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Rating of
3/4
"Matchstick Men" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 04/05/2012
When an obsessive compulsive con artist discovers he has a teenage daughter he first bonds with her and then starts to teach her some tricks of the trade. A bit of a departure for Ridley Scott, this is more of a people film than the kind of historical epics he has become associated with. An easy going marriage of comedy, heist movie and family drama, Scott handles the shifts in tone with subtlety and never resorts to visual gimmickry. Rockwell and Lohman are solid support and really Cage is the weak link performance wise, as his take on obsessive compulsiveness can hardly be described as subtle although he is decent enough. A little predictable, but it has a couple of nice twists and has the kind of laid back charm that is old fashioned in a good way. Ocean's Eleven on valium.
Rating of
4/4
Cage's best film in at #46.
mdtinney - wrote on 05/29/2009
I was sort of worried about Nicolas Cage after seeing stinkers like 8mm, Snake Eyes, and Con Air. But then he comes along with Adaptation and Matchstick Men. He is FABULOUS in this movie. Just watching him bring the depth of his character to life was a real treat. His ability to pull off his physical and mental quirks without really going over the top was incredible.Sam Rockwell's character added some additional humor and uniqueness. Adding to the fabulous acting was Alison Lohman, who lit up the screen in every scene she was in. My wife told me she was 22 when the movie was filmed. I said "whoever wrote that must be wrong!" Yes, she was indeed 22 and her ability to play a 14-year-old was nothing short of astounding.I really don't want to say much about the plot because it is intricate, …
Rating of
3/4
Splendid Acting
Franz Patrick - wrote on 09/14/2008
Nicolas Cage gives a really entertaining performance as a con artist with obsessive-compulsive disorder who finds out that he has a fourteen-year-old daughter. Eventually, she learns of his true identity and the audience wonder how far it will go. Of course, the film takes a darker turn when one of the con jobs goes terribly wrong. I remember watching this back when it came out on DVD and was completely blown away by the trippy ending. But I think what’s most impressive by watching it the second time was how it gathers momentum prior to the astonishing finish. The only thing that sets this movie back a bit is its seemingly lost beginning. But when it finally found its footing, everything else was consistent and fascinating. Other brilliant perfomances include Sam Rockwell, as Cage’s …
Rating of
3/4
Ending may surprise you
The M.O.W. - wrote on 08/01/2008
"Roy," a con artist, has a lot of problems, most of which is psychological. He is very close to being locked up in a padded room.
While between jobs, he discovers he has a daughter (Alison Lohman) he never knew about, and sets up a meeting with her. He tells her that he is an antiques dealer, but the story quickly falls flat and he is forced to tell her what he actually does for a living, and she wants to learn the family business. He reluctantly agrees, eventually, to show her one, and only one con.
Of the movies I've seen lately, the performances really dragged me into it -- especially Cage, whom I'm not a big fan of. The characters had depth and were well developed. Even the supporting cast were well developed, which is rare. The story itself was well written as well. …
