Matchstick Men (2003)

Posted : 6 months, 2 weeks ago at May 9 12:25

"If you're gonna get wet, might as well go swimming." For Matchstick Men, acclaimed director Ridley Scott turns his attention away from the visceral blockbusters he's recognised for in order to deliver a finely crafted drama and character study about con artistry and family life. An adaptation of the novel by Eric Garcia, this excellent motion picture successfully combines black comedy, drama, and (most importantly) a cluster of unforseen plot twists. Matchstick Men falls into a particular sub-genre of the thriller - a sub-genre concerning conmen and their disreputable trade. Some of these movies work, while others sink without a trace. The Sting and The Grifters are examples of great additions to this sub-genre, and Ridley Scott's Matchstick Men can now be self-assuredly added to that ...Read more

Posted : 1 year, 2 months ago at Sep 15 5:35

When you figure out the 'twist' half way through the movie, it's really not much of a twist. It's too bad since the movie is competent in every other aspect except the main plot.

Rating : 6/10

Posted : 1 year, 6 months ago at May 4 2:23

When I first saw the trailer for this movie I wasn't really interested and after watching it that feeling wasn't to far off. Nicolas Cage plays Roy Waller, a depressed con artist with several mental disorders, agoraphobia, germaphobia, OCD, and a tic. At the start Roy has a panic attack and his parter suggests going to a shrink. He tries just to get drugs from his old shrink but can't and so he finds another and gives him the drugs but with a condition to go and contact his ex-wife and child that he left years before. He finds out who his daughter and it rejuvenates his spirit for one more long-term con. The rest of the movie is Roy's life struggling between the con and his daughter and even brings her into it. The acting, music, writing, and directing as a whole makes the movie seem...Read more

Rating : 5/10

Posted : 1 year, 10 months ago at Jan 4 21:48

"Look, Doc, I spent last Tuesday watching fibers on my carpet. And the whole time I was watching my carpet, I was worrying that I, I might vomit. And the whole time, I was thinking, "I'm a grown man. I should know what goes on my head." And the more I thought about it... the more I realized that I should just blow my brains out and end it all. But then I thought, well, if I thought more about blowing my brains out... I start worrying about what that was going to do to my goddamn carpet. Okay, so, ah-he, that was a GOOD day, Doc. And, and I just want you to give me some pills and let me get on with my life." That was a quote from Roy, Nicholas Cage's character in this film. You can probably tell already that he's not an average guy.. he's a con artist, a matchstick man. But there's certa...Read more

Rating : 8/10

Posted : 2 years, 4 months ago at Jul 21 7:21

From moment one I never believed anything that was happening in this movie. I kept thinking "that would never happen" over and over. From the very first thing you learn, that a person with OCD would be so comfortable with people that he could be a conman. Its got a great cast and a great director, so I must have a problem with the plot (and therefore the book). If I hadn't been watching this movie with other people I probably would not have stuck it out to the end. But maybe you can suspend your disbelief, I just couldn't.

Rating : 3/10

Posted : 3 years, 8 months ago at Mar 9 20:01

It was a pretty good movie. Some nice twists. Nicolas Cage is almost always enjoyable.

Rating : 8/10