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Special Features
- "Tricks of the Trade" a three-part, intimate day-to-day account of the filmmaking process with director Ridley Scott
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Marking a welcome return to the breezy style of Thelma & Louise, Ridley Scott's Matchstick Men reminds us that the director of Gladiator is equally adept with quirky comedies and offbeat characters. Smoothly adapted from the novel by Eric Garcia and set amidst the sunlit, 1950s-style architecture of L.A.'s San Fernando Valley, this gently dramatic comedy centers on Roy (Nicolas Cage), a divorcée whose career as a con artist is complicated by: (1) his ongoing struggle with obsessive compulsive disorder, which manifests itself through various quirks and rituals; (2) a wily partner (Sam Rockwell) whose criminal ambitions are greater than Roy suspects; and (3) the arrival of 14-year-old Angela (Alison Lohman), claiming to be the daughter he's never known. Turns out she's got a knack for dad's profession, and that turns Matchstick Men into a multilayered comedy with unexpected twists and surprising revelations. To say more would spoil the fun; suffice it to say that Hans Zimmer's playful score and a Sinatra-laced soundtrack are perfect complements to Cage's engaging eccentricities. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
Obsessive-compulsive con artist Nicolas Cage and partner Sam Rockwell make good livings with slick scams in the Los Angeles area. But when, under his psychiatrist's advice, Cage contacts the 14-year-old daughter (Alison Lohman) he never knew, the precocious teen tries to get to know her quirk-filled dad and take part in his latest scheme, a money-laundering swindle. With Bruce McGill, Bruce Altman; directed by Ridley Scott. 116 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; audio commentary; featurette; theatrical trailer.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's nice to see that Nicolas Cage & Ridley Scott can still make a good film
February 9, 2007
Format:DVD
"Matchstick Men" may not have been a box office success (compare it to the total gross of "National Treasure" [Cage's next film] and "Kingdom of Heaven" [Scott's next film]), but it certainly is one of the better-crafted & better-acted films to be associated with either of these men. I was beginning to wonder if Cage could ever repeat a performance like what he did in "Leaving Las Vegas." While his obsessive-compulsive con-man may not be the disaster along the lines of a suicidal alcoholic, he comes close with the impact he makes on the viewer. This could easily have veered into caricature, but Cage creates a creditable & believable obsessive-compulsive.
Perhaps this could be classified as a comedy, but it has an awfully bittersweet quality to it which makes the movie difficult to categorize with any ease. The characters of Roy & Angela (a very very good performance by Alison Lohman, who is entirely believable as a 14-year-old) are real enough to cause the viewer to have a vested interest in their ultimate fate, as the movie takes numerous twists & turns.
Ridley Scott did quite a good job at crafting a movie that avoids being too obvious, and which flows along nicely, maintaining viewer interest throughout. This was a very satisfying film, through & through...I wish these two guys could make more like this.
Perhaps this could be classified as a comedy, but it has an awfully bittersweet quality to it which makes the movie difficult to categorize with any ease. The characters of Roy & Angela (a very very good performance by Alison Lohman, who is entirely believable as a 14-year-old) are real enough to cause the viewer to have a vested interest in their ultimate fate, as the movie takes numerous twists & turns.
Ridley Scott did quite a good job at crafting a movie that avoids being too obvious, and which flows along nicely, maintaining viewer interest throughout. This was a very satisfying film, through & through...I wish these two guys could make more like this.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Keyser Soze
As one of the best actors of our time Nicolas Cage may have increased his already huge star power with his performance as Roy the "Con Artist" in Matchstick Men. As a divorced con man who left his pregnant wife, Cage gives an unbelievably believable peformance of a struggling soul with a guilty conscience. Facial tics, stuttering, and strange noises when expressing himself through words are executed with frightening realism by Cage as someone tormented by an obsessive compulsive disorder. Playing Roy's foil and partner in crime is Frank played by Sam Rockwell, who turns in a great, if not equal performance. Roy's penchant for cleanliness is challenged by Frank's slovenly behavior and shoot from the hip attitude. This relationship works well as Frank portrays the rough around the edges protege of Roy the mentor. Angela(Allyson Lohman) is Roy's 14-yr. old daughter that he has never known. Until now. In the middle of the biggest score of Roy's life, Angela shows up and begins to pull Roy out of the funk that began 14 years ago. Connecting on a criminal level, son and daughter forge a common bond that is engaging and enjoyable to watch. Cage's obsessive compulsive behavior seems to lessen each time he shares a pizza with Lohman. These characters are truly flawed and represent the human condition in all of its tragic imperfections perfectly. In the end we all may have do something emotionally upsetting to make ends meet in a world revolving around money. With equal amounts of comedy, drama, and suspense; Matchstick Men is a movie that truly has purpose. Discovering the purpose makes for one of the best surprise endings , as well as movies, of the year.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Damian Gunn
Format:DVD
`Matchstick Men' is one of those movies that makes you realize why some actors have support. Up until watching this film I had been a `Cage-Hater', a guy who just couldn't wrap his head around all the critical support (granted, I saw this movie before watching `Adaptation' and since watching that film I've realized this man `can' act, he just chooses not to half the time). Here though Nicolas Cage gave me a brief glimpse of the man that everyone else sees. As con-artist Roy Waller, Cage gives us a brilliant performance.
My main problem with Cage has been his stiff natured acting, the fact that every time he speaks it feels as if he's reading a prompter card, and so I think that the fact that his character here suffers from a severe case of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) helps a lot in that regard since he's supposed to sound stiff and unnatural.
Roy works with fellow con Frank (Sam Rockwell), the young hotshot protégé who has higher ambitions than Roy himself, and this is causing them to butt-heads a bit. The real drama though comes in the form of Angela (Alison Lohman), a young 14-year old who claims to be his daughter. At first Roy's put off and distant, but after Angela shows major interest in her fathers line of `work' they begin to bond by pulling small con-jobs together. Meanwhile Frank is getting more and more agitated with the new bond between father and daughter because it's causing a strain on a big job they have coming up.
Filled with twists and turns and an ending I never saw coming, `Matchstick Men' is the perfect kind of caper. It's got great acting from a cast I never knew had it in them and a great moral message that manifests itself as the film unravels. Alison Lohman is charming and natural and Sam Rockwell is the perfect side-kick, but the real shocker (at least to me) was the mere fact that Nicolas Cage steals the show from everyone!
My main problem with Cage has been his stiff natured acting, the fact that every time he speaks it feels as if he's reading a prompter card, and so I think that the fact that his character here suffers from a severe case of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) helps a lot in that regard since he's supposed to sound stiff and unnatural.
Roy works with fellow con Frank (Sam Rockwell), the young hotshot protégé who has higher ambitions than Roy himself, and this is causing them to butt-heads a bit. The real drama though comes in the form of Angela (Alison Lohman), a young 14-year old who claims to be his daughter. At first Roy's put off and distant, but after Angela shows major interest in her fathers line of `work' they begin to bond by pulling small con-jobs together. Meanwhile Frank is getting more and more agitated with the new bond between father and daughter because it's causing a strain on a big job they have coming up.
Filled with twists and turns and an ending I never saw coming, `Matchstick Men' is the perfect kind of caper. It's got great acting from a cast I never knew had it in them and a great moral message that manifests itself as the film unravels. Alison Lohman is charming and natural and Sam Rockwell is the perfect side-kick, but the real shocker (at least to me) was the mere fact that Nicolas Cage steals the show from everyone!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Headline Required
Plus I have to have 16 more words to be able to submit which I am forced to do, they don't like me to just rate the product with 6 stars. What a bunch of bull.
Published 17 days ago by Jay R. Winans
5.0 out of 5 stars
matchstick men
this a that is great because it deals with change and attitude
how to become a better, happier person and what is really important is love
how to become a better, happier person and what is really important is love
Published 1 month ago by tina watkins
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great hook at the end!
One of my favorite Nicholas Cage movies with a surprising twist at the end! Sort of like Sixth Sense (but he isn't seeing dead people)
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Les O. Wetherington
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best of it's genre
I have never really been a fan of Cage due to the fact that most of his performances seem weak and plain... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jeremy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nic Cage's best performance
Boy, if you thought Cage usually plays crazy characters, this is on a whole other level. It's a mixture of three different plots; a heist, overcoming a mental problem, and finding... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Alex
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bittersweet comedy
If you like Nicholas Cage you cant help but love this movie. Highly engaging, intriguing, and definitely funny. Try it, you will like it.
Published 2 months ago by Panicattack
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Proper Way to Con an Audience
It’s hard to tell someone why this movie is so good without giving away too much... Matchstick Men isn’t quite a con movie, it’s more like a movie about con men. Read more
Published 4 months ago by M. Logan
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining movie
It's amazing how many ok movies would be awesome if it wasn't for Nicholas Cage...Any Boob can act better than that guy.
Published 4 months ago by Reggie
4.0 out of 5 stars
I liked it.
While I thought this was a good movie, there are many who might disagree with me. The one this I absolutely hated is this movie case... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Kelsey
5.0 out of 5 stars
very good movie
I am not really a Nicolas Cage fan; but this was a good movie! It showed how love can triumph over our works. But above all it was an example of how crime does not pay!
Published 5 months ago by Jane Doee
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