Matchstick Men (2003)

Great movie until that horrible twist

This is one of those movies that needed to just play it straight. The acting was great and the concept, sans twist, was great. But this movie, like many others, tried to be too clever for its own good. Granted this movie came out before M Night Shamalambadingdong was appointed his Hack status, but in general movie creators need to take him as an example when making movies. You dont have to put twist in everything. Sometimes just let the drama play. Let the movie be about characters and interactions, don't be too plotty. Because after a while you get potty. August 9, 2008

Good acting, but predictable

I appreciated Nicolas Cage's acting in this more than most of his other movies. I figured out the ending of the movie rather early, and was disappointed that there wasn't a more clever twist. I would not consider this a comedy. I gave it 2 stars because I did like the acting, but I would not want to watch this movie a second time, I found it trite. September 22, 2007

Stunning drama and twist ending thriller. Underated film.

Well, I rented the movie to see how Nicholas cage potrays con man as he looks innocent and sincere guy in his appearance.After seeing the film, I was just thrilled and surprised this didn't touch oscars. Nicholas plays a con guy who misleads people by tactful stealing, selling water filters promising fake gift certificates and non-existent shows. He make hell of money which he keeps in his bank locker. His protege is Sam Rockwell, a foul mouthed guy. Cage suffers from Panic attacks, Agoraphobia, OCD and his rituals involve cleaning, Counting 3 when closing and opening doors and also Trouttes syndrome. He takes treatment from a cocky psychiatrist. All of sudden his 14yr daughter brilliantly done by Lohman appears in his lonely life and he loves her though he starts of rather ackwardly.The father daughter relationship is so heartening and cute to watch. Cage teaches his daughter his con tricks and she gets involved in a big cheating episode. The melo-drama movie ends thrilling all of us. No spoilers here !
Nicholas cage does very complex roles of being a con-man, father/daughter relationship and his Anxiety disorder with unbelievable ease. The film could have been easily spoiled and unrealistic but for his acting. He deserves Oscar for this. The ending finds his calm and mature man conquering his inner devils. Lohman is 25yrs old and it is unbelievable how she potrayed a 14yr old. She just looks like 14yr old unless we see her in the end of the movie where she is transformed. I wondered if it was a special effect ! She acts with effortless ease displaying teenage emotions of naughtiness, innocence, affection and bickering. A treat to watch her.
Entire plot is gripping with new plot starting every 15 minutes. Did I say it is drama movie which ends as a twist ending thriller ? An underated movie worth seeing ! September 1, 2007

GREAT MOVIE!!

Matchstick Men was a great movie! It takes a lot for me to say great things about a movie...so if I liked it...it is worth it. Just when you think you have it figured out it blows your mind....I highly recommend. July 13, 2007

Matchstick Men Has A Great Twist Ending...

Matchstick Men is a widescreen DVD adapted from the Eric Garcia novel of the same name. The movie stars Nicolas Cage and his close friend Sam Rockwell, and introduces audiences to Alison Lohman. The disc also includes some nice extras, such as Tricks of the Trade: Making Matchstick Men.

A glance at early scenes reveals Roy Waller (Cage) as a conman with OCD. He's partnered with Frank (Rockwell) -- both pose as FBI to solicit account numbers and signatures to drain their marks. Franks adverse reaction to pills nearly sinks them. Frank also visits the supermarket to see Kathy (Kelley.)

The routine Roy follows is disrupted when his medication falls down the drain at the kitchen sink and his condition confines him to the house. His source for the pills has also fled town; he needs a new shrink to write prescriptions. This is how we meet Dr. Harris Klein (Altman.)

Caught in the plight of talking to Klein to score pills, Roy reveals details of an old marriage -- and that he may have a child he's never seen. The good doctor intervenes, and after some phone calls he arranges a meeting between twelve year old daughter Angela (Lohman) and Roy.

His first meeting with the girl clicks, but she ruins a flimflam when she materializes on Roy's doorstep. He claims he's an antiques dealer, but leaving her alone in his house allows snooping (bundled cash, guns!) that uncovers lies. Frank and Roy also ensnare Chuck Frechette (McGill) at the Spearmint Rhino.

Some of the outstanding scenes in Matchstick Men occur only after Angela and Roy get into an argument, and she persuades him to teach her a con. He explains the system of the con this way: 1. Never work near where you live, 2. Don't write anything down, and 3. Be flexible.

The father and daughter pull off the con effortlessly, after visiting a convenience store (for a lottery ticket) and the laundromat to find a mark. There they run into a Little Old Lady (Grant) whom Angela quickly convinces to split the proceeds with because she's technically too young to gamble legally.

In case you're worried, Roy makes his daughter return the money. The next several chapters find Frank and Roy trying to finalize a currency conversion scam they've plotted against strip-club owner Chuck. Roy also discovers that having a daughter has made him more attractive to Kathy, the sexy supermarket checkout woman.

Crafty or not, when Roy rips Chuck off at the airport (using Angela as a distraction) things turn dicey. A dangerous chase through the parking garage ensues. Unfortunately, Angela was captured on CCTV in the bar; Roy also discovers her juvenile record after quizzing. Scared, Roy dumps Angela at her mother's.

Klein comes into play again when Roy suffers another harrying OCD attack, and he's run out of pills. Since Klein is out of the office on weekends, Roy makes a mad dash to the DeSoto Pharmacy looking for Prefex tablets. The altercation with the pharmacists is one pinnacle of this DVD.

Most of the cons pulled by Roy are safe, but after he's scammed Chuck out of $[...], Chuck turns up in Roy's tidy living room with a pistol pointed at Angela and Roy, and a bloodied, beaten Frank in tow. When a gun goes off, it's unbelievable who pulls the trigger.

Essentially what happens next is that Chuck gets shot -- by Angela. Roy protects her by putting her in a car headed to her mother's, driven by Frank, with instructions for Frank to never return, because he intends to drive Chuck to the hospital and take the rap for the shooting.

Now that you've heard about this heartwarming film with a wonderfully human twist ending, I hope you buy, rent or seek it out. Matchstick Men has proved to be one of Cage's more underappreciated efforts -- that's unfair since the emotion and the storytelling were so obviously clear. This DVD was really entertaining! June 11, 2007

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