Roy Waller is a small-time con artist in Los Angeles whose phobias and obsessive habits shape nearly every part of his daily life. Working alongside his partner Frank Mercer, he makes a living from minor scams, until a change in his medical routine sends him to a psychiatrist and into an unexpected situation: the arrival of a teenager who claims to be his daughter. Blending comedy and drama, the film follows the two men as they prepare a con of considerable scale.

How it was made

The film is based on Eric Garcia's 2002 novel of the same name. Nick and Ted Griffin wrote the screenplay, and Ridley Scott directed, with production by Saturn Films and ImageMovers. Nicolas Cage and Sam Rockwell lead the cast, with Alison Lohman playing the young woman at the center of the story. John Mathieson shot the film, Dody Dorn edited it, and Hans Zimmer composed the score. The budget was about 62 million dollars.

Reception and legacy

It premiered at the 2003 Venice International Film Festival and reached American cinemas that September through Warner Bros. Pictures. Critics were generally favorable: Roger Ebert gave it four stars out of four, and James Berardinelli gave it three and a half. It opened in second place at the American box office with about 13 million dollars and grossed roughly 65 million worldwide. Today it is remembered mainly for Cage's performance and for an ending that divided commentators.