Critic Reviews
Matchstick Men (2003) Rank 4 Reviews
Expert Review Summary
based on (332) reviews
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Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Lohman in particular is effective; I learn to my astonishment that she's 24, but here she plays a 15-year-old with all the tentative love and sudden vulnerability that the role requires, when your dad is a whacko confidence man. ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Movieman's Guide to the Movies (Brian Oliver)
DVD Clinic ("Indiana Sev")
KBTV-NBC (Beaumont, TX) (Danny Minton)
This is the most fun I’ve had at a con movie since Dirty Rotten Scoundrels . ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at KBTV-NBC (Beaumont, TX) (Danny Minton)
TNMC (John "Batman" Shea)
Nicolas Cage is the sort of actor who rises to meet the material he works with. Give him crap and he'll turn in a mediocre performance. Give him something good though and he'll shine. He's very good in this movie. That should tell you all you need to ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at TNMC (John "Batman" Shea)
MovieJustice (Joshua Sandefur)
CineMe (Daniel Meyer)
The Movie Mom (Nell Minow)
Blunt Review (Emily Blunt)
Matchstick Men is viciously entertaining to watch thanks to a mesmerizing performance by Nicolas Cage as a man with more than a few personal idiosyncrasies. ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at Blunt Review (Emily Blunt)
About.com Hollywood Movies (Rebecca Murray)
Reno Gazette-Journal (Mark Robison)
The characters are so good that you'll forget about the con game. ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at Reno Gazette-Journal (Mark Robison)
Bangor Daily News (Maine) (Christopher Smith)
Continues the resurrection of Nicholas Cage's career. ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at Bangor Daily News (Maine) (Christopher Smith)
CineMe (Daniel Meyer)
Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Ridley Scott's "Matchstick Men" tells three stories, each one intriguing enough to supply a movie. It is: (1) the story of a crisis in the life of a man crippled by neurotic obsessions; (2) the story of two con men who happen onto a big score, and (3) the ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Cinema Signals by The Filmiliar Cineaste
Kansas City Star (Shawn Bowers)
The story's a bit on the traditional side (it could be pitched as "Catch Me If You Can" meets "Ocean's 11"), but the three leads make it an enticing and tense caper flick. ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at Kansas City Star (Shawn Bowers)
Journal News (Westchester, NY) (Marshall Fine)
As one would expect from Ridley Scott, Matchstick Men is a visually innovative exercise. ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at Journal News (Westchester, NY) (Marshall Fine)
Harvey S. Karten
The Land of Eric (Eric D. Snider)
Eclipse Magazine (Sean O'Connell)
(A) breezy con artist picture that, while long in the tooth, finds solid roots in valuable family relationships. ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at Eclipse Magazine (Sean O'Connell)
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
The dialogue -- especially that between Roy and Frank -- crackles with wit and intelligence (a rarity in films these days). ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Premiere (Glenn Kenny)
It’s a 21st-century version of "The Sting" for these so far rather unkind and ungentle times. ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at Premiere (Glenn Kenny)
Daily-Reviews.com (Scott Weinberg)
Panorama (Louis-Jérôme Cloutier)
Mathstick Men se compare aisément à Catch Me If You Can sans atteindre la qualité de Ocean's Eleven . ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at Panorama (Louis-Jérôme Cloutier)
Lee's Movie Info (Lee Tistaert)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Eleanor Ringel Gillespie)
[Matchstick Men] is what you get when a bunch of talented pros get together to make a movie without worrying about Oscar nominations, career moves and 10-Best lists. They're just having fun, and chances are, you will, too. ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Eleanor Ringel Gillespie)
Black Cat Media (Richard Leider)
Ridley Scott has given us a "Sting" for the new millenium. ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at Black Cat Media (Richard Leider)
Window to the Movies (Jeffrey Chen)
Reel Movie Critic (Lee Shoquist)
The King's Room (Paul Perkins)
Looking Closer (Jeffrey Overstreet)
MovieFreak.com (Dennis Landmann)
filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
Matchstick Men is an uncharacteristic departure for director Ridley Scott. After all, who didn't think the man was utterly without a sense of humor or even a soul of after the hopelessly depressing Gladiator and Black Hawk Down? But even Scott proves that ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
The Popkorn Junkie
JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")
ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
Cinemaphile.org (David Keyes)
Poor ol' Roy just hasn't got a clue. A man married to his work is bound not to have much of a personal life, but when the person in question is actually a very successful manipulator and con artist, you'd expect him or her to have some kind of free time ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at Cinemaphile.org (David Keyes)
Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)
Jigsaw Lounge (Neil Young)
Mark Reviews Movies (Mark Dujsik)
St. Paul Pioneer Press (Chris Hewitt)
Movieman's Guide to the Movies (Kushmeer Farakhan)
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Movies about confidence tricksters represent an old, although not necessarily respected, sub-genre of the thriller. Many of these films are cheap and cheesy, with silly plots and "twists" that are shaky and predictable. There are a few notable exceptions, ...read the complete Matchstick Men movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
User Reviews
by M. Bernardo "Musi... on October 20, 2009
I love this movie, it is one of my all time favorite. I will admit that sometimes Nicolas Cage does not make the best acting choices, but this movie makes up for that. He is simply incredible and Sam Rockwell is not too bad either. I love them together. ...
by Kate Stokes on June 09, 2009
This is truly one of the best films of the 2000's and unfortunately many people still haven't seen it. A multi-layered film so complex that you will find it in different sections depending on which video rental store you go to. It's a drama, a comedy, a ...
by Tina A. Pixler "t... on October 24, 2008
My husband wanted this movie for his high school class that he teaches. He loves it and thinks that it is a good "life lesson" and an interesting movie. ...
by Moment_29 "Sam" on September 01, 2007
Well, I rented the movie to see how Nicholas cage potrays con man as he looks innocent and sincere guy in his appearance.After seeing the film, I was just thrilled and surprised this didn't touch oscars. Nicholas plays a con guy who misleads people by ...
by R. Barnes "Insati... on July 13, 2007
Matchstick Men was a great movie! It takes a lot for me to say great things about a movie...so if I liked it...it is worth it. Just when you think you have it figured out it blows your mind....I highly recommend. ...
by sfarmer76 "sfarme... on June 11, 2007
Matchstick Men is a widescreen DVD adapted from the Eric Garcia novel of the same name. The movie stars Nicolas Cage and his close friend Sam Rockwell, and introduces audiences to Alison Lohman. The disc also includes some nice extras, such as Tricks of ...
by Benjamin J. Denne... on May 08, 2007
This movie is another one of those clever movies that keeps your mind sharp, If you liked any of the Oceans movies you will love this one. ...
by Damian Gunn "The ... on December 19, 2006
`Matchstick Men' is one of those movies that makes you realize why some actors have support. Up until watching this film I had been a `Cage-Hater', a guy who just couldn't wrap his head around all the critical support (granted, I saw this movie before ...
by M. Persic on November 28, 2006
While not all his films are laudable, Ridley Scott certainly has a gift. His ability to craft a world and a mood shine in this film, aided by perfectly cast talent, namely Nicholas Cage. Yet another role that might have well been impossible without ...
by G.J.G. "Regular g... on September 12, 2006
I happened upon this movie on IFC or some other channel and then had to buy it. What a knock-out. The plot is truly twisted and I'm usually pretty good as guessing where things are going, but you won't believe what happens here. N. Cage is great as an ...
User Comments
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