Matchstick Men Movie Review:

Roy (Cage) suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, which has made his life one of routine. He has to do everything three times, his house is extremely clean, he has nervous ticks and he hates been outdoors. But when he has a career as a con artist, he really has to be on top of his game. His protégé and partner Frank (Rockwell) has an idea for a big con but as the plan starts into motion an unexpected bump in the road appears in the form of Roy's fourteen year-old daughter.

Director Ridley Scott leaves his usual extravagant projects behind to bring you a character driven, con men movie and it works, kind of. This film shows what a great director the man is. Known for his visual flare, attention to detail and been able to combine all this with groundbreaking special effects, Matchstick Men feels more like a relaxing holiday for the prolific director. Here he gets to play with a small cast, excellent dialogue and a tight script that deals with human emotions as well as the criminal world of the con artist. Gone is his usual visual dexterity and fast editing to be replaced by elongated shots of conversations, juddery camera shots to highlight Cage's ticks and a darkened, filtered look to emphasise the character's fear of sunlight and the outdoors. The performances are top draw. Nicolas Cage is becoming a great character actor. Again he has no difficulty playing a role requires him take on a physical and mental affliction, making the obsessive-compulsive behaviour of his character totally convincing. It is the way he works with Alison Lohman that is the real backbone of the performance however. The change in his character when he realises he has more responsibility than just for himself is testament to Cage's skill as an actor, as Roy grows into a man that now has a purpose.

Cage's performance would be nothing without the exceptional Alison Lohman. Her role as Roy's recently discovered fourteen year-old daughter (Even though Lohman herself was in fact twenty three when she made this) is the catalyst for the whole movie. The script captures the feeling that the two characters are really bonding and forming a father/daughter relationship before your very eyes and this is testament to Lohman and Cage's chemistry. The rest of the cast are also good. Sam Rockwell puts in another scene-stealing performance as Roy's partner Frank. The man is becoming a great comedic character actor and Frank provides most of the laughs in the movie. It is a shame that he doesn't have as much screen time as you'd like him to. Bruce McGill and Bruce Altman are also good as the target for the grift and as Roy's physiatrist.

The movie works really well on a character basis but is let down by the underlying, con-driven plot. It is just far too predictable, as most people will spot what the twist outcome will be about thirty minutes before it is revealed. This really does spoil all of the good work that has been put into the two central characters and takes the movie out of the very good category.

The performances and direction of Matchstick Men deserved a much better ending than this but the presence of Cage, Lohman and Rockwell make this a very watchable comedy drama that relies more on character development than underlying plot. Now where is that lottery ticket?

3 out of 5

Jamie Kelwick

THE USHER


One of the more interesting and fun genres of film have to be the “grifter” or “con-man” film. The genre’s pinnacle and appeal was probably solidified with George Roy Hill’s magnificent film, “The Sting”. It was slick, polished and so very clever. As the genre progressed we have had more recent classic con-films such as “The Grifters” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”. Even in recent years other notable con-films have been “Ocean’s Eleven”, “Heist”, “The Score” and “The Good Thief” which have left their mark with film-goers. Some were good and some mediocre.

This brings us to the latest grifter film which stars Nicolas Cage as highly phobic con-artist Roy. It seems that Roy and his partner Frank (Sam Rockwell) have a huge problem, Roy’s consistent phobic ticks. Frank suggests that Roy seek out a psychiatrist when he unexpectedly loses his medication to keep his phobias at bay. Roy soon discovers that there is more to his problem than he thought and it all could have to do with his long-lost daughter, Angela (Alison Lohman).

Just when Roy begins to reconnect with his daughter, Frank sets up the biggest cons of their long careers. With his new found confidence, Roy figures he can manage both his new budding relationship his daughter and the giant scheme. Is it to much too soon for Roy and will he be able to keep his ailments controlled in both stressful situations? Only time will tell.

Great modern director Ridley Scott’s “Matchstick Men” is once more a chameleon move in his bold, adaptable career. Scott is able to house a lot of the power in this film within the characters without relying on quick pans and suspense-filled lingering. Scott is quite restrained but gets an amazing performance from his star, Nicolas Cage.

Cage’s performance is the crowning achievement of the film. Like what he accomplished with his Academy Award winning role in “Leaving Las Vegas”, Cage is able to bring himself securely within the skin of this unbalanced character. Cage is so perfect in his ability to bring forth twitches, mannerisms and attitude that actuates Roy. It is one of the best performances of his career.

The screenplay was sculpted by brothers, Ted and Nicolas Griffin, who adapted the film from the Eric Garcia novel. Ted Griffin also worked on “Ocean’s Eleven”. The Griffin’s screenplay captures a lot the grifter style and the conflicts within Cage’s character but the film’s third act can leave an audience very cold. There is no huge payoff or “sting” as the whole film winds down. I would hope that the novel had a lot more in its final moments than displayed here. I wanted so much more.

I have always been a very strong supporter of Nicolas Cage and director Ridley Scott but this film left me a little flat. You would hope that with such great ingredients that this would be a clever and exciting con-movie. It could have been so much better.

3.5 out of 5

Dean Kish

So Says the Soothsayer

Nic Cage (Roy) and Sam Rockwell (Frank) join forces as con men in this stylish retro thriller from the masterful hand of director Ridley Scott.
Cage is again on form following his Oscar nominated role (in Spike Jonze’s ‘Adaptation’) as Roy- the head of a small company that swindles people out of money in telephone scams and confidence tricks.

Rockwell plays his partner in crime as the set up guy who does all the leg work in their web of tricks.

Sir Nicolas Of Cage is great in this movie as his troubled but loving character has so many issues that confuse his life; from obsessive cleaning disorder to his comical and sporadic funny ticks - you get the feeling this chap is bordering on the strange. But Cage manages to give this guy a big heart and as the film progresses you find yourself rooting for him as he establishes himself as the good guy, despite being a criminal.

Nitro favourite Sam Rockwell is as good as ever as the charming wild man who tends to steal the scene and turn it on whenever necessary.

But for me the star of this film is the new comer Alison Lohman, who plays the integral part of Cage’s daughter Angela, she is a revelation! Ridley Scott has obviously taken a huge risk and probably fought against the studio to get her this part but boy, the gamble has paid off. She holds her own with the big boys and you can’t help thinking about her ahead of her co-stars – wonderful!

Ridley Scott has made some fantastic films in all genres and this again establishes his position, living up to the likes of Gladiator and Hannibal, this can join them on his recently glorious cv.

Scott has given the look of Matchstick Men a 50’s watercolour hue and the rat pack music on the soundtrack give it a feel of an early Levinson film in the same vein as Tin Men or Diner. As ever Ridley’s eye is great and he has a knack of making the ordinary appear so cinematic – this proves his standing in Hollywood today!

Matchstick men could have been so formulaic in it’s pace and delivery with predictability at every turn but the team involved have made a film that’s memorable long after the credits have finished.

Is there nothing that this man can’t do? Watch this if you can - you will not be disappointed, a cut above with the emphasis on character.

Fletch

 

 

Roy (Nicolas Cage) is low-level con artist who along with his partner he mentored Frank (Sam Rockwell) feed on the greed of mostly old people and swindles them out of money in the drama Matchstick Men.

They have many different schemes going in order to defraud the vulnerable out of cash that include selling cheap water filtration systems for many times what they are really worth.

With an extreme obsessive-compulsive disorder, tics and major phobias, Roy is in agony most of the time except when he is cheating other people.

He is a clean freak who chain-smokes, has to shut doors multiple times for no reason and everyday eats tuna out of a can.

Everything seems to be working fine until Roy is told he has a 14-year-old daughter Angela (Alison Lohman) he has never known about before.

This causes him to seek her out and start a parenting relationship as a way to deal with his guilt.

While Roy is trying to figure out how to be a good father, Frank tries to talk him out of it to no avail.

Not only does having Angela around mess up Roys neurotic daily routine but also complicates his shady business right before a big score.

As a bit of time passes, an interesting bond between them ensues and translates into some funny interactions.

Being strong willed and messy, Angela causes Roy to have to deal with his problems sooner than he wants.

Filled with slow burning scenes, the movie takes its time to tell its story and tests your patience along the way.

There are surprising touching moments and twists that might not be altogether breaking new ground but nonetheless enjoyable.

No big explosions here, just a character study about a man who goes through a life changing transformation.

Matchstick Men is definitely a feel good movie that is in no rush to unleash its finest qualities.

Gil Benzeevi

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