"Matchstick Men" is funny, endearing and exciting, and it has a surprise ending. What more could you ask for in a heist movie?
Nicolas Cage plays Roy, an obsessive-compulsive con man. When he drops his illegally acquired pink pills down the drain and realizes his drug dealer has skipped town, his condition goes from bad to worse. He won't leave his house, tortured by every imperfection he sees. Finally, his partner Frank (Sam Rockwell, of "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" fame) drags him out of the house and to psychiatrist Dr. Klein (Bruce Altman). Dr. Klein agrees to give Roy one week's worth of pills for every session that he comes in and talks about his problems.
Through these sessions with Dr. Klein, the audience soon learns that at one point, long ago, this neurotic conman was married. His wife left him, however, with -- as he puts it -- "a black eye, which I gave her, and a bun in the oven, which may or may not have been mine." Dr. Klein suggests that Roy call his ex-wife. Being too afraid to do it himself, Roy has Dr. Klein call. This phone call changes Roy's life because he realizes that he does in fact have a 14-year-old daughter; and, moreover, that she wants to meet her father.
At the same time that Roy agrees to meet his daughter, Angela (Alison Lohman, "White Oleander"), he also agrees to assist Frank with a huge con he's been scoping out. Frank met the incredibly wealthy and greedy Chuck Frechette (Bruce McGill, "Legally Blonde 2") and knows that with Roy's help, he can take him for nearly $80,000.
The relationship that unfolds between Roy and Angela is extremely touching, a quality one doesn't find often in heist movies. The film devotes a large amount of time to following the development of this relationship. Roy is a criminal who is used to the single life.Aside from his friendship with Frank, he has virtually no emotional ties with any human being. The idea of being a father both terrifies and, eventually, delights him. As the movie progresses, Roy becomes more and more attached to his daughter.
Angela is intrigued by her new father's criminal career. She begs him to show her the ropes of conning, and he does so. They roam the streets together as Roy teaches her the basic rules of being a successful con artist. These lessons come in handy when, at the last minute, Roy must employ Angela's assistance for the Chuck Frechette job.
I very much enjoyed this film. A heist movie with an emotional side could easily be clumsy or overly cheesy, but "Matchstick Men" is successful at balancing the two aspects. Plus, it's funny. The combination of Roy's neuroses and Frank's easy-going fashion of dealing with them makes the audience laugh more than once.
Finally, it's exciting. Watching the con jobs is like watchinga work of art. They take theatrical skills, coolness under the collar and quick reflexes. I won't explain the ending, because that would be far too cruel. I will warn you, though, not to get too comfortable with the way the movie seems to unfold, because the ending will shock you.
I think that what truly makes this movie a success is the skill of the leading cast. Nicolas Cage is just too good at playing a character who is the paradoxical combination of neurotic and smooth. He will make you laugh and cry with his tics, his compulsions and his attachment to his daughter. Sam Rockwell is hilarious as Frank. His humor and friendship are sometimes the only things that can get Roy out of his house.
Alison Lohman is great as Angela. If you've seen "White Oleander," you know that she is a very talented young actress. My favorite casting job, however, has to be Bruce McGill as Chuck Frechette. Remember D-Day from "Animal House?" The guy who drives the motorcycle up the stairs of the Delta house?Well, that's him.
Go see this movie. It isn't Oscar material, but it's good and entertaining. Two hours well spent.
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