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Matchstick Men
(Reviewed September 12, 2003)
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Nicolas Cage gives an entertainingly twitchy over-the-top performance, Alison Lohman is good as his teenage daughter, and the god-awful Sam ("Confessions of a Dangerous Mind") Rockwell still can't
act worth a damn in this story about a con artist, his daughter and his loudly annoying partner in crime. This one has "catch it on cable" written all over it; there is nothing here that demands it be seen on a
big screen for real money. The story is sort of "enhhh," I didn't like the way-too-easy ending, and the whole affair has an atmosphere of nervous, unpleasant dread. (Don't go expecting a wacky night's
laugh-out-loud entertainment, in other words.)
Plus why the hell is the studio using the song "Brazil" in the TV ads for this movie? Christ, people, have a little respect for a masterpiece (namely, Terry Gilliam's "Brazil," which used the same
song as its theme). What's next, for God's sake? The "Chinatown" theme played over ads for the "Ocean's 11" sequel?
"Matchstick Men" isn't worthless, but it sure seems like a waste of director Ridley Scott's talents and time. And why Scott didn't fire Sam Rockwell on his first day of shooting is a mystery for
the ages. Rockwell is totally wrong for his role, making big gestures and wearing a cowboy hat and generally acting like a bigmouth with ADD. Yeah, that's definitely the sort of fellow I envision being a
convincing keep-things-on-the-down-low con artist.
Cage is interesting to watch, but not $8.00 worth of interesting.
Back Row Grade: C-
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