Cheap Matchstick Men (Widescreen Edition) (DVD) (Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Alison Lohman) (Ridley Scott) Price

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Customer Reviews of Matchstick Men (Widescreen Edition)

First viewing itches, 2nd & 3rd viewings sooth
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.

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Twitchy
For Nicolas Cage fans, MATCHSTICK MEN is a treat diluted only by the knowledge that Cage wasn't even nominated for an Oscar-worthy performance.

Cage is Roy, teamed with partner Frank (Sam Rockwell); both are con artists, or "Matchstick Men". As the film opens, we watch as the two cash in on a scam that enables them to plunder the bank account of an elderly couple.

Roy is also an obsessive-compulsive with phobias for dirt and the outdoors. Without his medication, Roy gets twitchy. One day, he accidentally knocks his pill supply down the kitchen sink. Bad timing, since his psychiatrist drug supplier is out of town. On Frank's advice, Roy visits a new shrink, Dr. Klein (Bruce Altman), to whom he admits a previous marriage abandoned some fourteen years previous when his wife was pregnant. Through Klein's intercession, Roy is put in touch with his teenage daughter, Angela (Alison Lohman), who's always been curious about Old Dad. Indeed, against her Mom's wishes, she appears on Roy's doorstep to spend a long weekend. Roy is alternatively smitten with paternal affection and acute anxiety over the dirt Angela tracks onto his carpet. Klein believes the girl's presence is good therapy.

MATCHSTICK MEN is about scammers and cons, so, by the time the credits roll, you shouldn't be too surprised at the general storyline, which is one oft seen before. What elevates the film is the intensity of Cage's extraordinary performance as the mentally tortured lead. We've watched Nicolas do this previously in LEAVING LAS VEGAS and BRINGING OUT THE DEAD. Cage is apparently not one for whom a role is simply a facade easily sluiced away at the end of the day's shoot. Cage always makes me believe the screen character is himself through to the core, something which either makes the actor one of the most talented in the Biz or a schizo seriously in need of professional help.

The other remarkable performance in this film is that of Lohman. Playing the 14-year old Angela, one is apt to forget, or not believe, that the actress is actually in her mid-twenties. She had me fooled.

MATCHSTICK MEN is perhaps one you'll want to see a second time to locate the key sequence where you yourself were fooled. This is first-rate entertainment.

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Smells like gum
I'm going to say this movie did not keep my interest. It was too slow paced, but the movie did have some interesting scenes, but then return to slow Ville again. I did not consider this movie a comedy, even though there were some scenes that were humorous. I considered the movie more of a drama. I thought Sam Rockwell's character was not as developed as it could have been. You knew he was a con artist, you knew he "acted" concerned for Roy's character, but that's all. Nicholas Cage plays Roy, an obsessive compulsive con artist who teams up with his Partner Fran (Sam Rockwell) to con people out of their money. They mostly go after old people who are so naïve they pretty much GIVE their money without asking any questions. Roy can't stand being outdoors and can't stand unorganized dirty rooms as he makes people take off their shoes before entering his house. He has problems keeping the pills that help him deal with his disorders. When he does not take those pills, his ticks, and behavior gets even worse. There is a scene in the movie after he discovers he does not have his pills he cleans his apartment for what seems like hours on end from top to bottom. He cleans every square inch, and even uses a toothbrush to clean small areas that some people would not even bother cleansing. Roy discovers he has a 14 year old daughter named Angela from a relationship he ended years before. When he ended this relationship she the woman was pregnant with his child. Angela wants to get to know her father. They begin to form a relationship that starts off awkward, but eventually turns affectionate. Angela begs her father to teach her how to con, and he agrees. Yet after he shows her the ropes he makes her return the money. Okay nice turn, but again hypocritical being he never returned money to any of the elderly people he conned.

One con goes horribly wrong, and their lives are threatened by a con they tried to bilk. An interesting twist at the end turns everything around and things which appear to be true, suddenly are not true after all. Before the movie ends the con gets conned, and he tries to rebuild his life. The movie had potential, but it just loses in parts before it builds up again. Nicholas having germphobia and agoraphobia was an interesting touch. I thought watching him be compulsive would be annoying, but it was very intriguing. Sheila Kelley's character, the grocery check-out clerk, had such a limited role she might as well not have been there. I thought Alison Lohman played her role well. She had me convinced she was a young 14 year old teenager with her youthful appearance. The movie is not bad, I just did not like the slow pace of the movie.