In Manhattan, the arrogant, cynical and witty Roger Swanson (Campbell Scott) is a publicist of an advertisement agency owned by Joyce (Isabella Rossellini), who is also his lover. Joyce breaks their relationship due to the lack of maturity and manipulative behavior of Roger. Meanwhile, his sixteen years old nephew from Ohio Nick (Jesse Eisenberg) unexpectedly arrives in his office asking Roger to teach him how to seduce women. Along the night, Roger drags Nick into New York nightlife providing directions about women.
"Roger Dodger" is a great study of two characters: the corruptive, arrogant and cynical Roger and his naive and pure Nick. What I liked most in this amoral urban tale is the counterpoint of their actions. The personality of Roger, brilliantly played by Scott Campbell, is very well developed, but if his methods of approaching women work or not it is never clear. When the two ladies in the bar leave him, he says to Nick that his tactic was "bad uncle, good nephew". Later he confesses to Nick that he does not necessarily score one woman per night, as he previously mentioned. He blows his relationship with Joyce and loses his job due to his immaturity and arrogance. His fail safe ending of the night was in a brothel. Therefore, it seems that his despicable procedures are not so well-succeed as Nick and his mother believe. Nick is the symbol of innocence, and curiously the women in the bar liked his behavior, probably recalling their youths. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Roger, o Conquistador" ("Roger, the Conqueror")
