Stream it now Matchstick Men 2003

 

A fantastic cast is given a big piece of cake with a wonderful screenplay and great minds behind the camera. It's a clever plot, with maybe more than anybody is bargaining for. Enjoyed every minute of the movie, and the score is great.

3.5 Stars out of 5

Con man are those kind of guys you love to hate. They manipulate, they lie, they cheat, and they're filthy rich. Matchstick Men doesn't really glorify or demean the con man, but it sets up a light, enjoyable narrative about the characters, not just the con. Ridley Scott branches off from his overblown Black Hawk Down and severely dull Hannibal and delivers us a relatively flashy telltale of an agoraphobe and germaphobe named Ray Waller (the wonderful Nicolas Cage). He's a con artist, not a con man he corrects. He's lost in his own world--a nice one-storey house in suburbia, a pool in the back, and a cheeky partner (Sam Rockwell) by his side. He has it all but one thing: a family. Ridley Scott compiles his story with jump cuts connoting agitation, Nicolas Cage twitches and stutters every inch of the way, and the audience enjoy themselves thoroughly. Finally Ridley Scott diversifies and makes his best film since Blade Runner.

Ray is not your average guy. He has compulsive problems or maybe how he would put it--a certain agenda. He slides his shoes on with a cusp, he opens doors rhythmically for three seconds, and then he cons. And he cons good. Roy and Frank are the classic pair: full of kinetic banter, sly motives, and strong chemistry. Roy (putting aside his phobias) has it all...except a family. He believes to have a daughter and a ex-wife--he's "kind of married, kind of a parent," he submits to his shrink (Bruce Altman). He meets up with his presumed daughter Angela (Alison Lohman) and she has likability and a strong connection to Cage and the audience. She doesn't buy Ray's presumed involvement with antiques so she gets what she wants--a trip into the world of a con man, er, girl. Matchstick Men never drops dead on the laughs, the emotion, or the craft. Scott directs with a zealous pride behind the camera, the characters react naturally to each other, and the story makes itself up as it goes along. The most definite aspect: this is a hell of a lot of fun.

This isn't the typical hodge-podge sitcom series with trite character relationships and a conventional build. Matchstick Men speeds up to get to the good parts and recoils to release the emotion. Scott's story plays out on a similar note at first but then it acapellas into a deceitful twist that makes the rather improvised plot a well played out number.

Matchstick Men won't leave you guessing, but it will leave you dazzled and quite content. Ray doesn't necessarily leave behind his compulsions but he moves forward as a human--maybe not a con man, but a man nevertheless. After Scott's nicely-constructed one-year later denouement, we get a very well-acted scene with Lohman and Cage at their acting best, discussing if everything was all worth it and if they can forgive each other (if you're confused, see the movie). Though the film appears to be falling back into a rather conventional ad hoc curtain call, Scott concludes the film elsewhere--Ray in shot, but something else, something he will soon grow to love. For Matchstick Men, we have already done just that.

I SAY-See it.

Awesome movie with great performances by everyone. Probably one of the best con favorites con films. The whole time your wondering whether there doing a con or just f@$#ing each other over. A must see movie. Nicholas Cage does a great job playing a man who is obsessive compulsive.

A superb story and great acting make this such an amazing film.

Whilst Matchstick Men suffers from a rushed and slightly contrived final third, Nicholas Cage's performance is a revalation. What appears as a caper movie is actually a simple and ultimately sweet tale of one man's rediscovery of himself.

Funny, and a good story. The twist i didn't see coming.

Well I first will say this is a great performance by Nicholas Cage as normal, as I am an avid fan yet I have not watched Leaving Las Vegas.

My Review:

While not ever reading the book (nor plans to do so) I must say this was fantastic, I can't say its a comedy though. That is my only true problem with it, sure some parts can be "funny" but I found it to be emotional, and intense. A very well played Crime/Drama with a twist. The twist itself is worth the rent to watch this, it has a twist (taking a leap here) as good as The Sixth Sense. Yet some say they could see it...well maybe I was to tired while watching it...none the less awesome movie!

Features Nicholas Cage's best performance since Leaving Las Vegas and some wonderfully stylish cinematic touches by Ridley Scott. Even if the story leaves something to be desired, I'd still consider it one of the better con movies

A really enjoyable movie, both Cage and Rockwell were excellent in their roles. The story was cleaver and interesting, and told with a good mixture of comedy and drama. A very good movie that doesn't get nearly as much credit as it deserves.

A great story and a great cast in a Scott movie that doesn't need action to keep it entertaining.