Matchstick Men - my film of the year. Review on Matchstick Men Movie

Things that made me watch the movie

Ridley Scott (''Hannibal,'' ''Black Hawk Down,'' ''Gladiator,'' ''Blade Runner,'' ''Alien'')

Nicholas Cage

The Story

Wether the reasons that made me watch the movie, were satisfactory? u will soon find out.

The story

is about Roy (Nicolas Cage), a professional con man who suffers from an obsessive-compulsive disorder that keeps his life, and that of his partner, Frank (Sam Rockwell), very organized. But when Roy meets the daughter Angela(Alison Lohman) he never knew he had, his structured world is jeopardized.

The review

Roy is a conman, he and his partner Frank are very good in their acts.(I believe matchstick men mean conmen). Roy has almost all the bizarre disorders one can think of - paranoia, neurosis, a variety of phobias, clean-freakiness and a few other rare disorders . All this makes the character interesting.(one of the bizarre things he does is 'opening and closing a door three times before walking through it', really funny when you see it).

However, the highlight of the movie is the relationship between Cage and his estranged daughter , it has been handled sweetly and remains in your mind even after you finish watching the movie(the end however will make you feel for Roy and want to hit Angela).

All the scenes involving both of them are very good. Especially the scene when Cage watches in wonder as his daughter eats and the sequences in which he tries to groom her or teach her about cleanliness. The sequence in the pharmacy where he is desperate for the pink pill(the one his shrink asks him to have to make him stable), he doesnt know the name of the pill nor does he want to wait or stand in the queue, ends up picking up a fight with the shopkeeper.The sequence is really done very well and is even more funny when you get to know what the pink pill is actually.

Angela is very tom boyish and soon asks Roy to teach her to con. Roy initially reluctant, teaches her a few acts and she pulls it off surprisingly well. Soon they become a trio (Roy, Frank and Angela). However one act of theirs goes messy and the victim seeks revenge. The rest of the movie is about what happens to the three main characters.

Things that made me like the movie

#1 >> Ridley Scott, as usual, doesnt disappoint. The movie has a relaxed feel and soothing effect on you, it is not hard on you as was in Gladiator and Black Hawk Down. Thumbs up to him! A wonderful director.

#2 >> Nicholas Cage, thumbs up as usual. He plays the character with panache and since the character borders a little bit on lunacy he adds the right amount of madness to the character ( a little over the top, but acceptable I guess).

#3 >> Alison Lohman, you have to see to find out how wonderful she is.

#4 >> nice / simple yet so appealing cinematography

#5 >> cool background score

There is one hell of a twist in the end, but it reminded me of the movie ''The Game by David Fincher'' . The post climax sequence is also good.

Bottom line

Go check out these matchstick men in action.

the enigma