Question: Did Slevin actually suffer from Ataraxia? He lied about most things, and I couldn't be certain about that.
Answer: I've considered 2 possibilities. One being the answer given about his cover, but I think he may have actually had it. When Goodcat is pointing a gun in his face as a child, he doesn't look scared in the least. The death of his parents "killed him" giving him the condition. Later proof is when he tells the Boss "You can only kill me once."
Answer: I don't think so. Everything that happens is a part of his plan, so rather than try to act scared, he just tells people he has a condition. In reality, he was very worried for Lindsay and pre-occupied with revenge.
Answer: No, like the rest of his "cover" (being mugged, being a friend of Nick's) he made it up. It was simply a way to plausibly explain why he was so calm through everything, when in fact he was calm because it was all part of his plan.
Answer: I doubt he suffered from ataraxia. His ability to be calm, "cool", and collected (under circumstances in which most people would be anxious, afraid, etc.) is more likely due to sociopathy. Sociopaths also tend to be chronic liars and manipulators and can be great impostors. Many have lost one or both parents early in life - Slevin's parents were murdered during his adolescence and he was subsequently reared by a career criminal. Slevin was also seeking vengeance for the murders that happened many years earlier, so having "peace of mind" or tranquility BEFORE getting the revenge seems highly unlikely.
Question: What was the deal with the watch switch? The only person who could connect that watch to Slevin, as far as we know, is Lindsey, and he has no reason to try and make her think he's dead.
Answer: The plan was for Lindsey to identify him at the morgue and then be taken out by Goodcat. She knows that he's going to take her out so the watch is to now used to fool Goodcat by making him assume the original plan is followed. Lindsey verifying Slevin, ending the search, killing her tying up the last loose end. Hope that cleared it up.
Answer: There were actually a few watch switches, which need to be recalled to understand. In particular, GoodKat took Nick Fisher's watch and gave it to Slevin. When Lindsey asked Slevin why the mugger did not take his watch, Slevin responded that it was fake. Slevin later switched watches with Yitchok (rabbi's son), which means Yitchok was now wearing Nick Fisher's watch. By wearing Nick Fisher's watch, Yitchok could be implicated in his death and the police would believe they had solved the murder case but did not have to "try a dead man." Slevin now had Yitchok's watch which was, undoubtedly, an expensive name-brand such as Rolex. In short, Slevin "upgraded" his watch and Yitchok gets tied to Nick Fisher's murder.
The 1st watch swap Slevin's dad is at the track, representing the last time he would see him. Also, explains the importance of the "fake" watch. The watch Lindsey sees is his father's as he wouldn't go anywhere without it. Slevin swaps with Fisher. Later flashback to Fisher look at his watch, then fwd to Slevin wearing it. Slevin swapped out of necessity, knowing it would identify him. Goodcat returns his dad's burnt watch at the end. Yitzchok's watch isn't mentioned. Value was irrelevant.
Slevin doesn't get Fisher's watch until they drop his body. That's the first and only swap. Yitzchok's watch is never mentioned, and value is irrelevant. The "try a deadman" was a fake plan involving 2 lovers killing each other told to the Boss and had nothing to do with the watch. Tried to find anything in your answer that was accurate but unfortunately nothing in your answer was in the movie.
Chosen answer: Goodkat didn't say "hey, Slevin, I'm gonna shoot her here and here. Y'know, FYI." Slevin has been trained by Goodkat. Slevin knows where Goodkat is going to shoot Lindsey because that's where Goodkat always shoots people when he's assassinating them.
Phixius ★