Rating: 
Summary: Good Story, Great Special Features
Review: The film succeeds with me because rarely do I go back for a second viewing (luckily, the rental was for five days). This time I did and better appreciated the twists, turns, and subtextual cues and clues. However, I'm really bothering to write now to sing the praises of the special features section. There is a 71 minute documentary of the pre-production, production, and post-production phases of the film. I'm not now nor ever have been a formal film student, but I can't help but think that the extra contents of this DVD would be invaluable to any neophype. It was fascinating to me and I have only a casual interest in what goes on behind the camera. The commentary by Director Ridley Scott in the voice-over rendition of the film is also informative and frankly rather entertaining. The man does know his craft and his concentration on whatever aspect of the process he is talking about is somewhat riveting. If you seek a near total orientation into the film-making process I highly recommend these sections of the special features.
Rating: 
Summary: They should have struck the match !!
Review: What a waste! Nicolas Cage stars as a neurotic, OCD-affected conman who ends up finding a "lost" offspring while working with his conman partner. While I won't give away the ending, suffice it to say that Nicolas gets "burned".Along the way, he befriends his 15-year old daughter he never knew he had, but neither draw the viewer in to any great extent, and you end up asking ... "Who cares??" Special Features?? I never became interested enough to check them out! What a "yawner"... save your time... and money!
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining Film
Review: Superb acting by the cast--Nicholas Cage played a great con-man with obsessive-compulsive tendencies, Sam Rockwell was the sleazy stereotypical con-man, and Alison Lohman played Cage's long-lost daughter perfectly. The movie felt very "California" with the lights, and the cinematography. Ridley Scott proved that he is a versatile director in this movie.
Rating:
Summary: First viewing itches, 2nd & 3rd viewings sooth
Review: I bought Matchstick Men without having read the book, but I saw positive reviews, had seen and liked the trailer, and of course, knew that Ridley Scott directed. Well, I have to say, I was really engrossed for most of the film, but then the movie takes a turn that felt weird, and at the end I wished I had not seen it alone, so that I could instantly seek another viewer's opinion. I admit that I had trouble with the twists, because I think this movie works well without them, so to me they only got in the way. And unfortunately for you, it's difficult for me to point out the film's shortcomings (due to these twists) without revealing too much; so bare with me as skate the thin ice. The back of the DVD case explains this movie fairly accurately, and the movie's concept of slick con artist Roy (Nicholas Cage) and his partner Frank (Sam Rockwell), Roy's ticks and phobias, his discovering his long-lost daughter Angela (Alison Lohman), the subsequent complexity of Roy realising he is a father, should already make for interesting viewing for 116 minutes, wouldn't you say? So why add these twists?? Even the film's writer (see DVD extras) admits to having been annoyed by the book the movie is adapted from, and says his first draft re-write was a version with no twist, because he felt it was more satisfying to the reader/viewer. Sadly, his draft did not make the cut. At least I was not alone in my frustration. Most movies can be divided into 3 acts. And these movies often thrive in the first two, but struggle in the third act. Matchstick Men on the other hand has 4 acts. The first three here are strong, and are played straight, meaning that you are never given any hints or clues suggesting a potential twist (though, again, these scenes with clues did exist, but were cut from the film). At 90 minutes in - which is about the time when most movies are either already over or wrapping things up - we are presented with a new idea - this twist - but at this stage, we as an audience, have already invested so much into the characters, it's hard to willingly see them in a totally different light. Let me also say, that it's never very clear as to what genre movie Matchstick Men wants to be. Is it a comedy? Is it a character study? Is it a drama? In fact, you can't even look to the film-makers for answers, because not even they can agree on the style of film they were aiming for. Again, this all comes out in the excellent extras. You can really count on getting great honest insight in the DVD extras of a Ridley Scott film. And check out the commentary with Scott, and the two writers (Nicholas & Ted Griffin). Once you hear Scott's commentary, soooo much of the confusion and anger towards the 4th act goes away, and you suddenly learn to appreciate the film more. Enough to almost warrant 4 stars again. But to me, the movie has to get me the first time through. And that's why I just can't rate it higher. The acting is all-around really good, especially up-and-comer Alison Lohman. The music is by 7-time Ridley Scott collaborator Hans Zimmer, and I even had issues with the score, but that too is addressed in the special features section. Don't think that I didn't like this film because of the 3 star rating. I just feel that this movie wimped out by thinking it had to do a 360° to keep my interest. It's true that it works best at repeat viewings, and all the actors are great too, I just think it's strange that the overall enjoyment of the film requires the understanding of the back story that only the director himself provides in the DVD commentary. It's a plus point for the DVD, but not for someone who saw it at the cinema or plans to rent it for a quick thrill.
Rating:
Summary: Why Matchstick Men is better than you think
Review: For those of you who fault this flick for gaps in its plot, all I can say is, watch it again. And please remember this: 1) Nick Cage's character not only suffers from a severely debilitating neurochemical disorder, but he has also lived for years as a recluse. He lives entirely inside his own head, with no reference point to gauge reality.
2) He's deprived of his meds, and can't function at all without them.
3) His partner, who appears to have worked with him for a long time, knows all this.
4) Much of the con is improvised, and the film tells you so, when Cage explains to Lohman, "...ninety percent of it is variable...you gotta be flexible, prepared to roll with anything...the one thing you can control, though, is who your mark is." If you watch closely, you'll notice MM's biggest trick isn't played on Cage, it's played on you. There are a handful of shots (some obvious, some not) in which the perspective jumps from a dispassionate narrator-i.e., the cold eye of the camera-to Nick Cage's OCD-addled point of view. This occasional jumping between the camera's eye and Cage's is the key to Matchstick Men. Because it solves the problem of the plot. The film is saying that the con might not work on you, but it would work on poor Nick Cage. He's not an accomplished con man unravelling before your eyes; he's already unravelled, long ago, but because there's no one in his life to tell him, he's the only one who doesn't know it. Because it mirrors the giant subtext of the film-the interplay of the coldness of facts, the shock of disbelief, and the deep need to believe, even in the face of contradiction. It's the only con artist film that has ever dared to stay with the sucker, and the only one in which the sucker transcends the con. Look at the film's last five minutes again; they're freaking electrifying. Listen to the last words Cage and Lohman exchange, and think about what they represent, what they mean and what they don't mean. It's the best closing dialogue any film has had in years. If you pick up on the jawdropping depth of Cage telling Lohman "I gave it to you...I see things differently now," you'll be light years ahead of the crowds clamoring to see the brutally literal Passion of The Christ and the desperately naive fantasy of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, looking for a reason to believe. Cage's character gives you a real reason, one that can survive the cold, hard facts of life without ignoring them. It's the central con of Matchstick Men: in the end, the film isn't about the double cross, it's about the pitfalls and power of belief. It's what makes Matchstick Men a great film, rising high above the parlor tricks of Memento, the schoolyard fibs of The Usual Suspects, and even the unassailably first-rate plot twists of The Sting. Need more proof that MM is trafficking in themes far beyond who's the cleverest con of all? Check out the some of the smaller-scale hints. Look at the monstrously obvious truths and ironies hiding in plain sight in the character names: Roy ("king"), Frank, and Angela. And what about all the riffs on Roy's primary verbal tic ("one two three")? They're all over the film, from the very first words spoken in MM, to the number of women who invade Roy's consciousness, to the number of times the laundromat woman clicks coins in the washer before taking the bait. One, two, three... Oh, and one more thing-Ridley Scott's made this film before. It's called Blade Runner. Check out Decker's lurid world, his professional confidence, isolation, blurred perspective, and the (essentially) religious revelations closing out that scifi flick, and you'll see eerie parallels between Cage and Harrison Ford, and even Lohman and Sean Young. Mindblowing, brainbending, great, great stuff. Get this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Good Grift, but Fails on Other Counts.
Review: Roy (Nicholas Cage) is an obsessive-compulsive con man who functions remarkably well when he's bilking victims out of their hard-earned cash, but is a complete wreck in his personal life. Frank (Sam Rockwell) is Roy's partner and protégé in a complicated phone scam business. Desperate for medication, Roy visits a psychiatrist (Bruce Altman) who encourages him to seek out the child he never knew from his previous marriage. But Roy finds that he's gotten more than he bargained for when his long lost 14-year-old daughter, Angela (Alison Lohman) disrupts his ordered life just as Roy is in the middle of a delicate and very lucrative con. "Matchstick Men" was adapted for the screen by Nicholas and Ted Griffin from the novel of the same name by Eric Garcia. Ridley Scott, in a departure from his usual action fare, directs this idiosyncratic "dramedy". The cast is all superb. Nobody does nervous ticks like Nicholas Cage, even though I'm tired of seeing him do them. Part of the trouble with this film comes from some confusion in its tone: It might have been a brooding character study, but director Scott wanted it to be a black comedy. Good call, but the film isn't funny enough to captivate the audience on that level. It doesn't impress as a character study because all of the characters are annoying. That's played for laughs, but doesn't consistently succeed because the film is just so self-absorbed. Black comedy or character study aside -which is where you will find them- "Matchstick Men" is a Grift Movie. And the grift works. It's a good one, and this is where "Matchstick Men" is successful. This is a good-looking film; I like the cinematography and production design. The performances are impressive. But it's a little rough to sit through (The second half is better than the first, so don't give up too soon). It just doesn't come across as it should. I recommend "Matchstick Men" to fans of grift movies and fans of Nic Cage, but I don't think its successes are going to outweigh the tedium for anyone else. The DVD: Bonus features include a making-of documentary entitled "Tricks of the Trade", an audio commentary by director Ridley Scott, screenwriter Nicholas Griffin, and screenwriter/producer Ted Griffin, and a theatrical trailer. "Tricks of the Trade" has three parts: pre-production, production, and post-production, and includes interviews with Ridley Scott, the film's casting director, writers, producers, author Eric Garcia, and Hans Zimmer, who composed the film's score. It follows the making of "Matchstick Men", step-by-step, through all stages of production, which is plodding and tedious, but it gives a realistic picture of the movie-making experience instead of concentrating on eventful highlights. I think the documentary will bore most viewers, but film students might find it educational. The audio commentary is good but a little awkward, because Ridley Scott and the Griffin brothers seem to have taped their contributions at different times. They talk about the genesis of the film and storytelling decisions that were made along the way, but not technical stuff. Ridley Scott's contributions are especially interesting. Subtitles are available in English, French, and Spanish, and dubbing is available in French.
Rating:
Summary: Pedestrian
Review: Shot in a stylish bluish tint that's starting to become less stylish to me, "MM" follows the exploits of a neurotic con man ("Con Arteest" Roy would correct me). Smooth on the job, Roy (Cage) is driving himself crazy with twitches and odd habits. At first these eccentricities amuse, but after a while become somewhat as annoying to the audience as they are to him. Though humorous and quirky at times, the film is lie-laden. And while it may be fun in an empty way to watch Cage, the film loses might whenever Rockwell is off screen. At the end of the day the production sports quality direction, acting, and dialogue; but you may not want to spend your evening watching a handful of lost souls lie to each other. A similar film, "Catch Me if You Can" at least offers some truly warm characters in the mix. (I'm telling you Christopher Walken's performance in that movie rocks!) Btw, though not everybody will, some will find MM's ending rather predictable as I did. Additionally besides a matchbox few of implausibles, you also might not expect a super-clean, take-off-your-shoes-on-my-carpet, kind of guy to also chain smoke.
Rating:
Summary: It was okay
Review: Before watching this movie I heard that a guy named Ridley Scott directed this movie. I usually don't care who a director is for a movie but I thought it was interesting that this guy was also the director for flicks like Gladiator and Black Hawk Down. When I heard this I thought, man this should be a good movie. I has sorta right. Matchstick Man tells a good storyline but the story doesn't hold my interest all the way through the movie and of course a plot twist at the end sorta ruined it. Nicholas Cage is Roy who is a con-artist that has many personal problems. He can't stand outdoors and can't stand unorganized and dirty rooms as he makes people take off their shoes before entering his house. He constantly has trouble keeping with the pills that deal with his personal problems. One day Roy speaks with a doctor about getting another prescription of pills. His original doctor was on vacation so he saw a substitute. As he was talking with his personal life he discovers that he has a daughter named Angela with his ex-girlfriend Heather. Roy is now put in a serious bind as not only is he about to set his biggest score, he is now having to take responsibilities as a father and try to keep her from getting involved in his work. Of course his daughter isn't what you call a saint. She smokes like he does, drinks, and has been arrested for shoplifting despite being a minor. When she find out what he did for a living, she was impressed and does encourage her father to teach her a few things. She does end up involved in her dad's next con with his partner Frank. Of course, the con didn't go as planned as the guy they screwed was hot in pursuit of Roy. The guy even showed up at his house with Frank being helded hostage and in demand with at least half the cut that he owed. His daughter end up accidentlly killing the guy in attempt to defend her father. Now all three of their lives are in jeopardy, but Angela is the only one that Roy is really concerned about. He has frank drive off with her far away and try to hook up on a later day. However, Roy talks to Heather and discovers that when she was pregnant, she had a miscarriage. Roy was hurt and felt betrayed but as he promised Angela during the movie, he does give up cons and works at a furniture store where he mets Angela one year later. Even though he was disappointed with being set up, they do reconcile their differences. Nicholas Cage and the girl who played Angela were the only saving graces of this movie. They worked well together. The movie had a great story but it was hard to stay focused throughout the whole movie as they showed too many scenes of him looking for his medication and making trips to the drug store which I thought was a little unnecessary. It is at least worthy of a rental, then you can draw your own conclusions.
Rating: 
Summary: I was conned into watching this
Review: If he had a daughter he would have been paying some type of child support throughout the years. If he were beginning to see his daughter again he would have made an attempt to see her mother to discuss the matter. If the prescription were as important to him as it was, he would have looked it up to verify what it was so he could try to purchase it illegally. Here was a man who was organized and anal retentive, yet the environment surrounding the con was disjointed and not characteristic of his personality. Here was a man who was financially secure who had no need to place himself in harms way. Yet he not only places himself in harms way but his newly found daughter. That just does not cook. Any con man worth his wait in salt would never allow the con to become unstructured. He was pressured to change the date of the con and forced to change his schedule without a fully thought out solution. This man surely would not have done such a thing. Con man pride themselves on pressuring their marks on making a decision or putting their marks in emotional pressure so they made a rash and non rational decision. This skillful con man would never place him in such a position. What was $80,000 to a millionaire? The problem with the movie is that it is not truly logical, it assumes that you will sit in your chair and allow the story to play out and accept the events unfolding without thinking. Rationally the movie just does not work for me. I liked the characters that were cast perfectly. The filming and direction was flawless, but the story was not believable.
Rating:
Summary: The Other Side Of Ridley Scott.
Review: After directing some of the best Hollywood blockbusters, Gladiator and Blackhawk Down, and having few flops along the way, G.I Jane, and Black Rain, Ridley Scott returns with Matchstick Men to a more intelligent, and much gentler character based movie making,the type of which he has excelled in Thelma and Louise.
I had no expectations about Matchstick Men, and while yet another 'con' movie would not have been a reason to watch it, the names Scott and Cage certainly compelled me to 'check it out' and I am so glad I did, because I can confidently say it is one of the best movies I have seen in the last two years, a film that I liken to a fine glass of wine, taken in few sips, and the after effects will be totally relaxing, and soothing.
The film while at the first glance does not seem to offer a lot, will grow on you unexpectedly and you'll carry it with you long after the credits roll.
And this is because of a fine collaborative effort from an excellent book by Eric Garcia, brilliant screenplay by Nicholas Griffin, a totally involved and sympathetic direction by Scott, and of course a mind blowing acting by Nick Cage, who yet again after Adaptation proves that he is more than capable of pulling off some of the most complex characters in cinema.Alison Lohman too proved more than capable of playing her equally complex character, an actress that has matured very well on screen.
The story of Matchstick Men seems simple enough, a phobic and neurotic Cage with a partner (Sam Rockwell) are small time con artists, who make their living by swindling housewives and lonely gullible men.
His carefully constructed world though will soon collapse with the reappearance of a long lost daughter,who will force him to break the wall he has built around himself, brick by difficult brick,and face emotions and intimacies he thought he was unable to have.
He goes through great personal turmoil in reestablishing his relationship with his 'daughter' who is interested in learning the trick of her dad's trade, while striving in the process to go straight.However, one last big con seems to ruin every hope or plan he had for his and his daughter's future.
Simple enough, until the twist at the end when the final truth is revealed,which came as a complete shock to me!
I loved how the change in Cage came about,how the neurosis which haunted his every move behavior and thought, were slowly undone one by one ,until he finally finds the peace of mind he so longed for.
The cons in my opinion are really trivial to the whole film and do not matter as much as Cage's transformation and realizations.At the end , it did not matter to me who that daughter really was, because she was able directly and indirectly to give Cage the break that he needed to change his life.
The ending was so serene and almost spiritual yet is one of the most powerful scenes I have seen in a while, because it says so much with so little language or explanations.
Matchstick Men therefore is a must see movie, one that will gently affect you by its top acting, writing and a director who can dazzle viewers with big productions but can also engage their minds and hearts with the simplest but most creative style.
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