| Posted by: Cronos at June 9, 2005, 7:24 am | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | a very enjoyable film, very well acted, great script which at times was very funny, nice direction and some unexpected plot turns...i had a lot of fun with it 9/10 | | Static Link |
| Posted by: wyodebbie at June 8, 2005, 11:01 am | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | Ridley Scott's "Matchstick Men" is an oh so sly very well-crafted film with three themes seamlessly rolled into one. The acting by Nicolas Cage is simply fantastic as the con man, or matchstick man, who is so obsessive-compulsive has every anxiety under the sun who suddenly discovers he has a fourteen year old daughter he didn't know existed. I loved the line he delivered "I'm not good at being a dad, I barely get by by being myself" with such heart. The chemistry between Cage and Alison Lohman as the fourteen year old daughter is terrific and believable and a necessary ingredient for what follows for the film to succeed. The film succeeded so well I was completely conned. And what a sublime ending, not a hit you in the face, I told you so ending, but an ending where Cage and Lohman had grown and learned a life lesson. I loved the upbeat Frank Sinatra tunes and the clear sharp cinematography. Most of all I loved the brilliant direction by Ridley Scott, a class act all the way. Grade: 8.5 ... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: drdash at May 16, 2004, 3:51 pm | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | I though this film was mediocre and precitable. all the plot twists i saw coming from a mile away. not one of scott's best. i even saw him hooking up with the gorcery cashier. this goes with thelma and louise as one of scott's movies i can do without. 4/10 ciao drdash | | Static Link |
| Posted by: anakinsrise at March 14, 2004, 7:22 pm | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | IN SHORT:Nicolas Cage stands out in this twist filled comedy caper THE GOOD:I love films like this with plenty of twists and turns,but this time it wasnt really the story that pulled me in but the performances by the principal players,Nicolas Cage as the phobic con man,Sam Rockwell as his laid back but money hungry partner,and Allison Lohman as his out of the blue 14 year old daughter.I loved actually being taken on one of the cons.One of the twists actually reminded me of another good film Swimming Pool. THE BAD:I could have done without the one year later scenes but i guess the writer was providing an analogy of salesmen and conmen.I figured out about 90 percent of the twists 30 minutes into the film,but like i said the performances were the standout of the film scale of 1-10 8 | | Static Link |
| Posted by: willem84 at October 20, 2003, 7:37 pm | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | I think I'm one of the only people who actually thought this film was mildly okay. Yes, it was entertaining, and the acting was good, but after looking at the overall view of it, it's something we've seen a million times. Now, usually, if something entertains me as much I overlook that aspect and just look at how well the movie, itself, was done, but Matchstick Men didn't really stick out to me. It was predictable that they'd throw in some ending like that....wasn't predictable as to what it would be necessarily ...but i could see it a mile away. Saw this with a few friends. One hated it. The other two liked it. I thought it was okay. 6/10 | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Backstabba at October 18, 2003, 11:17 am | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | loved it, i think it was a awesome movie, solid acting, good story, funny, I cant say why it was so great because it would blow the brains out of my head... 10/10 | | Static Link |
| Posted by: mofopott at October 3, 2003, 8:36 am | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | Im glad I didnt read any reveiws or posts about this movie because *SPOILER* I loved the ending, i put a spoiler alert as I feel letting people know there is a twist at the end ultimately does spoil the film, because when armed with this knowledge you are always expecting it and watching out for clues. When I saw the end, having no idea about a twist, i flipped my lid ...it was amazing! *END SPOILER* Nic Cage was flawless, Sam Rockwell is sooo under-rated in Hollywood ...this guy is A list material and Alison Lohman is just so adorable, I can hardly beleive she is in her Twenties! One of the best films I have seen this year, until Kill Bill and Return of the King that is! | | Static Link |
| Posted by: RickySlade at September 27, 2003, 11:45 pm | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | Matchstick Men - 9/10 Confidence. The oldest trick in the book. Con movies have always had a weak space in my heart and after seeing this movie, I know why. After seeing such films as "The Spanish Prisoner" and "Confidence" which really tell us good stories of con men, I had high expectations for this movie. With a cast with Nicolas Cage and Sam Rockwell it had to be great. Great it was. Nicolas Cage has had great performances over the years as a alcholic, a child kidnapper and a screenwriter. All of them great, all of them believable. Think to youself, could Nicolas Cage playing a con artist with obsessive compulsive disorder who just discovered he has a daughter work? Hell yes. Nicolas Cage delivers the best performance of the year so far. Everything about his presence seems real and genuine. Then, we have Sam Rockwell. He has now secured himself as an actually good actor. Playing second to Nicolas Cage is a tough thing to do and Rockwell pulls it off. Then there is Alison Lohman. Her s... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: movieguy1021 at September 27, 2003, 9:57 pm | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | At first, it’s hard to believe that Matchstick Men is a Ridley Scott film. He’s mainly known for his gruesome films, like Hannibal and Alien. However, for each Black Hawk Down, there’s a Thelma and Louise. Matchstick Men is by no means a violent film, nor hard to watch. In fact, out of all of the movies of 2003 so far, I’ll bet that this movie has more rewatch value than most. What really makes Matchstick Men a realistic piece is the acting, which I will get into later. Nicolas Cage, in hopefully another Oscar nominated role, plays Roy, a con man (artist, as he would correct you) with obsessive-compulsive disorder. He and his partner Frank (Sam Rockwell) aren’t in the big-time, but still collect decent sums of money. However, he runs out of his pills he needs to control some of his OCD, and his doctor’s moved, so he goes to a psychiatrist (Bruce Altman) in order to get some more. In the course of it, he decides to see if his wife, who was pregnant when they were divorced, has a child. Lo and behold, she does... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: Golden Badtz at September 21, 2003, 3:09 pm | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | MATCHSTICK MEN - 2003 Nicolas Cage - Sam Rockwell - Alison Lohman When going I expected much and got much and a friggin good ending where we see Cage's butt, yummy (joke). The setting in the begining annouces a cool funky style movie, the title sequence and the font where awsome as well, they're fully enjoyable. The character's are colorfull, Roy is very well though, the phobia, the craziness that everything is in perfect state and shape. Rockwell, he was a blast to watch, for a sidekick he is great unlike Robin, the end with him and ... is unexpected. Lohman ... fuck her. The setting was nice, the story was solid, the cons were perfectly realistic, I loved this movie, I consider it as a 2004 gem. Great music, alot of Sinatra and other fucky style films. Except for 1 thing thata didn't work in that movie. The part where Roy, Angela and Kathy meet all 3 in the store .... those who saw the movie would understand what doesn't stick together in this scene. As a result, it's a great movie which you will have a bl... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: moviemuffin at September 20, 2003, 7:50 pm | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | Matchstick Men Review ©reel-reviews.net Rated PG 13 Running time 120 minutes Directed by Ridley Scott Starring Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Alison Lohman, Bruce McGill, Brute Altman If one listens to the buzz surrounding Matchstick Men, one will be expecting Oscar nominations. It's possible. If it happens they will be undeserved. Matchstick Men is an engaging, often funny, and well paced movie. The end. Ridiculous claims that Cage is stretching himself to any vast degree are just that: ridiculous. We have seen this performance before, in fact we have seen it better done. The title role, Roy, played by Cage, borrows very heavily from both his own neurotic initiation in last year's wonderful Adaptation and Jack Nicholson's OCD curmudgeon in As Good As It Gets. The opening scene, in fact, echoes the Nicholson performance so strongly it was rather glaring. The actual parts differ, of course, Jack was playing a nasty and obsessive compulsive homophobic writer who falls in romantic love. Cage is playing a gifted co... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: dillhead005 at September 19, 2003, 6:12 pm | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | Man after the masterpiece Adaptation, I did not think Nicholas Cage could pull off another one, but he did it, with style. This is one of the best films of the year so far in the sense that the acting is sensational (loved seeing Cages mental state with the whole OCD thing) Lohman's charm, and Sam Rockwell's badass, slick willy attitude. Along with exelent, layered characters, we get a flawless and interesting screenplay. Ridley Scott (director) shows his versatility in style on all acounts. We get many slick shots on this baby (many that rang of Catch me if you Can) and we also get inside of Cages head in a very cool sequence (like a Daren Aronofski film, but not as depressing). I can honestly say that I loved this film and recomend it for everyone and anyone that is sick of cliche, one demention, unoriginal, conman movies. Because this one has way more to offer. KEEP EM' COMMIN! 9/10 | | Static Link |
| Posted by: Lynn7 at September 19, 2003, 12:59 pm | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | I was kind of luke warm through most of the movie. I was very aware of Nicholas Cage's acting, and I couldn't really lose myself in his character or the story UNTIL near the end where I definitely got caught up in the events and ended up loving the movie. I saw it last night and I am still thinking about it today. Great job! | | Static Link |
| Posted by: randythetool at September 16, 2003, 12:15 am | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | This and other reviews can be read at http://www.entropyx.com/randy ------------------------------------------------------- "Matchstick Men" hails the triumphant return of director Ridley Scott to the world of serious filmmaking, where the focus is on story and character, instead of violence, suspense, action... all the things that can bring a movie down. That's not to say that "Matchstick Men" lacks those elements, but that they arise from the plot, and allow the story to progress. This is a key downfall of Scott's recent work, notably "Gladiator." Throughout this new film, we can almost hear him apologizing to us, giving us the assurance that the master storyteller Ridley Scott, who gave us "Blade Runner" and "Thelma and Louise," is back, maybe for good. What do we have with "Matchstick Men?" A beautiful and brilliant tale that unfolds effortlessly, led by the best performance of the year in Nicolas Cage's Roy Waller. Much of the praise belongs to... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: Lynn Minmei at September 15, 2003, 5:40 pm | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | Matchstick Men-9.5/10 After a long drought of a summer with few movies that I would mark "decent", I was pleasently surprised to not only see a good film straggling out of the summer lineup, but the best film of the year so far. Nic Cage...For a while he's killed his career with worthless action movies, but after an Oscar nom (And another one perhaps this year, for this incredible movie) it is safe to say he's decided to actually go out and act again. As for Sam Rockwell, I can`'t wait until this guy has A-list star status. Loved him in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and again, love his fairly small role in this movie. Best Supporting Oscar nom, possibly? Not a chance, but he still held his own against Mssr Coppola. If the race for Best Supporting Actress is smaller this year, then please let Alison Lohman in it. A 23-year old playing a 14 year old? That not only takes guts, but it takes talent. But she's so believeable, that most people who see this movie will believe she is, in fact, a teenager... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: BigHoosfan at September 15, 2003, 11:14 am | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | More faith in Nic Cage. Hated Adaptation. Easily a 1/10 in my book. Matchstick gets a solid 7/10 with me. Kinda tired of Sopranos and Analyze This angle now in vogue in Hollywood. Overall, a good movie. Definitely liked the relationships between the daughter, Cage, and Rockwell. Like Rockwell, who was the only good thing in that badly put together Clooney movie. 2 Oscar nominations for Best Actor, already? Nah, Depp's performance in Pirates was better than Cage's work here. Still very good work here. | | Static Link |
| Posted by: MovieMan75 at September 15, 2003, 10:21 am | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | I just got back from this movie, and it definitely suprised me. What a great ending! It's a bit cliched and takes too much style from "Catch Me If You Can", but the charm, the humor, the characters, and the great screenplay make up for it. I also loved the stories and the acting was top-notch. A truely fun, entertaining movie. Stick this in the middle of July, and maybe I'd be able to overlook all the crappy summer movies. My Rating: 7/10 | | Static Link |
| Posted by: bigred760 at September 15, 2003, 10:03 am | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | Got the opportunity to catch a free screening of Matchstick Men last Monday and must say this is definitely a kickass movie. Make it two in a row for good ole Nicholas Cage, he has another impressive performace in this flick (following last year's Adaptation). The movie has excellent performances by all players involved. Good ole Nic Cage has his ticks and mannerisms down as he plays a obsessive compulsive con artist who discovers he has a daughter, excellently played by Allison Lohman. The relationship between the two makes for some touchy, funny, exciting, tense, interesting moments and is what drives most of the movie. The rest is driven by the con(s) that Cage and his partner in crime (the underrated Sam Rockwell) pull off. Rockwell provides a lot of laughs as well as a terrific player as Cage's protege. Ridley Scott is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors. Following movies such as Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, and of course Alien & Blade Runner, he's not doing much wrong. This movie didn't lo... | | Read Entire Entry |
| Posted by: JoBlo at September 15, 2003, 2:45 am | | Topic: Reviews: Matchstick Men Forum: JoBlo | | JoBlo's 8/10 review of MATCHSTICK MEN can be found here: http://www.joblo.com/matchstickmen.htm And what did you think of the movie? Add your comments below. GUIDELINES: CONSTRUCTIVE REVIEWS ONLY! 1) If you haven't seen the movie, don't post here, because it will be deleted. 2) If you add two-bit comments like "it rocked" or "it sucked the big one" or just a grade, it will be deleted. 3) If you insult anyone from the board in your post, it will be deleted and you will be banned from the board. You can disagree with others all you want but no putdowns are necessary to make your points. Read our rules here. | | Static Link |
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