Rating: 
Summary: Nicolas Cage's best performance since Leaving Las Vegas
Review: In the pantheon of con man movies (now almost a separate genre), Ridley Scott's Matchstick Men combines the witty geniality of The Sting with a little of the sardonic darkness of The Grifters and House of Games. Smoothly and impeccably done, it is the story of Roy, a master con artist whose unadmitted yet progessive guilt over his way of life has turned him into a seething, obsessive-compulsive neurotic. While his partner (Sam Rockwell) keeps pressuring Roy to go for a big score, his therapist informs him of the existence of a long-lost teenage daughter (Alison Lohman) from a brief, long-ago marriage. Roy's reaction to this news, his reunion with his daughter and her influence on his work comprise the story of Matchstick Men, a funny and resoundingly entertaining film with one of the most jaw-dropping surprise endings in recent memory. Rockwell and Lohman give excellent supporting performances, but it is Cage--one of the few actors who can go way over the top and take the audience with him--who steals the film with a comic performance that is perfect in every twitchy detail.
Rating: 
Summary: A Fun Con Movie...With Oscar Potential
Review: I must say, out of all of the Ridly Scott movies I've seen, this one comes at number two, with Gladiator leading. Some have said it is too dark and grimy, but I beg to differ. The filming style is just right. Not to mention the quite noticable editing, but in a good way. You notice it because it reflects Nicolas Gage's character's obsessive compulsive disorder. Yes, Nicolas Cage is very Oscar-worthy in this film. It really takes a strong and talented actor to portray such a complicated disorder on screen, and keep in consistent. Alison Lohman, the supporting actress, also has some Oscar-potential moments in this film, but not as strong as Cage. This film is Scott's "tiny masterpiece." It really is a fun film. It is a story filled with con acts, cheating, stealing, yelling and screaming. But don't expect it to be some sort of a huge action adventure. It truly is a "tiny" film. I think that further proves Scott to be an outstanding director. In this film he has confirmed his diversity and skill. I commend him for this movie. The one thing I didn't like was that the supporting actor in the movie, Cage's partner in crime, didn't get much character development. He did add comic relief, but he wasn't very in depth. But keep in mind, this allowed Scott to dwell in the depths of Lohman and Cage's relaitionship. You see, Lohman plays Cage's daughter he didn't know existed. They finally meet and she is there, potentially in the way, when a con of a lifetime comes around. It is very interesting to see this cast work together. Bottom Line: This may be one of the years best, by far, beating out other, stronger films at the end of the year, most likely. (I give it an A-)
Rating:
Summary: A Must See
Review: As one of the best actors of our time Nicolas Cage may have increased his already huge star power with his performance as Roy the "Con Artist" in Matchstick Men. As a divorced con man who left his pregnant wife, Cage gives an unbelievably believable peformance of a struggling soul with a guilty conscience. Facial tics, stuttering, and strange noises when expressing himself through words are executed with frightening realism by Cage as someone tormented by an obsessive compulsive disorder. Playing Roy's foil and partner in crime is Frank played by Sam Rockwell, who turns in a great, if not equal performance. Roy's penchant for cleanliness is challenged by Frank's slovenly behavior and shoot from the hip attitude. This relationship works well as Frank portrays the rough around the edges protege of Roy the mentor. Angela(Allyson Lohman) is Roy's 14-yr. old daughter that he has never known. Until now. In the middle of the biggest score of Roy's life, Angela shows up and begins to pull Roy out of the funk that began 14 years ago. Connecting on a criminal level, son and daughter forge a common bond that is engaging and enjoyable to watch. Cage's obsessive compulsive behavior seems to lessen each time he shares a pizza with Lohman. These characters are truly flawed and represent the human condition in all of its tragic imperfections perfectly. In the end we all may have do something emotionally upsetting to make ends meet in a world revolving around money. With equal amounts of comedy, drama, and suspense; Matchstick Men is a movie that truly has purpose. Discovering the purpose makes for one of the best surprise endings , as well as movies, of the year.
Rating:
Summary: Every director is a con artist
Review: Ridley Scott is no exception. The acting in this story is the engine that makes the movie work, at all. All the characters, but notably, Nicholas Cage, work well as an ensemble. Unfortunately, after all of the details have been revealed--there are logical flaws and problems that make it impossible to suspend your disbelief. In order for a con game to work, you must understand the stimulus/response pattern so well that you can absolutely count on the behavior of the mark. You cannot do jazz improv too effectively in a confidence game. In this film, after reflection, you will see my point. In an effort to achieve naturalism, there are many events involving both Angela, or Roy, that seem spontaneous and unplanned, and yet, the director would have you believe that they WERE planned. How is this possible, you ask? Only in the mind of a screenwriter. Real life never works this way.
Rating:
Summary: really incredible
Review: nicholas cage is at his best. and wow, the girl, is pretty good too. at first i thought that it would be similar to AS GOOD AS IT GETS (obsessive compulive man finds himself through personal relationships), but it turned out to be truly original and hysterically funny. and the twist at the end is priceless.
Rating:
Summary: Best Cage film since 'Leaving Las Vegas'
Review: This movie was fantastic. The cast was superb, and Nic Cage dishes out the performace of a lifetime. Quick, witty, and intelligent, it comes as no surprise that the ending is, well, a twisted surprise. One of the must-see films of 2003.
Rating: 
Summary: Great performances - bad aftertaste.
Review: First of all, my "experience" with Matchstick Men is largely colored by the fact that I had the ending figured out a full hour and a half, at least, before it came. Knowing it was coming took all the joy out of watching the scenes that were most likely touching for everyone else. I can't elaborate without "spoiling" it for you - if that's the right word. I guess it would be better to let the film spoil itself for you. Don't get me wrong. The film was worth my time, for the performances especially. However, no matter what anyone says, this film is not original. It has been done time and time again. This is just a meaner version. The quirks of Nicholas Cage's character are also unoriginal - watch Monk, starring Tony Sheloub, or As Good As It Gets with Jack Nicholson. In spite of that, I really enjoyed Cage's performance. Sam Rockwell, once again, is a treat every time he's on camera - and Alison Lohman is perfect in her role. I really enjoyed the first hour of this movie - and then when it hit me - what was going to happen - I felt utterly dissappointed. Surely they weren't going to do THAT. But they do - and it stinks. Even a tidy tag on hopeful little ending doesn't completely wash the bad taste out of your mouth. I saw this with my parents and husband - none of which could see IT coming. When the inevitable occurred, each had a look on their face that looked like they had just been slapped by Ridley Scott himself. Congragulations, you've just been conned. If you venture to the theater to see Matchstick Men, don't go with the thought that you're going to see something new or original or satisfying. Instead, go with the attitude that you're about to see a rehash of an old plotline done over again with some fresh and engaging performances. If you enjoy the film for that, you won't leave dissappointed. But if anyone expects this film to take home an Oscar for originality, I must say, you've been sadly deceived.
Rating:
Summary: Very good movie with great characters
Review: Matchstick Men is a very enjoyable movie with excellent characters and an even better story. The story is about Roy, a obsessive compulsive small time conman. Working with his partner Frank, they pull small scams on unsuspecting homeowners. Everything in Roy's life is turned upside down when he meets his 14 year old daughter for the first time. Also, he decides to go back to a big time scam on an acquaintance of Frank's. At some point, Roy realizes he bonds with his daughter best when he is teaching her the tricks of the trade. This is a great movie that has its funny and serious parts meshing them both together. Hans Zimmer gives an excellent musical score reminiscent of Two Mules for Sister Sara as well as some Sinatra songs. While the twist ending may disappoint a little, the movie is still very enjoyable and well worth a watch. Nicolas Cage gives an excellent performance as the obsessive compulsive con man Roy. He twitches throughout the movie as we learn some of the things that send him on a spree. Sam Rockwell is also very good as Roy's partner, Frank, who is really his only friend. Alison Lohman plays Roy's daughter, Angela, while Bruce Altman is Roy's pyschiatrist. The relationships between all these characters is very believable and the overall high point of the movie. Bruce McGill also stars as the man Roy and Frank are targeting for their con. Matchstick Men is a very enjoyable movie that at times will have you laughing and other times feeling other emotions for the characters. Either way, this movie is well worth going to see!
Rating:
Summary: Exceeded all my expectations
Review: I went into this movie not knowing what to expect. I love Nicolas Cage and Sam Rockwell, but also realized the subject matter could easily become stale and uninteresting. I settled in and at the end of the movie I was overwhelmed. This movie succeeds on so many levels. It works as a great comedy, as a wonderful morality play, and as a drama about very bad people doing very bad things. Nicolas Cage is a con artist with a series of neuroses that keep him constantly on medication in order to function. His partner, Sam Rockwell, is a wise-cracking guy who is instantly lovable as Cage's bad-guy sidekick. The movie focuses on Cage and his attempts to reconcile himself with a past wife and child he left when his wife was only 2 months pregnant. He decides to get in touch with his ex-wife to see if he's a father. He finds he has a 14 year old daughter, who steps into his life to try and build a relationship with him. The role of his daughter is played beautifully by Alison Lohman. She's funny, charming, and lovable as a girl who has been searching for someone that didn't just look at her as unwanted baggage. Cage and Lohman have very good chemistry as father and daughter. Their relationship is one of the most charming parts of the movie. To go into the story too much would give it away. And, believe me, to give this movie away before you see it would be a crime. So suffice it to say that it'll surprise you, make you laugh, and make you think all at the same time. The last scene, in my opinion, makes the whole movie twice as good on its own. It left me with a smile on my face all the way to my car. Take my advice. Watch this movie, but don't let anyone tell you what happens in the story. Find out for yourself. You'll be MUCH happier that you did. And you'll want to sit through the whole thing a 2nd time (I know I plan to).
Rating:
Summary: Not the Sting,but not bad!
Review: Cage is excellent and the supporting cast is quite good. Cage's quirks may be overdone, but that is probably intended. The plot--with its interesting twist--has some inconsistencies, but is fun.
|
