Matchstick Men (Widescreen Edition)

Rating:
Summary: 2 1/2 stars "lie cheat steal rinse repeat"
Review: I first must say how thoroughly disappointed I was with "Matchstick Men". It could've been great; with Ridley Scott (!!!) directing and Nicolas Cage, Same Rockwell, and Alison Lohman starring in a film about the always-entertaining topic of crime, "What could possibly go wrong?" I thought. A lot.

Ridley Scott is an amazing director, yes; he directed my favorite movie of all time, "Gladiator". However, when it comes to movies about humans plus a relatively wordy script, minus high-voltage special effects and sets, Scott seems absolutely at a loss. His clumsy, impersonal direction never lets us truly identify with the characters or their plight. And maybe that's not such a bad thing since these flimsy, paper-thin characters adapted from Eric Garcia's novel by Nicholas and Ted Griffin are hardly worth getting to know.

It is through no fault of the actors, though. Cage, who is, for me, the sole reason to watch this movie, is delightful, funny, and charming as an obsessive-compulsive con man whose relentless housecleaning is put to a rest only by his reunion with his long-lost teenage daughter (Lohman). I really enjoyed watching Cage throw himself into this role and truly become his character. Cage provides "Matchstick Men" with some much-needed humor and a bit of spark that is surprisingly lacking for a Scott-directed crime-caper that, in the end, commits the ultimate crime of being boring.


Rating:
Summary: Nicolas Cage one of the best actor in this business
Review: You have to watch this movie,I never get tired watching this movie,this kind of film remains me of the argentinian movie "9 queens" they are in the same category,excellent work.

Rating:
Summary: Comedy of the Year!
Review: This film was the most fun film of 2003. Matchstick Men is a great con movie that doesn't forget about the characters. Nicolas Cage has learned to pick good roles for himself playing a small time crook with obsessive-compulsive disorder that has just learned that he has a daughter. Cage plays a con man so well with the help of his sidekick (Sam Rockwell), and his relationship with his newly discovered daughter is simply a joy to behold. Once he begins to mix work with family, a great movie is the result. Ridley Scott has directed a classic film here, and put together much more than simply a series of cons. He has created a fantastic film that was unrecognized in the Oscar contention simply because of its early release date.

Rating:
Summary: Matchstick Men (2003)
Review: Matchstick Men was probably the best movie that I had seen all year. I didn't find one part of it boring at all and found myself on the edge of my seat for a while. The ending had such a twist, I was confused for a while, then everything made sense. I rented this movie as soon as it came out and then bought it, its definitely worth watching again.

Rating:
Summary: Con film with twists helps Cage shine
Review: This film is a clever story of a con-man turning straight. It starts off a bit slow as it develops the main character, played by Nicholas Cage. He is suffering from tics and OCD, and after his doctor leaves town he has to find a new shrink to get him meds, which provides a key link in the directions the plot takes. As the movie gets into gear it mixes comedy, drama, and suspense, with a somewhat anti-climactic ending. This was a great role for Cage, as he gets to play the neurotic con-man transforming into empathetic father figure. The supporting cast turn in fine performances and this film works well even though some may find the ending disappointing.

Rating:
Summary: Good film, lukewarm ending
Review: I was totally digging this film until the very end. It was well written and well directed (I mean, it's Ridley Scott, he's terrific). Nicholas Cage excells at playing neurotic, oddball characters like OCD-inflicted con-artist Roy, Alison Lohman was adorable and conniving as Angela, and Sam Rockwell was charming and smarmy as Roy's partner-in-crime. The relationship between Roy and Angela was endearing and interesting, and although the "twists" in the film's plot were really no surprise, they still worked pretty well. I just didn't buy Roy's compete moral 180 at the end of the film. I just don't think a person who's spent his life getting rich on the wrong side of the law would really be willing to give it all up for the life Roy chooses at the end of the film.

But who knows? Maybe I'm just cynical.

Rating:
Summary: SUCH a good movie!
Review: Nicholas Cage plays Roy, a quirky con man struggling with OCD, whose life is turned upside down by the sudden arrival of Angela (Alison Lohman), who claims to be his 14-year-old daughter that he didn't even know existed. When Angela takes an interest in her father's profession, Roy allows her to take part in a job that he's running with his parner (Sam Rockwell). The tables are quickly turned and it becomes unclear who's conning who in this fast-pace "dramedy" that will keep the audience guessing until the very end.

Rating:
Summary: Much better than the critics gave it credit for..much better
Review: After watching the critics carve this movie to shreds, I decided to wait until it came out on DVD. I am kind of sad that I did, because I missed a great movie - until now. The "twist" in the movie totally blew me away. There was no hint or clue that this was going to happen. I won't tell you the "twist" because I don't want to ruin it for you if you haven't seen it, but it's a doosy!! But I will tell you, the "twist" is of the magnitude of Sixth Sense - a total movie maker!

The characters were nicely developed and Cage did a great job playing an OCD criminal. Lohan was extremely convincing as his new-found daughter and Cage's sidekick was certainly comical! The story is strong and production value is very high. The director gets my "hats off" award for this sleeper.

Rent it or buy it! You'll be a winner either way!

Rating:
Summary: A Sleeper From Leftfield
Review: "Matchstick Men" is a film that you think you've got a beat on but takes twists that are clever and make for an ultimately satisfying experience. The movie introduces us to Roy, a con artist with OCD. Your first thought is, "uh-oh we're in "Monk" territory". Then Roy's long lost daughter is introduced into his life and Roy starts to re-evaluate the choices he has made in light of him now being a responsible father. Just when you thought you've got the rhythms of this movie down twists straight of a David Mamet thriller are thrown into the mix. Nicolas Cage is superb as Roy and Alison Lohman is his equal as Angela, his long-lost daughter. Kudos also have to be given to director Ridley Scott here. Scott is known primarily as a director of big-budget epics and sci-fi thrillers("Thelma and Louise" not withstanding). It's refreshing to see him succeed in another genre, whatever genre you could categorize this film as.