Matchstick Men: Is Nicolas Cage back for good?

[Downhome 0]

 

The official website, check out the trailer!

 

This is the film that I'm looking more forward to than anything in the upcoming months. I don't really know what it is about it either. Maybe it's just because I'm a huge Nicolas Cage fan. Perhaps I'm still riding the high that Adaptation set me off on. Or, maybe the trailer has just totally won me over with the various scenes and the "mood".

 

Or maybe I just damn well love films based on con men.

 

Whatever it is, I'm really looking forward to this one. Here is a review that I found over at RottenTomatoes...

 

OPENS FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 19th

Four out of Five stars

Running time: 119 mins

 

Stylishly directed, well-written and boasting an eclectic soundtrack, this is an enjoyable con flick with both Cage and Ridley Scott on top form.

 

There is something clearly fascinating about watching con artists on screen - maybe it's the thrill of seeing characters live by their wits under the constant threat of being caught (as in Catch Me If You Can) or perhaps, given that 99% of con movies pull some kind of trick on the audience, it's the opportunity to prove youself 'cleverer' than the film-makers by guessing the plot in advance.

 

At any rate, there have been a string of decent con flicks lately, from the sublime Nine Queens to, more recently, the average but entertaining Confidence. Matchstick Men, then, is director Ridley Scott's spin on familiar material (it was dubbed 'Paper Moon in colour' on set, after the Ryan & Tatum O'Neal father-daughter con classic) and although it is primarily concerned with character, it's safe to say that you'll enjoy the story a lot more if you strap yourself in and enjoy (being taken for) the ride rather than trying to second guess it.

 

Obsessive-Compulsive Agoraphobe Needs Counselling

 

Nicolas Cage plays Roy, an obsessive-compulsive agoraphobe (and chain-smoker) who makes a living as a con artist with his younger partner Frank (The Great Sam Rockwell). Barely able to keep his neuroses in check, Roy flips out mid-con and Frank persuades him to get therapy.

 

This leads to the revelation that Roy has a 14 year-old daughter, Angela (Alison Lohman), whose existence he always suspected but never dared verify. What's more, Angela wants to get to know him and when she discovers what Roy does for a living she's keen for him to show her the ropes, even though her presence could seriously derail Frank and Roy's latest scam...

 

Matchstick Men (the title, like The Grifters,, refers to a slang term for con artists) is extremely well directed - it's stylish but never in-your-face stylish and shows Scott back on top form after the relative disappointments of Gladiator and Black Hawk Down.

 

Terrific Soundtrack

 

It also has a terrific, carefuly-selected, character-enhancing soundtrack that consists mainly of lounge classics (e.g Beyond the Sea) but occasionally strikes an eclectic, off-the-wall note, such as the inclusion of George Formby's Leaning on a Lamp-post when Roy is waiting for Angela.

 

The acting is excellent - Cage, with his Felix Unger-like collection of tics and mannerisms manages to be funny as well as heart-breakingly sympathetic. His confused mixture of guilt, pride, horror and joy when Angela shows a flair for the con game is a priceless, lovely moment.

 

Lohman is supreb too - she's both adorable and believably natural. There's also great support from both Sam Rockwell (always a joy to watch) and one of Hollywood's best character actors, Bruce McGill, as the proposed victim of Frank and Roy's latest con.

 

In short, this is an enjoyable, frequently funny and oddly moving con thriller with a terrific performance from Cage. If you've ever seen a con man movie before you won't be surprised by the ending but it's hard to complain when the ride is this much fun. Recommended.

 

Reviewed by - Matthew Turner

 

...so, at least in this one persons view, this one is a keeper.

 

Am I the only one that just loves the editing and style of the trailer? The colors, the clips, the sound, just everything about it is fantastic to me. Sure, I may be building myself up for something a whole lot more than it is, but even so, I really think I'll enjoy this one. Anyway, back to the topic of sorts.

 

If this is a hit of any sort, which I feel it will be, will this be yet another Nicolas Cage comeback, and if it is, will it finally be for good? After a string of films which many people didn't really love all that much, he finally busted out Adaptation, my personal pick for Best Picture of the past year. I just love that I'm getting great Nicolas Cage films once again, and I'm pumped up for Matchstick Men!

 

On a side note:

 

In Matchstick Men, we have the young actress Alison Lohman playing the role of the 14 year old daughter of the character that Cage portrays. In the film, she's pretending to be a 21 year old, but in reality she's really 24. Now, I'm not really all that familier with the work she's don thus far, so call me stupid if you want. When I first saw this trailer, I thought she was cute as hell but felt a bit weird for thinking this, as I thought she was so much younger than I am. It's safe to say that when I found out she's really older than I actually am, I was quite pleased, heh.

 

Mmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmm good.

 

Sincerely,

...Downhome...

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I said it in the RAW thread, and I say it here..

 

Im wierded out by the fact that the 14 year old girl in the movie is played by a 24 year old actress.

 

As for whether or not Cage's career is back..I dunno. I dont really see MM doing well, but I havent heard any buzz +/- about it either (except for the factoid mentioned above)

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

I'm still waiting for Con Air 2.

[Guest Choken One]

Cyrus The Virus Returns and this time...It's personal.

[Mole 0]

I said it in the RAW thread, and I say it here..

 

Im wierded out by the fact that the 14 year old girl in the movie is played by a 24 year old actress.

 

As for whether or not Cage's career is back..I dunno. I dont really see MM doing well, but I havent heard any buzz +/- about it either (except for the factoid mentioned above)

Yeah I second that one.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

I know why Downhome wants to see this...

 

[notJames 0]

I too was wowed by Adaptation*, which I just saw this weekend, and having seen the trailer for Matchstick Men a couple of months ago, I must say I am eagerly anticipating it as well.

 

*The best part of Adaptation in my opinion was…

 

Spoiler (Highlight to Read):

… when Charlie relents and asks Donald for help writing his screenplay. Up until then, the actual movie was a simple character study, following Charlie's writing process, his quirks and foibles, with not much action taking place. Once Donald takes an active part in the screenplay writing, the movie turns into a psychological thriller, with the revelation of Orlean and LaRoche's affair, the chase into the swamp, etc. At this point, I wasn't sure which was Charlie's movie and which was Adaptation, if you catch my drift. I was actually expecting the movie to end with both brothers alive and walking out of the premiere of The Orchid Thief, but I still like how it didn't come into play.   It was such a subtle and brilliant move that totally blew me away, and I was left wondering if anyone else had gotten that little "inside joke".

[Downhome 0]

I too was wowed by Adaptation*, which I just saw this weekend, and having seen the trailer for Matchstick Men a couple of months ago, I must say I am eagerly anticipating it as well.

 

*The best part of Adaptation in my opinion was…

 

Spoiler (Highlight to Read):

… when Charlie relents and asks Donald for help writing his screenplay. Up until then, the actual movie was a simple character study, following Charlie's writing process, his quirks and foibles, with not much action taking place. Once Donald takes an active part in the screenplay writing, the movie turns into a psychological thriller, with the revelation of Orlean and LaRoche's affair, the chase into the swamp, etc. At this point, I wasn't sure which was Charlie's movie and which was Adaptation, if you catch my drift. I was actually expecting the movie to end with both brothers alive and walking out of the premiere of The Orchid Thief, but I still like how it didn't come into play.   It was such a subtle and brilliant move that totally blew me away, and I was left wondering if anyone else had gotten that little "inside joke".

Spoiler (Highlight to Read):

I'm so glad that other people "got" that ending also. It drives me crazy at the ammount of people who didn't understand it, when to me, it was clear as day. I also love the very end where it "becomes reality" again, and he has disposed of his brother/personality, allowing him to now be a more well around person. The film isn't so much about the filmmaking industry, as it is a character and psychological study in a way.   My favorite part is both that, and the very first scene, heh. To be quite honest, I felt the film was somewhat about me, as he described me perfectly. It was pretty damn weird to be honest, what with my also being an aspiring screenwriter.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

we should probably wait and see if this movie is any good before we determine it's effect on Cage's career.

 

for the record, my favorite part of Adaptation is when Charlie starts shouting random orchid facts at the waitress in the diner, thinking that this will somehow get him laid.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Cage isn't consistent enough to ever be "back", which is a bit silly because he never left in the first place.

 

His most glaring fault is that when he's on (Leaving Las Vegas, Adaptation) he's totally on, but when the man is off (Snake Eyes, Capt. Corelli's Mandolin) he fucking bombs.

[NoCalMike 0]

Well considering Cage plays the same type of character in most of his movies. I LOVED him in Raising Arizona.

[DangerousDamon 0]

Well considering Cage plays the same type of character in most of his movies. I LOVED him in Raising Arizona.

raising arizona was the shit though.

[shlidgn90 0]

the camera work in matchstick men looks an awful like adaptation. in ways the whole movie looks like charlie kaufman's brother found his long lost daughter with the producer from the gong show hanging around.

[NoCalMike 0]

well yes Raising Arizona was the shit, however, ever since Leaving Las Vegas, Cage almost always plays some version of the depressed/not quite right/whacky type character. No matter what the movie is about. I mean he may be good, but he should be expected to be by now. He should have that type of character down to a T.

[godthedog 0]

some random thoughts:

 

1) i'll reserve judgment on cage till i see it. ridley scott is not my favorite guy in the world, so i'm not holding my breath. but i'll probably see it.

 

2) 'leaving las vegas' SUCKED. not to say cage himself wasn't great in it (as was elizabeth shue), but holy shit do i hate that movie.

 

Spoiler (Highlight to Read):

3) how could you NOT get the last act of 'adaptation'? it was unbelievably obvious. kaufman had already dropped enough hints at it earlier in the movie, and it was completely different from the first 2/3. anybody who didn't get it should be put in a dark room and forced to watch 'persona' until their brain collapses on itself.   my favorite part of adaptation...   kaufman's agent: see that girl?   kaufman: yeah?   agent: i fucked her in the ass.   totally out of nowhere. i said that line for days afterward.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

whatever happened to Shue anyway. She was a pretty good actress, and more importantly she was HOT.

 

ps:

 

"So what do you think?"

 

".....You kind of made fun of me."

 

"Yeah, I was just...uh...trying something."