Matchstick Men

Imagemovers/Scott Free production present a Rickshaw Productions and Liveplanet productions

Starring: Nicolas Cage Sam Rockwell and Alison Lohman

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Rating:****1/2

Plot: A con man with a lot of ticks (not the bugs) goes to see a Therapist once his pills go missing. He then finds out he has a daughter. So now he must con and live with a 14 year old girl. I don't want to spoil anything but the con's start flying and we find out that Ridley Scott is clearly one of the best film makers of are time.

Acting: This movie has three amazingly great actors in it. I believe that Nicolas Cage has been an under rated actor for some time. Adaptation was one of the best movies ever made and I loved his performance in that movie. Windtalkers was a movie I think failed to do the job, but that was not Cage's fault. In this film he turns in a superb Oscar worthy performance, it will be a crime if he is not nominated I tell you. His character has so mainly levels and problems and we the audience work with him, its just amazing. Sam Rockwell from Confessions of a Dangerous Mind which he did a great job but the movie itself lacked some things. He also in this film is just great, he has such timing with comedy and his witty comments are just right on the spot. I really would enjoy seeing him in many future films. Now Lohman who plays Cage's fourteen year old daughter, even though I think she is twenty something. She can be seen in White Orleander which I never saw. She turns in a masterful performance here. She was so believable and lovable but yet you can see the rebel in her eyes. These three actors were just amazing and lit up the screen. It was very fun to watch.

Directing/Writing: I never though Ridley Scott could do a movie like this. I've loved all of his films including Legend and Blade Runner and Alien. To his more recent Black Hawk Down which is one of the best war films ever made. His only failure in my eyes was Hannibal which I did not enjoy one bit, but that is because the script was horrible. Any back to this movie, his talent can even be seen in the opening credits with such sleek style. The color scheme in the film was very well done with blue tint to bright yellow would contrast emotions and sictuations in the movie. Scott's pacing keeps you on your toes once the con's keep coming. From start to end this is just a deviously clever film which will hold up the bar for future con movies or caper comedies. Because this is one of the best.

Overall: Oscar worthy all the way, the ending I think was too light but still was great. I claim this is one of the best films of the fall. If you miss out on this movie well I don't what to say besides your a very silly person, don't be con'd by your friends who only enjoy movies with very little dialogue and stupid comedy, this movie will prove how great film is.