Nicolas Cage: Matchstick Men

Matchstick Men
Big liar lies to small liar, everyone is telling lies, so funny.

Everything in Matchstick Men turns out to be untrue. I thought everything was arranged like this as the story went on, but who would know that at the end it turned toward another direction. I found aches in my heart and I could not find it in my heart to see that desperate crying, losing everything in just one moment, a gradually cooling heart, having no idea about a solution, only bursting into tears.

A better thing is, the story turns again. Who once was a smart swindler, lost everything after he paid for his father-love, how come the director would like to let the tragedy continue, he starts a new normal life, and has his own children, as if the sun is shining ahead, mild and nice.
I was reminded of Leon. The similar scene, a girl suddenly jumps into his life, bringing love and warm and rare happiness to Leon and making his cold blood warm gradually. Thinking of the scene when Leon told those to Matilda in the end, and when Matilda planted the green pineapples in the school land, and even the image when the song of Shape of My Heart, I can still find ache in my heart, however at least I have gain something, right? Everything is truly changeable.

Nicolas Cage has really perfect acting skill sets. Mysophobia, photophobia and OCD, to act such a liar, need to interchange time and time again through the story; I think it might be quite hard and difficult to achieve its ideal performance for a common actor. But it is not the thing for Cage, his performance contributes much credit to this movie.

In addition, the actual age of that little girl is 21, but she has to be a 15-year girl. I would never know this if she has not told us. Well, she is also an excellent actress. I like her very much.

Cage in my opinion, is good at interpreting such kind of people who have some troubles at mental aspect, and no doubt in this film this character reaches his extreme. Although this work is of a relative low budget, it is pleasant and satisfying. With a tight plot, vivid characters and an unexpected ending accompanied with a deep love between the father and his daughter, every detail is moving and touching. However, it is the very tight plot and ups and downs that make this film a little not so themed.

I always like Nicolas Cage's movies, for his really exact performance. For example, when Roy picking up the house, the corner of his eyes squeamishly twitching with fear of being outsides, walking and snorting in the house, and what truly touching me is his expression in the eyes when he listens to Angela's message, and that crying-and-laughing facial complexion when he knows the whole thing.

To the individual Roy, I do not expect him to be actually "normal". Otherwise, he will lose his charm and his squeamishness. But when you see him doing a normal job, meeting Angela, going back home, hugging his wife from her back and kissing her pregnant belly, you will realize that the true love cannot be discovered until you reach some kind of balance, right?

As a matter of fact, to swindle others, even if sitting behind a telephone, it seems to be of lots of pressure.

In order to live a better life, Roy claims himself a Con Artist. Beside of his makeover, he owns one important skill – telling stories which are very convincing to his audience. He can make up a let-his-client-hold-on story within just one second.

As an advertiser, you have to learn to tell stories, you may want to tell a story about this brand to your customer: "This brand comes from the grassland". And you have to tell them another story "he who uses this brand will know it".

"Advertising is legalized lying". Advertisers may be called a legal liar. The same, advertisers who need a good talent of telling stories, according to Michael Maynard's theory, "Advertising is the poetry of Capitalism", are not the advertisers the poets?
It is inevitable that an artist will have to contact with other artists. Since Roy was impacted by his "daughter" 's story (You are as bad as her boyfriends), I came to know he will suffer.

As an advertiser, his destiny might be the same with the con artist, even if he is creative and wise enough, he is going to be a customer, be baptized by ads and poisoned by consumerism.

Another tragedy, right?

Advertising is based on one thing. Happiness.