AniInterview Sorry, this movie sucks

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

merelyaninnuendo Matchstick Men2 And A Half Out Of 5Matchstick Men is a character driven dramatic thriller about a guy and his relationship with his daughter that is depicted from the scratch. The hidden cards up its sleeve is visible or easily predictable far before it even hits the screen but still it somehow manages to hold the audience in its own slow take. It is short on technical aspects like background score, art design, cinematography and editing. The camera work is decent and is captivating in its mediocre way but then it also never attempts to grow bigger than that, it's happy and delighted to be what it is. The adaptation by Nicholas and Ted Griffin is catchy and settles in quickly among the viewers with its gripping tactics that it uses every now and then. Ridley Scott; the director, holds on to its part and delivers what is anticipated from it, which is a nice execution of the script. The performance too is handled well by the protagonist Nicolas Cage and his supporting cast Sam Rockwell and Alison Lohman who is equally good as the rest of the cast. Matchstick Men is as slim as it can get on terms of plot, drama, performance, execution, characters and its mundane textbook rituals that it won't let go off.

Paul J. Nemecek Matchstick Men is the story of two con artists who decided to set up a major sting. It is also the story of a man struggling with major neuroses (think Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt). It is also the story of a man who learns to love a young girl who claims to be his 14-year old daughter.At the center of all three stories is Roy Waller, the veteran con man played by Nicolas Cage. Nicolas Cage has some limitations as an actor. If you saw him struggling with his Italian accent in Captain Corelli's Mandolin you know what I'm talking about. In spite of his limitations, he has turned into a major star and leading man with more than forty films to his credit. He has played the romantic lead in City of Angels and Moonstruck, the action hero in Con Air, Face Off, and The Rock. He won an Academy Award for his stunning performance as a despondent alcoholic in Leaving Las Vegas. Some of his best work comes when he is playing offbeat characters in movies like Raising Arizona or Peggy Sue Got Married. His performance in Matchstick Men resembles a "best of" collection that draws on strengths from many of his greatest performances.His character here is charming, quirky, witty, at points almost helpless, and at other points determined and driven. This is a great performance by a seasoned veteran. This is also an outstanding directorial achievement for Ridley Scott. Scott was the director of Gladiator, Blade Runner, Black Hawk Down, and Thelma and Louise. This film is very different from his previous works in theme, scope, and tone.When I saw the previews, I was afraid that I had already seen the best pieces and that this film would become another predictable formula film with a few innovations thrown in. I was wrong. The story is clever and original and Scott does a masterful job of weaving together the different elements into a cohesive and engaging story.Throughout the story we learn about the science of the con, but somewhere in the middle we move from con science to conscience when we learn that Cage's neuroses are a result of a nagging conscience and his own sense of failure. He has been quite successful as a con artist but his failed relationships make him a deeply troubled man with more than a few tics and quirks.I do have a minor criticism, but it has more to do with a larger trend in Hollywood-ubiquitous product placement. A number of brand names are prominently featured during the film, and I'm sure the companies paid handsomely to have their products featured. In an era when we name public schools after corporations and products, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. It's bad enough that I have to sit through commercials before the film, I shouldn't have to seem them during the film too. That minor criticism aside, this is a film that is definitely worth a look. In the beginning, the film looks like just another "clever caper" film, but by the time I reached the final credits, I saw a charming film about redemption, forgiveness, and grace.

eric262003 After watching a film of a similar story to "Matchstick Men" called "Confidence" where I summarized that the caper can easily be ruined by giving away details too early in the film. "Matchstick Men" faces a very similar predicament as well, but can back up its intentions by going a different direction. Like many capers before, they smugly believe they're being clever to its viewers, taking us on their journeys only to end being formulaic and predictable. What makes "Matchstick Men" work is that although the con doesn't light a candle, it's still able to connect with its audience in the events proceeding up the ultimate climax. So while the con was a bust, the rest of the movie pans out splendidly.Sure the whole hustler backdrop can surely get on your nerves,plus the whole you know what you've gotten yourselves arrogance can like pluck your eyeballs out of its socket, but its the upbeat, snappy tone of the film which is quite the contrast to operatic soundtrack you hear from a Ridley Scott film. The crooning sound of Bobby Darin among others along with the vibrant dialogue from each performer, everything just runs smoothly without a care in sight. Before you know it, we're humming and tapping as we enjoy the company of our leading protagonists two thirds along the way in this nearly two hour film.It also helps that the cast seems spot on in their respective performances as Nicolas Cage was flawless in his performance as obsessive compulsive con artist Roy Waller whose neurotic demeanor upstages whatever con games he has up his sleeves. Meanwhile his sidekick Frank Mercer (Sam Rockwell) who suave laid-back personae can make you wonder if his friendship is genuine or superficial. Both performers can play these roles in their sleep and both know how to manipulate each other of their civics duties. Cage carries the heavier cargo as he battles Tourette's syndrome and sports constant nervous tics that can at times be nauseating (he also feverishly washes windows and eats tuna right out of a can), he makes it seem authentic and natural. Rockwell also plays a role we could get invested in, though he plays off more of a background character when he should be a second billing character.They're a pair of likable scoundrels and Scott guides us to their world to see how they conduct their shady dealings. They're work comes to a pause as Roy is united with his teenager daughter Angela (Alison Lohman) a prodigal waif who could easily con a person with the very best of them. She can at times be more of a liability than an asset to Roy and Frank, but as Roy starts to warm up to Angela, he starts to reconsider other avenues to make money. Lohman has that eerily resemblance of a young Geena Davis from "Thelma and Louise" and her conniving and naive ways whether intentional or not can resemble the character from "Thelma and Louise". Cage and Lohman (an adult playing a teenager by the way) share some great scenes together and their chemistry is clever and moving as opposed to being saccharine and mushy.This film would have been pure gold have it stuck to the relationship between Roy and Angela, but sadly the Big Con had to come around sooner or later and the filmmakers had this planned the whole time through. The scoundrel trifecta find their unfortunate guinea pig in the shape of Chuck Frechette (Bruce McGill) who will resort to any scheming tactics possible. It seems like the right feel at first, but then the deceptions seems too obvious and can be seen from a mile away. Once all that character development is put to the pasture, it all comes down to big, bad assassins armed with their heavy ammunition and just seems to spoil the apple cart from all the wonderful moments from the earlier scenes. It makes you wonder why didn't Scott keep a good thing coming? And then he ruins the scenes by softening up the hardened scenes which is an apology too late.And sure those non-judgmental purists can still enjoy the film as a whole and I don't blame them for it. The positives outnumbered the negatives. The tame humour and the emotional chemistry is truly a delight to the soul while the big heist climax tends to fall flat on its face, but it's still easy to forgive the flaws while marveling at the good qualities of this movie. It shows that Scott can handle lighter fare films than his more heavier themed films. "Matchstick Men" can stand alone for the unintended scenes contrary to the direction its mindset was on the whole time.

Benedito Dias Rodrigues At last Nick Cage had a good character for redemption for such bad roles in late years,Ridley provides a great plot with a disturb leading role which is the best of the picture,the whole sting stay in backdrop or in second plane,this kind of disorder is very usual nowadays,the behavior obsessive compulsive reach around 20% of population,and how it is great bring it a movie as shown in this one,great approach by Ridley Scott and magnificent acting by Cage!!Resume:First watch: 2018 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 8