Matchstick Men (2003, Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell) – Classic Film Review 1033

Director Ridley Scott’s intriguing 2003 movie stars Nicolas Cage as neurotic phobic conman Roy and Sam Rockwell as Frank, his quirky, ambitious protégé cum sidekick.

They are about to pull off a swindle on Bruce McGill when Cage’s long-lost teenage daughter (Alison Lohman) suddenly turns up out of the blue and enters the plot. Now Cage and Rockwell are in for a bit of a shock in director Ridley Scott’s great-looking but sometimes plodding low-life caper.

The acting’s fine, with Cage and Rockwell ideally cast and Lohman especially effective, and the piece does come to life in occasional good scenes, usually when it concentrates on the apparatus of professional tricksters.

As a Sting-style entertainment it has its moments, but as a serious character-driven drama, it’s a sometimes bit of a bore and a bit of a damp squib.

Ted Griffin and Nick Griffin’s screenplay is based on Eric Garcia’s book. Jon Mathieson’s cinematography’s a knockout,

(C) Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Film Review 1033 derekwinnert.com