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Matchstick Men Hit "THE Mark" in Quirky Film
by Cynthia (movies profile)
May 2, 2007
30
of
42 people found this review helpful
While "Matchstick Men" billing itself as "THE STING" for the 21st Century", is slightly presumptious...it's not far off "The Mark" (pardon the pun!).
A so-so script, which could have been boreingly predictable in other hands, comes delightfully alive under the more-than-capable direction of Ridley Scott. While Scott has seemed more comfortable in the past with stories of Epic proportion, he plants his feet firmly on the ground in this quirky modern day Con Game Story. Reminescent in flavor of "Thelma and Louise", he blends the triumphs, tragedies and frailties of the human condition in such a way that the audience becomes invested in the lives of those they watch on the screen.
Top-notch performances by Nicholas Cage, Alison Lahman and Sam Rockwell set the bar high for knockoffs of this genre'.
Cage gives a stand-out performance as an obcessive-compulsive neurotic that puts Nicholson's performance in "AS GOOD AS IT GETS" to shame. (Well, if not to shame at least "on notice".) As Roy, the master con artist, Cage provides the laughter relief to an otherwise serious story. His metamorphasis through his relationship with his teen-age daughter (Alison Lahman) is both funny and tender, and drives the plot. There is no justice if Oscar doesn't give this performance a serious nod.
Kudos also to Alison Lahman in the role of Roy's 14 year-old daughter, Angela. Her exuberence as the confused, street-wise teenager brings real depth to what could have been a cliche' character. When Angela hops on the roller coaster of teen-age emotions, we go along for the ride; giggles to tears, anger to hugs of pure joy. Alison Lahman will be someone to watch in the coming years. She is not just another pretty, scrubbed-clean face...this one has TALENT!
Sam Rockwell is endearing as "Jack", Roy's partner in scams. His loyalty to his partner is surpassed only by his mercenary little heart. He plays it serious when the script calls for it and we grow to care about this fast-talking con man. This part, in lesser hands, might not have come off as smooth and believable as it does. (I could see Brad Pitt in this role also).
"MATCHSTICK MEN" is entertaining if not "somewhat" predictable by a third of the way through. It gets a little smaltzy in the father-daughter relationship, but doesn't get overly mired in it. As opposed to "The Sting" where crime DID pay and nobody got hurt but the bad guys, MATCHSTICK MEN lacks the same kind of satisfying closure. Having said that I still rate this one a B+ for its ability to make us "feel" along with the characters, even when they don't wear white hats. And my "Hats Off" to Ridley Scott and a fine cast for a most memorable and provocative film. |
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