Review #44
Images Moviers, 2003
Mov No. 39979
Genre: Comedy Drama
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Staring: Nicholas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Allison Lohman
Oscars: 0 nominations
AFI 100 years, 100 _____ tributes: None
Runtime: 1h 56min
Best quote: "I spent all last week cleaning my carpet, all the while thinking that I should just take a gun and blow my brains out, but I didn't want to because I was worried what it would do to my carpet." - Roy Waller
Roy Waller (Nicholas Cage) is a nuerotic, agorophobic, obsesive-compulsive con artist with several nervous "ticks," who must take medication every day in order to stay sane. This is especially evident as everytime he enters a room through a door or even opens a door, he quickly opens and closes the door counting uno dos trés each time. He also smokes way too much. Ray has trouble leaving his house, he is a neat freak (Danny Tanner on steroids), and his only income is money stolen from unsuspecting people.
Roy, and his partner, Frank (Sam Rockwell), have con'd a great many people in their time. Well, one day Roy learns that he has a 14 year old daughter. Roy leanrs (through a new shrink) that she wants to get to know him. Her name is Angela (Alison Lohman).
Soon, Roy and Angela get to know each other, and they hit it off. Angela even begs Roy to show her a con or two. Meanwhile, Roy and Frank have set up a con: they are going to swap Thousands of British pounds for American dollars, but take all the money.
Angela wants in on the con, and Roy grudginly agrees. Roy, Frank and Angela manage to make the con work, and they make off with all the loot. But the man they swindle realizes what happened, and tracks down Roy and Angela, in the parking lot of the airport where the con took place.
Managing to loose the conee, Roy and Angela take off with the loot, eventually giving it to Frank. At this point, Roy decides that he wants to become a "guardian" to Angela, and have part custody of her. Roy also decides to stop all the con games, for once, and for all.
Upon returning from a night out, Angela and Roy are greated by the man they con'd at the airport. It is at this point that we find out the joke is really on Roy, and not the other way around...
Director Ridley Scott really out did himself with Matchstick Men. This film is a wonder to behold! It is very funny, but doesn't have too much humor that ruins many otherwise great films. Nicholas Cage, as the nuerotic Roy Waller could not have been better except for his earlier Oscar winning Leaving Las Vegas. Lohman, Rockwell, and the rest of the cast are excellent in their roles, which really complement Cage right up untill the very thrilling ending.
There are three basic stories being told in Matchstick Men: Roy's obsessions and phobias; Roy's con artist job, and his newly discovered daughter. Each story unfolds on its own, but all are told evenly and are mashed togther with an incredible harmoney. Even when the stry strays from the actual plot, there is a subplot waiting that is just as good, if not, better!
Plot: 
Wow! What a great story! I can see why Cage bought the movie right even before the book was published!
Visual Effects:
Director Ridley Scott new how to use the right camera angles, the right speeds etc. The visuals are spectacular! Though not "special" effects shots, they are "visual" effects shots... done with camera angles and intercut which give Matchstick Men a hard, modern edge.
Sound:
Most of songs are orchestral, by the likes of Frank Sinatra and other lounge singers, but there are some by Kid Rock, which make the sound track an exceptional mix in choices of the songs.
Character Development: 
Once you see the end of the film, you'll realise the brilliance of the characters in the film, and just how they eveolved into what they become.
Atmosphere:
From the opening shot of Nicholas Cage, you are hooked by his outrageous habbits.
Realism: 
Warren’s Rating:
9.57/10Is the movie worth your time to watch?
02-10-03
