If one saw the end coming I can see them not totally enjoying the film. I knew nothing of what was going on and thought it was a revival story after connection with one's daughter. This is what made this movie so darn good to me. I just didn't see the end con coming. When it did happen I stood up and said hell no, smiled and embraced what I had watched.
shareI considered/predicted the twist somewhere halfway, because I've seen many movies about con artists and with a long con plot before, but they played it so well that I couldn't believe that it was actually true. So the twist wasn't the biggest surprise to me, but I was still struck by its implications.
Also, the movie throughout was just a lot of fun. This is one of those films with a plot twist that's still good even if you know the twist or see it coming.
I also love the very ending. Nicolas Cage, the con master, seems enrichened by being conned himself. He finally escaped from the web of lies and deceiving and seems happier than ever before. That beautiful message is well executed in this film, I think.
This is what made this movie so darn good to me.Very much agree. As much as I am a Ridley Scott fan, this is one of his films I'd never seen before, nor knew much about. Hadn't looked into it and never seen a trailer. So just thinking it was something to do with conmen I tuned to get a real surprise. A funny, poignant movie, never veering thankfully into sentimentality, that has a couple of pleasantly unexpected twists thrown in for good measure. I can thoroughly recommend it. share
I had a feeling his partner was going to con him, but honestly I was hoping the daughter was legit.
shareI had known that there was a twist in the end by some Web article so that I was expecting a one. As I was processing every information coming, I figured in the halfway that the daughter must be bogus and Frank must be behind all this.(considering that Frank was the person who introduced the psychiatrist in the first place.) I wish I hadn't known about a twist. Lesson I learnt was even if you don't know exactly what the twist is, knowing that there is a one alone could be a big spoiler.
shareLesson I learnt was even if you don't know exactly what the twist is, knowing that there is a one alone could be a big spoiler.
I haven't seen the Crying game but I saw the Sixth Sense several years ago. I knew nothing about a twist and at the end I was shocked by the twist.I can't be 100% sure but I would have been more speculative. Try it yourself.
shareI thought it was a bit of cheat by the film maker. She acted like a teen even when she was alone in his apartment.
shareAgreed! If you rewatch knowing the ending, the plausibility falls apart. A perfect example is the "daughter" continuing to act like his daughter whether or not Frank is around. There is also no telling when the con actually begins...when Frank is told by a receptionist that his original doctor is out of town? If so, how many people were involved in the con? The above post is correct- the director cheated a bit to avoid spoiling the ending.
share*******SPOILER... YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!*******
How so? She looked through his personal items- like a teen, yes- but also like a con artist. She was clearly "fake-sleeping" when he returned, and she knew to keep the place a mess, as a typical teen would. Frank undoubtedly told her to be extra messy, in order to trigger Roy's neuroses.
I personally knew from simple cues/clues. Her line-of-sight use at their initial meeting, she is NEVER ONCE seen leaving from or entering a bldg (Summer School, home), the convenience of her phone call to mom, the sheer absurdity of a woman allowing SO MUCH contact (namely overnight stays) btwn her young daughter with a man she thinks is such a bad man she kept them apart for FOURTEEN years, during most of which she said he was dead, despite the relation. Then there is the "Psychiatrist", who is unprofessionally focused on getting Roy to admit remorse (I actually thought it was a revenge con), his incredibly judgmental looks, his apparent knowledge of Roy's profession, and the [illegal] placebo debacle. When the last [supposed] vic was roughing up Frank, the camerawork told a lot, and of course him punching Roy was the final confirmation.
Above all, the main telltale factor was "Angela"'s teendom. Not only is she obviously older (physically, mostly facial), but she is overcompensating by exaggerating stereotypical teenhood. She'd be messy, but not likely THAT messy in a stranger's home, regardless of relation. As a 14-y.o. girl going through a disruptingly transitional phase, she might be joyous, zealous, and emotional, but undoubtedly not THAT bubbly ALL of the time, especially as she is getting to know this man.
All of that said, I enjoyed the movie throughout. I always do with Nic Cage (contrary to most). :)
I never saw the end coming either. As a result, I really enjoyed it.
I knew Angela was definitely not Roy's daughter and would end up coning him in the long run, but I did not see her working with Frank. Likewise, I did not Frank, the doctor, and Chuck working together.
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