Rating: 
Summary: What You Sow, Also You Reap
Review: Have you ever had a really great prank played on you? No matter how funny the prank actually is, its been played at your expense and so you laugh heartily, but inside you're pretty pissed off? That's how I felt sitting through Ridley Scott's MATCHSTICK MAN. A film that's so good, and yet in the end, goes one step too far.The story stars Nicholas Cage (Adaptation) as Roy Waller, a con-artist with what seems like OCD. He can't help but clean things; he a tad bit crazy that way. His partner in crime is Frank (Sam Rockwell, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind); he's the brawn of the operation to Roy's brains. Frank spends most of the movie setting up people, and Roy goes in for the kill. When Roy runs out of his medication, he goes to a shrink to get some more. Only to face the fact that he wishes he had a relationship with his daughter (Alison Lohman, White Oleander). Eventually the two meet and they strike up a relationship. Pretty soon she's in on some of Roy and Frank's con jobs. MATCHSTICK MEN is a brilliantly conceived movie that refuses to remain at all conventional. Roy and his daughter Angela have this unique and fun relationship. It's great to watch a man fight his quirks for the people he loves. I loved that the moment Angela shows up on Roy's doorstep that his immaculate house is dirtied and yet Roy doesn't seem bothered by it. That's real progress. Nicholas Cage does a fine job as Roy. He walks the thin line between a real person and a cartoon so well, you sometimes forget you're looking at the guy from SNAKE EYES. He plays these larger than life characters with so much vigor you forget he's acting. Cage is best in the small scenes in the Supermarket. There is this beautiful women (Shelia Kelley, Nurse Betty) that Roy really loves. They have this connection with so few words. Like they long to spill their life stories out at each other, but they just say hi to each other and that's almost enough. When Roy finally asks her name it's like a floodgate has open, and he is a man reborn. What bugs me about this film is that I'm not sure about the ending. It's everything I have ever wanted in a movie and yet it left me cold. It's hard to explain why because it would ruin the movie. But I guess it's an important lesson in the fact that "there is no such thing as a free lunch", and "what you sow, must also you reap." Now that I think of it, this film reminds me so much of the outcome of A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. Of course Alex deserved what he got in the end, but don't you feel sorry about it. Roy is not a good person, he's taken advantage of everyone who he's come into contact with, but can loving one person be enough penance for a lifetime of sins? All in all Ridley Scott sets a nice light tone on what otherwise could have been a more standard gritty and dramatic picture. His visual style is really close to Noir without the faded fedoras and the stanch seriousness. It's definitely one of those films that will have a hard time being jammed into just one genre category, and that's okay with me. Why not give MATCHSTICK MEN a look, you may be left scratching your head in the end, but at least it's a compelling ride. **** out of 5
Rating: 
Summary: Oscar Calibre
Review: Fantastic film. Directed by Ridley Scott (Gladiator) starrs Nicolas Cage as Roy, a conman suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder and everything else. His partner Frank (Sam Rockwell) is the complete oppistite and keeps Roy together. Roy discovers he has a 15 year old daughter. He now has to take care of her. Nicolas Cage's performance is fantastic. Cage nominated for an Oscar, and best origianl screenplay nominated for a screenplay. Ebert agrees as he says Cage has earned an Oscar nomination as well as the screenplay. Oscar calibre.
Rating: 
Summary: Con artists.
Review: Okay, it's official: obsessive-compulsive disorder is now a bona-fide cinematic cliche, on par with the mafioso who visits a psychiatrist. In Ridley Scott's new one, *Matchstick Men*, one starts to slump in his stadium-seating as soon as Nicolas Cage opens and closes his door three times in rapid succession, followed by flicking the light switch three times in rapid succession. Later, Cage feverishly vacuums the spotless carpet in his spotless house, displays the standard facial tics, suffers a panic attack or two . . . by which time, the viewer who's seen all this done before (and better) starts to audibly groan. You know a movie has lost you when you start to imagine how Tony Shaloub (TV's *Monk*) would've handled Cage's part. (W.W.S.D.: What Would Shaloub Do?) Hey screenwriters, let's bury the old OCD plot contrivance for a while, shall we? In fact, bury it alongside the Mafia man who sees the shrink. (Of course, this movie combines the two: Cage's character winds up in therapy.) Like most commercial entertainments of late, *Matchstick Men* feels that its criminal hero needs some lovable and/or all-too-human character flaws to endear him to us. It never occurs to the writers that we might enjoy watching a character, particularly a con artist, simply being proficient in his career. Also unavoidable of late is the trick-ending, and *Matchstick Men* provides a doozy. Unfortunately, the logic behind the ending fails to hold up after a few minutes reflection (i.e., you'll pull this turkey apart by the time you get to your car). But it's hard to give this movie just one star, because Scott is such a master of slickness and is so competent with shot composition that one can admire the film on a purely visual basis, even if one can't stomach the lameness of the characters and the plot. Alison Lohman, portraying the foundling teenage daughter who irrupts into Cage's life, also provides moments of interest. But it's not enough. Conned again at the multiplex!
Rating:
Summary: Well acted and slick con artist movie
Review: you won't be thinking about this movie for long but it's an enjoyable ride with excellent acting. you'll probably see some plot twists coming but it's still fun.
Rating: 
Summary: Great performances, sub-par story
Review: Ever since Leaving Las Vegas I have been a big Nicholas Cage fan, and his role in Matchstick Men is so quirky and hilarious that even moviegoers that don't like him will find it hard not to enjoy his performance in the film. I also thought Sam Rockwell did a great job as the more subtle and down-to-earth conman. The story itself managed to be engaging enough to satisfy most any moviegoer, but nevertheless my hopes were high for this movie and I walked away slightly disappointed with the outcome. It manages to be very funny in parts, but the major problem in Matchstick Men was its ending, which did not make a whole lot of sense and had some major holes which I will not spoil by mentioning here. A sloppy ending has been a major problem for movies recently (The Hulk & Matrix Reloaded come to mind), but I do realize that not every movie can have a brilliant ending on par with "The Usual Suspects." Altogether, though, Matchstick Men is worth the price of admission, if nothing else than for the terrific performances.
Rating:
Summary: FACIAL TICKS & TUNA FISH
Review: Directed by Ridley Scott, MATCHSTICK MEN follows Roy (Nicolas Cage), a con artist struggling to control his facial ticks and numerous phobias. Roy has a skill for making a quick buck and has accumulated a little nest egg to show for it. Meanwhile, his partner in crime, Frank (Sam Rockwell), appears to be along for the fun ride. After Roy runs out of his medicine that he was getting illegally, he visits a new psychiatrist who insists on enacting in some talk therapy before dispensing the pills. During the appointment, Roy uncovers that one of his problems lies in his past in which he had a failed marriage and had a daughter that he's never seen. He's urged to meet his daughter, Angela, by his psychiatrist and when he does, she turns his world upside down. Soon enough Angela (Alison Lohman) becomes an accomplice in Roy's schemes and his world is never the same. MATCHSTICK MEN is brilliantly acted and superbly written. Nicolas Cage proves once again that his acting talent is phenomenal. His character evolves as his endearment for his estranged daughter grows. Angela Lohman also does a fine job portraying Cage's daughter and has proven to be a rising talent in Hollywood. Don't wait until DVD; MATCHSTICK MEN is better viewed on the big screen.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Years Best Films!
Review: Nic Cage and Sam Rockwell are excellent and both deserve Oscar Nominations. Alison Lohman who is really over 22 in real life is great and believable as the innocent 14 year old daughter of Nic's character. This movie is done in the same light tone as "Catch Me If You Can," the only difference being that it is way better. The only small problem I have with the movie is the cheesy tacked on ending that follows the words..ONE YEAR LATER. I would actually suggest leaving the theater instead of watching the last 10 mins. The original ending ends on a depressing but realistic note following a series of plot twists, which was great for me. The tacked on ending is too sappy and detracts from realism of the characters we have gotten to know over the past 2 hours. Basically the ending was too "hollywood" for me and the other people I saw it with. But we all agreed, ending aside, this is one of the best and funniest films of the year. Let the Oscar nods roll.
Rating:
Summary: Very Enjoyable Movie
Review: I wanted to see Matchstick Men because 1) I'm a fan of Nicolas Cage's and 2)I like movies about con artists. The movie doesn't disappoint--it's involving all the way through and Cage gives a great performance as does Alison Lohman. The con game aspects are fun to watch, but the movie has a lot more going for it. I was actually surprised by how good the movie was--highly recommended!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: The biggest con since 'The Blair Witch Project'. The difference is that 'Blair Witch' was good. With 'Matchstick Men', the audience is treated to excellent acting. Even the story, though a bit jumpy, is good. That is until we reach the last 30 minutes. The movie stoops down to unnecessary violence to give us its big plot twist, gives us another twist, and we are then given the 'One Year Later...' epilogue that does not help the story any-it is as cheesy as cheesy can get. I honestly could not get the movie 'As Good As It Gets' out of my head while watching 'Matchstick Men'. Then when thinking about how I should rate this movie, 'Heartbreakers' came to mind. Nicholas Cage channels Jack Nicholson quite well, and I am grateful that I did not have to put up with the semi-talented Jennifer Love Hewitt again. Unfortunately, great acting and a good concept do not make a movie work. Next time, they need to develop beyond the concept.
Rating:
Summary: Matchstick Men
Review: I watched this movie today and must say it is a 21st century morality play, with a twist. Any more information will only spoil the plot.
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