By Tanya Batson-Savage, Staff Reporter
Nicholas Cage (Roy Waller) and Sam Rockwell (Frank Mercer) in a scene from the movie 'Matchstick Men', which is playing in theatres islandwide. - Contributed
MATCHSTICK MEN is a smart and very funny movie that easily takes you along for a great ride and ends up where you would not expect it. This makes it even better. It is like buying chocolate chip ice cream and then realising that the chips are actually chunks.
A matchstick man is a 'samfie', or con-artist if you will. No mere 't'ree cyard man' depending on the hand being quicker than the eye, Roy Waller (Nicolas Cage) is the Picasso of con-artists. In essence, he could sell special melt-resistant snowballs to the devil.
EXTREME PHOBIAS
His only problem is that he lives on the neurotic side of life. Roy not only fears being in the great outdoors for too long, but dirt also appears to bring on a massive attack of the 'heebie jeebies'. A smooth operator when his phobias subside, he is a ghastly (albeit very funny to the onlooker) mess when they act up. However, nervous ticks and grunts aside, he is great at what he does, which is tricking people into giving him their money.
Frank Mercer, played by Sam Rockwell, is his protégé and partner. Both men are extremely different, which allows for some of the comedy, though Matchstick Men does not attempt to be a buddy movie. It is much more than that. Where Frank is messy and far too relaxed, Roy is far too obsessed about being clean.
Unfortunately, Roy's teenage daughter Angela, played by Alison Loyhan, is about to hit the scene and evidently fatherhood and being a con-artist do not mesh very well.
NOT CLICHÉD
Based on the book by Eric Garcia, directed by Ridley Scott, the movie is smart enough to veer away from any clichés. The plot is well crafted, offering a few twists, but everything is plausible. In keeping with its main characters, it easily sucks you in, earns your trust and then delivers a good surprise. All this is smoothly sewn together with witty conversation that keeps the movie entertaining every step of the way.
The best thing about this movie, however, is the characterisation. Attention is clearly paid to the little details that make a character plausible. The height of all this is the creation of Roy.
GOOD PERFORMANCES
With Roy, Nicholas Cage gives one of his best performances. This movie is quite a testament to his fluidity as an actor. He creates a beautiful rendition of this very tragic figure who is obsessed with how many times a door is left open. Every tick, grunt and squint was well timed, allowing you to really feel that you know the character at the end of the day.
Sam Rockwell also gives a good performance, so good that you will simply have to reassess him when you see how the movie turns out.
WORTH THE TIME
Although it does not really have a moral (which would only spoil this fun tale) Matchstick Men is not quite amoral either, managing to be something in between. The best part is that everything seems to be so light on the surface that you do not realise the serious bits until it is too late, because you are already having a great time.
This movie is absolutely worth watching and certainly makes up for the creation of travesties such as Gigli.
