Roy Waller (Nicholas Cage) lives in a very ordered world. He is a businessman and conman but with a difference, this is no slick confident grifter, but rather a highly neurotic and nervy one. Cage gives yet another excellent character study, giving a twitchy, nuanced performance full of tics and nervy mannerisms. He manages to elicit audience sympathy for a fairly reprehensible character by making him so vulnerable. It is painful to watch Roy’s obsessive - compulsive behaviour at times. He is also clearly agoraphobic, extremely uncomfortable in day - to - day situations. Although this may all seem a bit unlikely, how can someone with so many afflictions operate so well? The answer is provided in the form of Roy’s friend and the very antithesis of him, Frank (played with smooth relish by Sam Rockwell). Together they provide an unusual double act as they con their way through life, embezzling naïve victims in Los Angeles. The direction from Ridley Scott is steady and assured. He manages to make great use of light to reflect mood and tone. The editing too is strong as we can empathise with Roy’s world as it is reflected by clever time distortion by the use of fast cuts and slow motion. We have the looks of concerned bystanders to let us know that all is not well with Roy. So, if things weren’t already bad enough for our main protagonist, along comes his feisty, sassy fourteen year - old formerly estranged daughter, Angela (Alison Lohman). Again, this is another pairing of two opposites, a nice juxtaposition. The films pace changes as we now see Roy’s well ordered and balanced world slowly crumble as his untidy and rebellious house guest Angela drives the obsessive compulsive Roy to distraction as she makes a mess, drinking, smoking and leaving litter lying around in his once pristine home. These scenes are also touching and amusing. The middle aged Roy trying to understand and relate to his teenage daughter provides a nice generation study and culture clash. This is a very ‘people’ focussed and ‘character’ driven film, full of subtle complexities, twists and turns. The rest of the film is utterly compulsive viewing because we care for these people and can relate to the problems and issues they face together. When Angela shows an unexpected talent for grifting the fun really starts! This is quality intelligent drama at its best. Dysfunctional families, slick con-man partners, businessmen and innocent victims all combined to make a highly entertaining two hours with a totally unexpected revelation at the end. Highly recommended.
Films 
Roy Waller (Nicholas Cage) lives in a very ordered world. He is a businessman and conman but with a difference, this is no slick confident grifter, but rather a highly neurotic and nervy one. Cage gives yet another excellent character study, giving a twitchy, nuanced performance full of tics and nervy mannerisms. He manages to elicit audience sympathy for a fairly reprehensible character by making him so vulnerable. It is painful to watch Roy’s obsessive - compulsive behaviour at times. He is also clearly agoraphobic, extremely uncomfortable in day - to - day situations. Although this may all seem a bit unlikely, how can someone with so many afflictions operate so well? The answer is provided in the form of Roy’s friend and the very antithesis of him, Frank (played with smooth relish by Sam Rockwell). Together they provide an unusual double act as they con their way through life, embezzling naïve victims in Los Angeles. The direction from Ridley Scott is steady and assured. He manages to make great use of light to reflect mood and tone. The editing too is strong as we can empathise with Roy’s world as it is reflected by clever time distortion by the use of fast cuts and slow motion. We have the looks of concerned bystanders to let us know that all is not well with Roy. So, if things weren’t already bad enough for our main protagonist, along comes his feisty, sassy fourteen year - old formerly estranged daughter, Angela (Alison Lohman). Again, this is another pairing of two opposites, a nice juxtaposition. The films pace changes as we now see Roy’s well ordered and balanced world slowly crumble as his untidy and rebellious house guest Angela drives the obsessive compulsive Roy to distraction as she makes a mess, drinking, smoking and leaving litter lying around in his once pristine home. These scenes are also touching and amusing. The middle aged Roy trying to understand and relate to his teenage daughter provides a nice generation study and culture clash. This is a very ‘people’ focussed and ‘character’ driven film, full of subtle complexities, twists and turns. The rest of the film is utterly compulsive viewing because we care for these people and can relate to the problems and issues they face together. When Angela shows an unexpected talent for grifting the fun really starts! This is quality intelligent drama at its best. Dysfunctional families, slick con-man partners, businessmen and innocent victims all combined to make a highly entertaining two hours with a totally unexpected revelation at the end. Highly recommended.