MoviemagiK previews MATCHSTICK MEN

September 12, 2003

con drama/ comedy

Starring Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Alison Lohman, Bruce Altman

Directed by Ridley Scott
Studio: Warner Bros.

all pictures (c) Warner Bros Pictures

Based on the novel penned down by Eric Garcia, Ridley Scott tries to bring yet another one of his works to the big screen - Matchstick Men.

Though Ridley Scott did make a terrific comeback with big flicks like Gladiator, Hannibal and Black Hawk Down, this time the director is trying his hands on a more small-scale flick. But will it match the success of his Thelma and Louise is what has to be watched out for. If it works, good for Scott and Cage...and even if does not, Ridley Scoot has already got his hands full with numerous other projects which he will be working on back-to-back. For Scott, this was one of those fun projects where he can let his hair down before getting up and going on his epic Tripoli with Russell Crowe later.

Nicolas Cage plays a expert con man suffering from obsessive compulsive behaviour,who is so well organized and has already set his eyes on his next big heist which he plans to execute with the help of his partner Frank (Sam Rockwell).

However all plans go awry when his daughter (Alison Lohman), a daughter he never knew he had, suddenly shows up at the door. And now after the father and daughter begins to get a good bonding get going, she also becomes a part of the con.

From all the early peek reviews, the film looks like to be a thoroughly enjoyable fare with the third act springing up some real solid twist to keep this film one of the better con/heist flicks in recent memory. And top it all with a paranoia character that only Nicholas Cage can pull off, the film looks set to surprise many out there.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this one will be the services of Sam Rockwell who did come up with a powerhouse performance late 2002 with the Clooney directorial venture Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.

Alison Lohman is another star you would like to keep your eyes on. For she plays out the 14 year old teenage just like you expect a 14 year old teenage to be. But the twist is the fact that she might look and act like one, but she is indeed all of 24!!

But one have to agree that heist movies have come in plenty of late, and one has to see whether this movie, which will be more character driven, will have anything new to offer. Atleast on the positive front, one of the writers is Ted Giffin, from the Ocean 11 team.

The film initially was all set for a August release, but now is pushed to September and will be locking horns with Rodriguez' Once Upon A Time In Mexico, the followup to Desperado. Matchstick Men will surely play second fiddle to that flick when it opens up, but it is the following week that will do the talking for the fate of this flick.

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