank Mercer, the sly partner to Roy who always seems to be on the ball when it comes to planning and constantly teases him for his quirks. Rockwell and Cage have great chemistry together and play off one another here with a lot of appeal. Rockwell is a great actor and roles such as this that demonstrate his  abilities are always welcome.

Alison Lohman who shocked in "White Oleander" is very good here as the rambunctious
and sometimes obnoxious daughter of Roy's who is kind of a broad stroke presenting a lot of interest in her father and his mysterious career and is very willing to become a con man like he is, or "Con artist" as he rationalizes. The two are really fun to watch here and the best moments in the film are when they have scenes as father and daughter playing off one another and Lohman just has a lot of undeniable appeal which will surely make her a rising star soon to come.

She's very funny here and as always is very likable with an odd quality that makes her glow on the screen, plus she manages to hold her own against the two heavyweights. Meanwhile, we're given chic direction by Ridley Scott who manages to tell a very sharp and surreal story which switches themes between con man drama to family drama without a single chink in its armor.

We're able to see Cage's mind as he goes through his panic attacks and anxieties from the outdoors as well as some tricky camera play that is always both very smooth and gritty. At the same time, the story takes us on a really interesting ride through the mind of the conman and his relationship with his estranged daughter as well as a surprise ending that will really make you feel as if you've been conned yourself and a lot of people will not like what the story has in store for us. The film is a hilarious and involving piece of storytelling that will entertain you, excite you, and just plain shock you, and I loved it.

For an edgy movie that pulls out the stops with a surprise plot twist towards the climax, it does tend to go for the safe ending that becomes incredibly disappointing. Whether the ending is happy or sad, I won't verify, but it is ultimately pretty disappointing, and while people will inevitably become engrossed in the plot and the unique complex characters here, it isn't all that suspenseful. Director Ridley Scott has a pretty gritty and hazy mood here which makes it difficult to become engrossed in the atmosphere and story. The plot twist towards the climax will really give people a rude awakening as it did for me and some will either find it brilliant or irritating, I personally loved it, but many will not appreciate what occurs.

Despite its flaws and rather disappointing ending, this is a really good movie and a very well acted, well directed drama with a very surprising climax that will throw you for a loop.
 

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