Matchstick Men (2004, DVD)

There's a certain mystique to the films that involve scamming. You never, ever, want it to happen to you personally, but sometimes it is great fun to sit and watch it as entertainment.

Meet Frank (Sam Rockwell) and Roy (Nicolas Cage), two small time con men who are running little grifts by separating people from their hard earned money. They've practiced the moves, the ploys, the clothes, but where Frank is getting antsy to make the big bucks, Roy is perfectly content with his world. Sure, he's got a few isssues about things, but he likes the control that the little scams bring him.

But a mischance late one night sets a chain of events in place that quickly spirals out of control, especially for Roy. I did mention he had issues, didn't I? He's obsessive compulsive, demonically neat, and the sight of some carpet fuzz can send him into manical cleaning frenzies, while the thought of the outside brings on panic attacks that are -- extreme. Finding himself in desparate need of help, Roy has to have a new therapist, Dr. Klein (Bruce Altman), and that means revealing himself.

Enter Angela (Alison Lohman), who is Roy's long lost daughter. Pert, terminally cute and a bit of a slyboots herself, she gradually insinuates herself into Roy's life. And when this winsome creature pleads to have him teach her a 'small' con, well, Roy just can't resist...

Especially when Frank puts forward what looks to be the perfect heist...

This is a grand little movie about the game that proves that there's more optimism than sense out there. For as any good con realizes, the best way to handle a mark is to leave just enough skin on him to make him keep wanting to come back. While there are some flaws to the film, Ridley Scott has created such a wickedly funny comedy that it's enough to make the darker part of yourself chuckle in delight. The story is adapted from the book by Eric Garcia by Nicolas and Ted Griffin, and is filled with snappy dialogue and one-liners.

The acting is great, with Cage full of the sort of lost-waif/crazed man that he's so very good at doing. Alison Lohman is utterly convincing as the guileless Angela. So are the minor actors in this one, especially Bruce McGill as the big mark that Frank is lusting after. The soundtrack is a knockout too, mixing up Frank Sinatra tunes with Argentine Tango -- something that was a lot of fun for me to listen to, and gave the film just the right amount of zing. The cinematography is also great, using reflections, lights and shadows to great effect.

The DVD has several featurettes on making the film, from pre-production, production, and post-produciton, along with an audio commentary by the director and writers. There is of course, the theatrical trailer, and dubbing in French, and subtitles in English, French and Spanish.

This isn't for younger viewers, as the intensity and violence get fairly high in spots. Besides a sequence in a strip club, there's a bit of perscription drug abuse, violence, and some foul language. True, you may have the ending figured out by the midpoint of the film, but who cares -- it's still a great ride getting there.