Rating: 
Summary: Dont Read Any Reviews
Review: People are saying TOO MUCH about this movie in their reviews. Watching the film will be more enjoyable the less you hear about it before viewing. But if you must read a review, here is mine (free of spoilers):Matchstick Men is one of the safest films to recommend in years. While many people won't love it, almost everyone will enjoy it. It is often funny, sometimes charming and always interesting. Nicolas Cage plays a conman. Much like in The Sopranos, his life is sorted into three areas: criminal activity, family and therapy. What makes this film different than most flim-flam films is that a film about Cage's character would be fascinating regardless of his profession. He is obsessive compulsive, neurotic, depressed, unstable, etc. Cage has the misfortune of following Jack Nicholson's turn as a similarly afflicted person in As Good As it Gets. In his turn, Cage is no less convincing and brings a degree of humanity to the character that was missing from Jack's abrasive writer. I won't speak much about the plot of the film, but will only say his three worlds (job, family, therapy) constantly intersect and come together in a very satisfying ending. The film has the look of a nice Armani suit and is often accompanied by the smooth sounds of Sinatra. Not to be missed is an Oscar-worthy supporting performance by Sam Rockwell as Cage's understudy. Also featured on the DVD is a great commentary track by director Ridley Scott and writer Nicolas Griffin. It is one of the most honest and forthcoming tracks I have ever heard. They really do a fine job explaining the nuances of the script and give away a lot of reasons for decisions they made that many other artists would have kept secret.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoy this comedy with heart.
Review: Matchstick Men, directed by Ridley Scott, is an entertaining comedy/drama about a couple of con-men Roy (a brilliant Nicolas Cage), who happens to suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder and his partner Frank (Sam Rockwell). These guys are professionals and it's very interesting to watch them wheeling and dealing. Roy's life get's really complicated when after seeing a shrink he seeks to get to know his daughter Angela (Alison Lohman), who starts to show a real interest in following his father's footsteps. Matchstick Men is extremely well written and is a very good film. Cage does a wonderful job of playing Roy, his idiosincracies, whilst sometimes cringeworthy, are a joy to watch. His interactions with Angela are very touching and it's interesting to watch him dealing with the sort of issues that arise when fatherhood is thrust upon you. Ridley Scott's direction is great as per usual, (Hanniball was rubbish though), and it's good to see him doing a quirky one like this. He is certainly one of the greatest directors of the modern era, anyone who has Alien, Gladiator and Blade Runner on his resume is doing alright in my book! This film has some twists and turns that I won't reveal here, the less you know about them the better you'll enjoy this one. Thanks for reading.
Rating:
Summary: Can you say Drama?
Review: There is much drama present here and some excellent acting. This movie has a message in the end that could have gone another way. As always, realism is always an issue with these types of motion pictures, but I can dig those "twists" that seem to get dished out more and more from the movie makers.
It won't keep you on the edge of your chair, but it should keep your interest.
Rating: 
Summary: Another weekend, another Nicholas Cage movie
Review: Ridley scott is a brilliant director and Nicholas Cage has a firm grasp on the art of acting. Unfortunately even all that skill and heart can't save Matchstick Men. First of all it about conmen, so right from the get go its oh ready riddled with cliches. Cage plays a conman who finds his heart after he realizes he has a daughter, so he has an epiphany. Despite the contrived plot Cage brings real charisma to the role, picking up where he left off with Adaptation. The movie sucks but Cage makes it worth seeing.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent character story
Review: One of Nicholas Cage's best performances, this oddly titled movie with an unattractive premise surprises and delights. Nicholas Cage plays a middle-aged conman who just happens to be neurotic, and while at first glance this appears a rather boring premise, the film itself is well-written, directed, and acted. While it seems at first that this movie is about a con job, the attentive viewer quickly understands what it's really about: Roy, the main character of this tale. So while this movie does tell the story of a con job, in the end, that's just a tale within a tale. There's depth here, and despite an "art film" appearance, this is actually a touching and powerful story. I'm carefully choosing my words throughout this review so as not to give away what happens, but suffice to say, by the end, I was in turn laughing, sitting in stunned silence, and grinning from ear to ear. If "Matchstick Men" has any flaw, it's the artsy surface. It adds flavor, but it also adds distance. The story is so well told that this distance is traversed excellently by the time you reach the perfect ending, however, and the overall sacrifice (keeping us a little detached in favor of making the film feel unique and decidedly uncommercial) is, in my opinion, worthwhile. And as much distance as the art film appearance gives, the effect is most profound only at the beginning of the movie, and the power of the story thoroughly takes over by the end. I highly recommend this movie to anyone looking for a film with depth, feeling, and a unique appearance. If you're looking for a commercial, typical Hollywood-style con movie, this may not be the film for you--but even then, if you brave out the first half hour, you'll find yourself surprised and pleased by the time you reach the end. Five of five stars.
Rating:
Summary: An Enjoyable Grifter Flick - Nicholas Cage Excels!
Review: Ridley Scott's "Matchstick Men" is an extremely clever film with unexpected twists and a wonderful performance by Nicholas Cage which compensates for some of the holes in the plot. Roy Waller, our hero, played by Cage, is riddled with neuroses. He is a recovering alcoholic, agoraphobic chainsmoker, somewhat disabled by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and panic attacks, which cause repetitive behavior and a multitude of ticks, especially when he fails to take his medication. He is also a successful grifter, a gifted and innovative con man. "Matchstick Man" is slang for con artist. His partner and protege, Frank Mercer, (Sam Rockwell), cares for Roy almost like a brother. The two share a close friendship and a long association. Frank wants his mentor to pull himself together so they can conduct a major scam and make some big bucks. Frank persuades Roy to see a psychiatrist, (Bruce Altman), who wants him to confront his past and encourages him to get to know the daughter he has never met. Enter adorable adolescent daughter Angela, (Alison Lohman), who lives with Roy's ex-wife and charms her newly found dad to open himself up to the first meaningful emotional attachment he may have ever had. She begins to upset his obsessively controlled, organized world. Angela, awed by her father's chosen profession, surprisingly persuades him to give her a shot at being a con-child. She's quite good at it too - a regular chip off the old block. While father-daughter relationship is developing, Frank is putting together the scam of a lifetime with an easy, very wealthy mark. Roy, with newly found parental scruples, has qualms about pulling it off. This is where the action really begins and the plot twists and turns, so I won't continue as I don't want to spoil the film for potential viewers. Except for some terrific acting, this is not a major film but it is good entertainment. Filled with dark humor, the movie is funny at times, sometimes moving, with a few real surprises. The plot has its predictable moments and Angela's character gets tiresome as she continually gets her way through repetitive childish tantrums, whining and pouting. The Frank Sinatra soundtrack wonderfully sets a 1950s milieu. There's an awful epilogue that Director Scott should have excluded. I do recommend seeing this because there are many more good moments than bad ones - and watching Nicholas Cage is well worth the price of admission or rental. ENJOY!
JANA
Rating: 
Summary: Predictable (Spoiler Included)
Review: The acting was somewhat good. However, the acting by the "daughter" in the movie was so poor and overly done that it became obvious that maybe there was a reason she was over acting. Right when that thought struck me about halfway through the movie it hit me that old Nick Cage's character as a conman was being conned himself...That pretty much ruined the rest of the movie for me. I figured if I can see through (...) how can this master conman not. There are far better movies in the conman genre.
Rating: 
Summary: I rented this thinking it would be a good movie........
Review: If it wasn't for Sam Rockwell's performance this movie would be receiving negative marks from me right now. It was slow and uninteresting. An hour into the movie and I was still waiting for it to start. The plot was predictable and the end anticlimactic. I never liked Nick Cages character so I could never relate to the film. I would not recommend this to anyone. If you want to see a great movie in the same genre, rent The Grifters.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!!!
Review: It started off a little slowly, but when it picked up speed, it was fabulous!!!!!
I loved the near-ending....the big twist, when the plot unfolds!!! You've got to see it...it's one of Nicolas Cage's best!!!
Rating:
Summary: An one-man show that falls somewhat short...
Review: Had the Matchstick Men had a more plausible script it would've been simply great. Problem is, it doesn't have it.
This is a theme explored several times in the past in film (most notably "The Sting", "Thieves" and the brilliant "House of games") and it's one that always provides an exciting vehicle for a director and scriptwriter as it portrays the small scale intelligence wars going on every day in our societies. In "Matchstick Men", N.Cage and his partner have a nice lil scheme going on, mostly ripping off people through telephone sale scams (but not only), a scheme that works like a dandy mostly because the 2 con artists are at the top of their game after years of practice and because of some well nurtured talent they both possess in acting out their bogus schemes. Cage is a show in its own to watch as he plays a character who's extremely obsessive/compulsive and who's got a massive repertoire of facial ticks to burden him as well. It's a return to good performances for Cage who has appeared in a few not too memorable flicks recently, but here he simply shines. The plot follows these 2 as they pull off their frauds, until things take a very twisty turn. What that is i'd rather not describe since it would totally spoil the film for those who haven't seen it (much like describing the catch of the "Usual suspects") but the problem lies exactly in that twist. In order for the film to have been flawless it was essential that its twist is believable, well thought-out and carefully presented. Instead, the catch of the film has many flaws, or rather premises which are seriously stretched and which recquire from you to ignore their inplausibility in order for the film to "do it" for you. I, for one, could't ignore those stretches and thus it was a mixed affair for me, but even so, "Matchstick Men" still remains a very good film. Aside from Cage's often hilarious but tragic as well character, the rest of the characters have a distinct second seat to him, but this is a film set for an one-man show and that what it essentially is. The directing, as expected from someone in Riddley Scott's caliber, is great and the overall pace doesn't let down as it keeps you watching knowing that something is building up. It's a pity really for the scriptwritting shortcomings because there was potential for a truly great film here. For those who like films of this line i recommend the "House of Games" from the end of the 80s..
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