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Matchstick Men

By Peter Morris in Los Angeles 28 August 2003

Recently knighted SIR RIDLEY SCOTT has successfully jumped genres yet again. This time round the newly prolific (after 10 films in 20 years he’s suddenly cranked out 4 in three and a half!) RIDLEY has pulled together what is undoubtedly the most comedic piece he’s worked on.

Matchstick Men is the story of two con men which is probably why it has drawn comparisons with "The Sting" and "Paper Moon" but I’m not entirely sure they have anything in common other than the subject matter.

This tale involves NICOLAS CAGE ("Adaptation", "Captain Corelli‘s Mandolin", "Windtalkers") as Roy the senior partner who suffers from amongst other things, OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and SAM ROCKWELL ("Confessions of a Dangerous Mind", "Welcome to Collinwood", "Galaxy Quest") as Frank the younger half of the team who wants to throw caution to the wind and raise the stakes from their low key successful status to pulling off the “big swindle”. Roy, not surprisingly given his personal problems has always said no to such a plan but when he reluctantly visits a psychiatrist in an attempt to get more prescription drugs wheels are set in motion that lead him to changing his mind when he discovers he has a 14 year old daughter called Angela played by the excellent ALISON LOHMAN (“White Oleander”).

I’ll be honest and admit I’m not NIC CAGE‘S biggest fan and if I have an issue with this film it’s that he goes slightly over the top in places but, having said that, his scenes with ALISON LOHMAN are both funny and touching at times. LOHMAN playing a 14 year old confirms the praise she received for her role in “White Oleander” was merited and SAM ROCKWELL as the wisecracking sidekick adds another admirable role to his expanding filmography.

I don’t do spoilers but I have to say that there are a couple of excellent twists in this as you’d expect from a good “con” film and, as with all of RIDLEY SCOTT‘S films, it looks fabulous. If that’s not enough to pique your interest the soundtrack has several classics as well as the original score by multi Oscar winner and longtime SCOTT collaborator HANS ZIMMER.

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed my two hours with the con men even if I’m not enamoured of the male lead and for that reason..........