Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Matchstick Men
In 2003, Nicolas Cage starred in a movie titled, Matchstick Men. Roy Waller, played by Nicolas Cage is a con artist, swindling money from unsuspecting individuals, with his partner and apprentice, Frank Mercer. The opening con depicts Roy Waller and Frank Mercer calling up an elderly woman, misleading her into thinking she had won some sort of lottery, however, she would have to pay a large amount of money, in order, to claim her prize. Throughout the movie, the viewers watch as Roy suffers from a myriad of ticks, routines, and outbursts, attributing to his obsessive compulsive disorder. When Roy Waller goes through one of his “episodes” where his ticks become uncontrollable and semi-violent, he accidentally drops the last of his medication down the drain. Roy Waller calls up his primary care physician in a panic, letting the audience know that, whatever the medication was, it was some sort of medication to alleviate an onset of symptoms from an episode. Unfortunately for Roy Waller, however, his primary care physician was unavailable, which does nothing but to provoke Roy’s symptoms. Roy Waller’s episode then goes full speed, causing Roy to go into a rage of cleaning, dusting, wiping, and disinfecting everything in his house, all while chain-smoking his Marlboro Cigarettes. Frank Mercer, all the while, has been calling Roy Waller repeatedly, but it appears Roy’s episode causes him to become oblivious to the phone ringing. Worried, Frank Mercer stops by Roy Waller’s house and sees Roy in his episode. Frank Mercer then refers Roy Waller to a “highly-acclaimed” psychiatrist, Dr. Harris Klein. After arguing and much agitation on Roy Waller’s part, Dr. Harris Klein eventually hands Roy a set of medication, and gets him in contact with his 14-year-old daughter, Angela, whom Roy has never seen or heard of before. Angela’s presence alleviates and almost completely cures all of Roy Waller’s symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder. Their relationship blossoms, and