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Matchstick Men
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Matchstick Men (2003) More at IMDbPro »

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Matchstick Men (2003) -- Pre, "This Summer"
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Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   40,508 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 15% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Ridley Scott
Writers (WGA):
Eric Garcia (book)
Nicholas Griffin (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Matchstick Men on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 September 2003 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Drama | Crime | Thriller more
Tagline:
lie cheat steal rinse repeat
Plot:
A phobic con artist and his protege are on the verge of pulling off a lucrative swindle when the con artist's teenage daughter arrives unexpectedly. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(23 articles)
Moon Review
 (From Screen Rant. 10 June 2009, 1:51 PM, PDT)

Drag Me To Hell Review
 (From FilmJunk. 31 May 2009, 11:15 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Wonderful 'Sting' Film with a Twist! more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Nicolas Cage ... Roy Waller

Sam Rockwell ... Frank Mercer

Alison Lohman ... Angela

Bruce Altman ... Dr. Klein

Bruce McGill ... Chuck Frechette

Jenny O'Hara ... Mrs. Schaffer

Steve Eastin ... Mr. Schaffer

Beth Grant ... Laundry Lady

Sheila Kelley ... Kathy
Fran Kranz ... Slacker Boyfriend

Tim Kelleher ... Bishop

Nigel Gibbs ... Holt
Bill Saito ... Pharmacist #1

Tim Maculan ... Pharmacist #2

Stoney Westmoreland ... Man in Line
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, violence, some sexual content and language.
Runtime:
116 min | Canada:120 min (Toronto International Film Festival)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Colour:
Colour (Technicolor) | Colour
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Frank Mercer was named for Frank Sinatra and Johnny Mercer. Roy Waller is seen playing records by the two. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Angela and Roy are fighting outside in the street, she's wearing a necklace that has stones on it and a slight "V". Once they come back inside, the necklace has changed to a simple thin choker. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Roy: Uno, due, tre.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Tricks of the Trade: Making 'Matchstick Men' (2004) (V) more
Soundtrack:
Danke Schoen more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
34 out of 39 people found the following comment useful:-
Wonderful 'Sting' Film with a Twist!, 12 September 2003
Author: Ben Burgraff (cariart) from Las Vegas, Nevada

Anyone who thinks director Ridley Scott doesn't have a gentler side (after all, GLADIATOR, HANNIBAL, and BLACK HAWK DOWN are not exactly 'touchy-feely' movies) may be in for a surprise with his latest, MATCHSTICK MEN. The story of extremely neurotic but brilliant con man Nicolas Cage ("I'm not a criminal," he explains to his shrink, "Criminals hurt people; I don't..."), discovering a daughter he never knew he had (Alison Lohman, of WHITE OLEANDER), on the eve of a big 'Sting', offers as much emphasis on his acceptance of his new parental responsibilities as on the caper he and his partner (the always watchable Sam Rockwell) are pulling off. Cage plays the role brilliantly, making his quirky character sympathetic, and Scott proves again why he is one of Hollywood's premier directors.

The success of a film like this depends on the chemistry between the leads, and Cage and Lohman are terrific together. The young actress manages to be 'sweet' without being 'innocent', and the tentative steps she and Cage take to understand each other are both believable, and touching. In one scene, he attempts to prove to her that he can cook by preparing a spaghetti dinner...after one bite, the scene shifts to the arrival of the Domino's delivery boy!

Ultimately, however, MATCHSTICK MEN is a tale of 'The Con', and Cage and Rockwell's 'Sting' against 'fat cat' Bruce McGill, while appearing deceptively simple, has a series of twists and turns, leading to a climax that is both stunning and unexpected. This is the kind of movie that will have you putting pieces together, LONG after it ends.

It is an intriguing and rewarding film, and shouldn't be missed!





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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Matchstick Men (2003)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Wow now I dont feel so guilty..lol chicagoridge8
Was Roy's Old Doctor (SPOILERS) Azurewraith92
What's with all the cigarette smoking?? 4friedchickensandacoke
Fantastic Film CFairy
Question about the end... dub_c7
How much money *Spoilers* GardenStatement
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