Matchstick Men Review
by Homer Yen (homer_yen AT yahoo DOT com)September 17th, 2003
"Matchstick Men" - Glows with Warmth
by Homer Yen
(c) 2003
"Matchstick Men" is like a fine luxury automobile. It is crafted with precision, the quality of the material is high, and those that build it have imposed a certain standard of excellence. The result is a nicely conceived vehicle that is agile and fun to watch.
In this finely constructed film, kudos go to Nicolas Cage who shakes, shimmies, and staggers as a phobic con artist named Roy trying to stay one step ahead while somehow maintaining his sanity. He brings an animated intensity to the big screen as a man full of irony. Although he is a flimflam man who tries to trap others, he is constantly being painted into a corner himself. Although he is adept at telling lies to further his cause, he finds it difficult to tell the truth when he should.
It's a difficult juggling act for our beleaguered hero. On the one hand, he struggles daily with a neurosis that causes him to twitch, grunt, and jerk uncontrollably. On the other hand, he has an apprentice partner named Frank (Sam Rockwell) that questions if Roy still has the gusto to perform a big-time scam. And then there's the sudden appearance of Angela (Alison Lohman), the daughter that Roy never knew.
The beauty of the film is that every element, while unique in its own way, weaves themselves into a sublime story that explores the various facets of what makes Roy go. This is a story less about the con and more about the artist.
The heart of the "Matchstick Men" revolves around Roy tiptoeing around his fragile relationship with Angela. She's eager to learn, happy to finally meet Roy, and yet vulnerable as any 14-year old girl could be. Meanwhile, he is reluctant to open up about his profession, tries to fight off his numerous ticks, and is not too successful in his crash course at parenthood.
But one commonality that they both share is the thrill of a kill. You'll watch in delight as they stealthily set up an unsuspecting victim with nothing more than bravura, a smile, and a wrinkled lottery ticket. It's quite fun to watch, and we begin to simultaneously appreciate and fear these professional grifters. Moreover, we feel a gradually increasing sense of warmth as Roy works hard to overcome his inhibitions as a catharsis begins to slowly occur.
But what's the fun of watching a film about con artists if there are no cons? Happily, we are treated to some razzle-dazzle setups. The opening sequence shows Frank and Roy engaged in a sophisticated ploy that not only convincingly fools an intended mark once but twice. Roy justifies his dubious career by insisting that he is not a criminal because he doesn't take anything. They give it to him. This is just small stuff compared to their next target, a greedy businessman (Bruce McGill).
There may or may not be a happy ending for Roy. However for all of us, "Matchstick Men" rewards us with a well-crafted film with a great central character, moving elements, a laid-back hipness aided by a mellow 60s soundtrack, and a playful dimension of deviousness. A lot of hard work went into making this film. And that's something that can't be faked.
Grade: B+
S: 0 out of 3
L: 1 out of 3
V: 2 out of 3
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
