‘MATCHSTICK MEN’: A UNIQUE FILM FROM RIDLEY SCOTT

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Ridley Scott is one of the respected directors in Hollywood. I have seen a few of his productions, all three of which were good, and know that he and Russell Crowe like to work together.  Having liked Nicolas Cage in many other roles, I thought Matchstick Men was worth the rental fee first time I saw it (and yes, it was back in the days of walking into a bricks and mortar video store).

Matchstick Men (2003) Film Review

Roy Waller (Cage) has a phobia (or three), and it isn’t some insignificant issue. Among his issues are germs, the great outdoors, and he has a thing about people walking on his carpets. Together with his business protégé Frank (Sam Rockwell), the two run a successful scam game. They sell unsuspecting citizens a must-have water filtration system for ten times its value. When his medication runs out, Roy becomes more of a hermit than usual, and Frank gets him help.

This brings Angela (Alison Lohman), who is a bit of a rebel, into Roy’s life. She’s the teenage daughter whose mother Roy once walks out on and the daughter he never met. She begins a relationship with her father and both find they actually like each other. Still Roy struggles with interacting with a teenager while Angela finds herself at the center of her father’s work.

‘MATCHSTICK MEN’: A UNIQUE FILM FROM RIDLEY SCOTT. Nicholas Cage stars in this #RidleyScott dark comedy. #Movies #MovieReview Share on X

Years ago, when I first saw this, it wasn’t often that I’d watch something knowing nothing about it. Today I like knowing very little about a film (I don’t even go on video platforms and watch trailers). Watching this smart drama “blind” did turn out to be good. Matchstick Men isn’t perfect but something about it is really engaging. Much of Scott’s work tends to be very methodically slow-moving and this is no different. The first ten to fifteen minutes sets up Roy’s character before anything of much significance happens. It can be a downfall for the script but at the same time, the plot intrigues enough for the viewer to stick with the movie.

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For a movie with swindlers as the main characters, how deep the script explores them does surprise. The screenplay is written by Ten Griffin who is no stranger to this genre (Ocean’s Eleven). Roy is a strange leading character, but it doesn’t take long after that for Roy’s story to engross us as well as the “comical” method of scams he and Frank participate in. There is also a surprisingly precious father-daughter story that is hard to ignore in its touchingly sweet moments, which are all too rare.

This is one cool movie. Its set-up is good, and I like the entire look. Yes, it sets an unhurried pace, but in the end, it’s worth it. The ambiguous ending (which has a few twists) is made sweeter by the final scene that helps to ensure there is ultimately happy.

Stream Matchstick Men, at publication, on Plex; or digitally rent/buy on places like Prime Video

Photos: Alamy Stock Photo

Content: a girl mentions the “things” she’s done with boys hoping it will coerce someone to do what she wants. There is a mildly racy scene in a strip club and various profanities (sh*t GD, one f-word, and misuses of Jesus’ name) and a couple of crude gestures. Roy is also a chain smoker and everyone drinks, including Angela.  A man receives a gunshot wound, and lies in a pool of blood. Other characters are savagely beat up (off-screen). There is a reference to suicide.

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