Matchstick Men

Director: Ridley Scott

Writers: Nicholas Griffin, Ted Griffin

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Alison Lohman

Released: 2003

One of Ridley Scott's lesser-known films, Matchstick Men seemingly came and went when it was released and has since gone onto become a staple of late night TV (in the UK on ITV1, at least).

Telling the story of con artist Roy (Cage), whose (OCD) life is thrown into chaos by the arrival of a teenage daughter (Angela, played by Alison Lohman) he didn't know he had, just as he and partner Frank (Rockwell) are about to pull off a big scam.

Finding out about her father's work, Angela willingly wants to get involved in his scams, much to his distress. Realising he has little choice, he gets her involved, but decides this potentially big job will be his last. However, as this is a film about con artists, all is not as it seems...

Cage is in virtually ever scene of this movie, and this is one of his better performances. He does however go a bit over the top at times, especially in the scenes where he has to show the character's OCD obsession with cleaning and medication, a little bit out of step with the quietly neurotic character that he is meant to be. Lohman and Rockwell play their roles well and are a good counter-balance when Cage does forget which film he is in.

The twist at the end is fairly obvious, but fits the film well, rather than seeming tacked-on for the sake of having a twist in the first place. Overall, this is a fairly entertaining and understated movie, well worth a watch on late night TV.

Rating: 3/5