The Man with a Thousand Faces – REVIEW

As a seasoned film critic who has seen more than my fair share of con artists and love scammers gracing our screens, I must say that “The Man with a Thousand Faces” is an intriguing addition to this genre. However, it falls short in its execution, particularly in the climactic scene where an opportunity for a dramatic takedown goes awry.

The success of Netflix’s “The Tinder Swindler” was just the start of a much larger issue involving men tricking vulnerable women into relationships, only to steal from them. However, “The Man with a Thousand Faces” doesn’t follow this pattern exactly. The man portrayed in this series is more of a frequent dater, earning minimal money but in one instance, he did rob a woman’s apartment of her valuables, including candlesticks.

In my perspective, the original “Man with a Thousand Faces” is commonly known as Lon Chaney in horror circles, but in this case, we’re talking about someone else – let’s call him Alexander (or Daniel, if you prefer). However, I should clarify that his real name might not be either of those. What I can confirm is that director Sonia Kronlund’s documentary spotlights several women whose lives he significantly impacted, in ways ranging from minor to major disruptions. Their feelings towards him are diverse, but one thing is clear: they were all profoundly hurt by his actions. Remarkably, one woman was left with the responsibility of raising a child alone when he abandoned her while she was pregnant, leaving for another part of the world in what seemed like an endless game of international speed dating.

Kronlund’s movie eventually locates him following several of his victories who have become aware of each other, and the film begins by showing one of them and a private detective on surveillance, having found him in a flat in Poland. The detective proposes luring him out by suggesting they call the police to evacuate the building as part of a fake bomb scare. This suggests the detective is reckless and shortsighted, like someone who tries to save time by trimming their nails with a combine harvester. Their surveillance serves as the opening and closing scenes for the film, as the filmmakers manage to coax him out for an on-camera interview under the pretense of foreigners promoting sports in another country. However, what should have been the climactic arrest scene turns out to be the movie’s biggest flaw. Instead of using a series of increasingly probing questions that would make Kronlund realize he is cornered, the interview fizzles out, resulting in a squandered opportunity.

The Many-Faced Man: A Chronicle of Self-Absorbed Lotharios – Neither the Initial Nor the Final Exploration of Such Characters

There’s been no confirmation that a follow-up film called ‘The Woman with the Two Faces’, concerning Meghan Markle, is in the works.

Here’s The Man with a Thousand Faces trailer ……

2024-11-21 17:23

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