Roy (Nicolas Cage) has some problems. He has obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, and becomes totally hysterical when people open doors, don't take off their shoes, and get mud on his carpet. He took the pills to solve a lot of problems, but he accidentally knocked them over in the garbage disposal, so what? Now his life is a mess, his face is full of nervous ticking and he ends his sentence with "Um... ..." exclamation. The problem seriously affected his work as a liar. He's not a liar, he's not a liar, he's a liar artist and emphasizes the "artist" part. He thinks his work is a beauty, a grand way of expressing himself, but it's not true, that's a lie. It's just something that makes him sleep better at night. He hates his job because it makes him feel dirty. It's no fun exploiting old people or fat people, but he dropped out of high school, otherwise how could he get a decent job? His partner Frank Mercer (Sam Rockwell) is more at ease than Roy. He doesn't seem to care that much about his work. Roy, on the other hand, becomes a total lunatic, and after seeing a recommended psychiatrist, he musters the courage to confront his 14-year-old daughter Angela (Alison Lohman), who is eager to Get rid of her controlling mother and visit her long-lost father. There are so many different stories in the film - the worrier who learns to let go of his nervousness, the long-lost father who reunites with his daughter, and the con man who tries to give up everything and live a normal life. They're both successful as a story, but the only downside to the movie is that it's so long. Who cares (I mean it's a statement, not a question). The movie is one of the best entertainment shows of the year. The game is full of twists and turns and fun. Nicolas Cage is on a winning streak. First the 2002 Oscar-winning film Adaptation, and now this one (rumored to be in the running for the 2004 Oscars). Who would have thought? Sam Rockwell (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) continues to impress, while Alison Lohman (a 20-something actress plays a teenage teen) plays Excellent and convincingly portrays the needs of the character. Ridley Scott ("Alien"), the infamous British director, used some great camera techniques, shot in shades of blue, with lots of different flashes, and he subtly forced the audience into Roy's head , especially in the sequence when Roy has a glitch, People and things around were moving at an extraordinary speed. I'll admit I'm a huge fan of Liar movies because I find them funny. But Stickman isn't really a con man movie -- it's a movie about a con man who has to deal with his work and personal life. There's also a movie about a con man who finds out he has a daughter. A deceived liar. It was all fun, and while the movie was long, I never got bored - it kept my interest throughout its run time. Now this is less and less common.
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