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Matchstick Men
Starring Nicolas
Cage, Sam Rockwell, Alison Lohman
Rated PG-13 for
thematic elements, language, some sexual content, and violence
*****
Speaking of best films, “Matchstick Men” is another Oscar worthy film.
It’s a tricky con game that boasts more intelligence and wit than “Ocean’s
Eleven,” plus it has some main characters that are impossible to beat. It is
also one of the year’s best.
Nicolas Cage gives one of his best performances as Roy, an obsessive-compulsive
con artist, who works with Frank (Sam Rockwell.) They both exceed in tricking
innocent people out of their money. But when Roy’s daughter, Angela (Alison
Lohman) starts living in his home, things get messy because his house cannot be
in the perfectly orderly manner it was in. Plus, she wants in on his cons, which
only leads to trouble (a big con is in the makings…and her involvement both
saves it and ruins it.) I wouldn’t dare say anything more – the ending is
absolutely amazing – it proves that not all movies this year are complete
clichés.
But the real thing to watch here is Cage – in a performance for the
ages. He goes into a hyper-uncontrollable state when he doesn’t have his
medicine – and so the house cleaning begins. The conversations with his
psychiatrist, his ‘ticks’, the antics, fits and pain he develops through his
character are amazing, brilliant and funny at the same time. The scenes at the
end especially prove him to be one of cinema’s finest actors.
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