Rating: 
Summary: SWINDLER'S LIST: NOT UNPREDICTABLE, BUT WELL EXECUTED.
Review: Nicholas Cage is finally back with a movie that is as much of a thriller as you've been exposed to in 2003 -- explosive bucaneers of the seas, clumsy terminators and desperate really, really "bad" boys -- and yet without all that somatic high-octane action. As a mystery tale with delectable twists, the movie has a handful of surprises in store, some more convincing than others, although I had a nagging suspicion about the final big twist which did come true (somewhat of a gyp with a twister tale.) To mess it further, all of the pretty suave turns in the movie were thrown to the dogs in an absolutely feel-good denouement... Other than that, this is a very watchable movie. The execution is brilliant, film students take note of the camerawork and the screenplay. Above all, Nick Cage is really the cornerstone of the movie's class, his potrayal of someone with a cleanliness (and darkness) OCD is the stuff that Oscars are handed out for. Some of the negative reviews talk of the morally challenged script. Well, I never for a moment felt that Cage's or Rockwell's characters were oblivious of their follies. That they were depicted in a likeable manner does not mean that the script advocates or endorses their behavior. This is no "Get Shorty" in style or story, but is quite a decent rental nonetheless. Recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Cage deserves an Oscar nomination
Review: Nicholas Cage is brilliant in this movie. I think he definitely should recieve an oscar nomination for his performance in this movie. He is an excellent actor. Moving on, I would give this movie 4.5 stars if I could. The movie is heart-warming and extremely funny. Cage bounces around the room and snitches and twitches and we can really see his how desperate he is. The story is great and the acting is supurb with a complex but wonderful climax. Think of this movie and a modern "The Sting"
Rating:
Summary: Nic's Still Got It !!! One Of The Years Best Films !!!
Review: THE STORY OF A CON MAN...
This is an amazing film which I feel is better off not being reviewed in great detail in order to leave everything a surprise. (As there are many here) It's the kind of picture that you may afterwards be likely to find yourself saying: "I cannot believe how great that movie was!" The twist ending will leave you thinking back to each and every little detail in every scene, making you wonder whether or not the ending could have actually been played out the way it does. This is easily one of the best films from both Cage and director Ridley Scott, loads of fun and not to be missed! Let's hope it gets some well deserved attention at Oscar time!
Rating:
Summary: fantastic
Review: when i first saw this movie i didn't understand it. now i understand it and i have to say it's fantastic. nicholas cage pulls this movie off. sam rockwell is just in for the ride but like in confessions of a dangerous mind he had a very good performance.it's a colorful quirkly and darkly humnorous film.
Rating:
Summary: Film noir without dark and shadows...
Review: It's official... Ridley Scott is a great filmmaker... Now, that statement may have seemed rather presumptuous... After all, this is the man who directed GI JANE, WHITE SQUALL, 1492, and the curiously overrated THELMA AND LOUISE, four films that I have never really liked at all. However, he's also done ALIEN, BLADE RUNNER, GLADIATOR, and underrated HANNIBAL... four films that are very good, the first two being masterpieces in my opinion. Well, now you can add MATCHSTICK MEN to that list... I just got back from watching this and I absolutely loved it... I loved the performances (especially Nicholas Cage's quirky turn as the neurotic con artist), I loved Scott's assured direction, I loved the story, I loved the way the film looked on a purely visual level, I loved the soundtrack (which was suave and cool without needlessly calling attention to itself), and most of all I loved it enough to want to check out some of director Ridley Scott's earlier work that I had missed (namely, LEGEND and THE DUELISTS)... Perhaps the best thing about MATCHSTICK MEN is the light and breezy mood... The film is about thieves and yet, for the most part, it's fun and rather good-natured. The comedy worked for me, the emotional scenes struck the right chord and never came off as forced or ineffective. Most of all, though, the movie is just fun... There were many times when I sat there with a big grin on my face just taking it all in... it's the kind of movie that forces you to become aware of just how much of a good time you're having while you're still in the middle of watching it. Without giving too much away, the ending was absolutely incredible and only enhance my appreciation for this gem of a film... This is definitely one of those films that I would see again, and now I'm anxious to see what Ridley Scott has up his sleeve in the future (currently, a film that takes place during the Crusades called KINGDOM OF HEAVEN). As far as I see it, MATCHSTICK MEN is a great film by a great director. Highly recommended...
Rating:
Summary: Much Better Than I Expected (4.5)
Review: The trailer for this movie leaves you feeling like it'll be a mediocre movie, but it is far from it. It's absolutely great. The very last scene takes a little away from the movie, but I suppose it was needed to complete the theme. Nevertheless, it's a must-see.
Rating:
Summary: Nicolas Cage does it again
Review: I'll admit it, I'm a huge fan of Nicolas Cage so there are times when my opinion is biased towards his films. However, I can safely say that Matchstick Men is a winner as a movie. A sterling performance is given by Sam Rockwell who always seems to have an amazing presence on the big screen, but the award goes to Nicolas Cage who's portrayal of a con-man with more phobia's than you can poke a stick at, delivers an incredible performance.
The movie plot seems straight forward at first, small-time con men taking small-time people for a ride, until the opportunity for a big win comes along. The twist at the end however caught me completely by surprise and turned a great film into a supurb film. The cast was well-chosen and all played their roles with enthusiasm and reality.
I can't wait for this movie to be released on DVD so I can sit down and enjoy it all over again. I believe also, that knowing the ending of the film won't spoil the experience at all, as the entire movie is a completely enjoyable experience.
I thoroughly recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: What a twist! Alison is terrific! Nic delivers
Review: This was a great ride! Thrilling, comic, heart-warming and tender all at once. Nic's character really develops through his relationship with Alison's character. Sam steals the show, but the whole thing is tremendous. Truly. Don't miss this!
Rating:
Summary: Great character story with a twist!
Review: Nicolas Cage has been one of my favorite actors for a long time now. He has had some stinkers recently (8MM, Bringing out the Dead) but he returns with a performance so masterful, it almost makes the earlier bombs not seem as bad. He is forced into multiple roles in this movie and he pulls them off masterfully. Cage plays Roy Waller, a con man (or Matchstick man) who works with partner Sam Rockwell to bilk people out of money to install water filter systems. Once they have that cash, they go to the house of the suckers posing as Federal agents and gain access to their accounts to get all they own. It's brilliant and the two work it perfectly. There are a couple of hitches. One is that Roy has OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) He has to open and close doors three times (while counting aloud) before going through them, he abhors shoes or any dirt on his carpet at home, and when he loses his medication down the drain, he goes through his entire house cleaning every square inch. Cage plays the part perfectly; he is totally believable as a man with this condition and that speaks highly of his performance. The other hitch is 14 year old Allison Lohman playing Cage's daughter from a previous marriage. She shows up in a park to meet him and soon they are the best of friends. She finds out eventually what he does for a living (he told her at first that he is an antique dealer) and even learns a few tricks of the trade from him. She is a real breath of fresh air in the film and she will be making movies for years to come. This film has been compared to "The Sting" many times, presumably for the ending, which does contain some surprises. It is similar to the 1974 classic. This time the Robert Shaw role is played by Bruce McGill. But as you will see, this film even takes the con further, to areas that were a complete surprise to me. It is effective, smart, funny at times, and with the performance Nicolas Cage turns in, it's a complete winner. Cage should get some votes for best actor here.
Rating:
Summary: Funny, poignant, offbeat
Review: Roy is a con man with a big problem: he has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. When he runs out of medication he is literally reduced to falling to his hands and knees and scrubbing his entire house with a toothbrush. The scene is both humorous and horrifying. Can things get worse? Sure. His smooth-talking partner is even more of a weasel than Roy. Then throw in Roy's newly-discovered 14-year-old daughter (who, it turns out, has a natural knack for the con) and we end up with a multi-layered plot in which everything is not what it seems to be. This is an offbeat little movie, sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes poignant. I won't give anything anyway, except to say there are a lot of plot twists. If I had to describe this movie in one sentence, it would be this: things are not what they appear to be.
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