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Film Discussion => The Vault => Topic started by: filmcritic on September 13, 2003, 12:40:50 AM

Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: filmcritic on September 13, 2003, 12:40:50 AM
Great movie! Ridley Scott did a great job and Nicholas Cage is probably going to get an Oscar nomination off of this. Really solid writing...and the ending is gonna blow everyone away.

Also...look out for Melora Walters as Cage's ex-wife.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Derek237 on September 13, 2003, 12:06:24 PM
I have to see this movie! I'm a huge fan of both Nick Cage and sir Ridley Scott. I saw the press conference on TV during TIFF coverage and it looks very interesting....
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Anachronism on September 13, 2003, 02:05:37 PM
I can't wait for this flick either, much like you both I am a huge Cage fan. I think there are few actors who can pull that whole spontaneous kinetic energy thing that Nic can and coupled with eye jerking nervous ticks I can only stab at what hilarity must ensue. I was actually watching "Kiss of Death" the other day and was so re-enthused with his work that I rushed out and rented a whole slew of Nic Coppola flicks, and let me tell you what a treat. I had forgotten gems like "Trapped in Paradise" and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." Anyhow I hope this film makes me laugh.
Title: Re: Matchstick Men
Post by: RegularKarate on September 13, 2003, 05:17:12 PM
Quote from: filmcritic..and the ending is gonna blow everyone away.

Man, I hate when people say this...
Title: Re: Matchstick Men
Post by: Sleuth on September 13, 2003, 05:54:19 PM
Quote from: RegularKarate
Quote from: filmcritic..and the ending is gonna blow everyone away.

Man, I hate when people say this...

Yeah, because you start suspecting a lot and try to figure it out and then you do figure it out and it doesn't blow you away
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: filmcritic on September 13, 2003, 06:53:54 PM
In that case, don't try hard and let the plot unfold as it comes.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: RegularKarate on September 13, 2003, 07:06:53 PM
Quote from: filmcriticIn that case, don't try hard and let the plot unfold as it comes.

Dude, it's too late
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: picolas on September 13, 2003, 07:24:55 PM
Quote from: RegularKarate
Quote from: filmcriticIn that case, don't try hard and let the plot unfold as it comes.

Dude, it's too late
never too late for a blow to the back of the head! you know. the remembering part! tJE part WITh Mememmmeemmmmooooo.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Cecil on September 13, 2003, 07:56:47 PM
thats why i dont read threads about films i havent seen yet
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: cine on September 13, 2003, 09:33:14 PM
Dear god. Hope this doesn't spoil people's expectations about filmcritic's comments but the ending won't BLOW EVERYONE AWAY. I just saw it tonight.. its Ridley Scott's best movie, one of Cage's best performances.. but really.. before anybody comes on here and says "fuck filmcritic.. what were you talking about with the ending?"
It's a great film and just enjoy for what it is. filmcritic is exaggerating. Hope I didn't spoil anything.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: NEON MERCURY on September 13, 2003, 11:22:57 PM
Quote from: Cinephile.it's Ridley's Scott's best movie..

I seriously doubt it in fact this film looks weak...but  i haven't seen it yeet either.so don't give me the "you can't remark about a film you haven't seen"...b/c some things i know.... personally every trailer that i have seen and liked i have been pleased to enjoy the film its self..for me the trailer is the best telling sign...(look at Radio)...everyone seems to bash it w/o seeing it ..you just know certain things ....as for his best film..he already achieved that and most likely won't top it ..it's called Blach Hawk Down..way under-rated  IMO...

Quote from: Cinephile"fuck filmcritic..what were you talking about with the ending?"

i wouldn't say that ..that s mean.... :wink:
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Pubrick on September 14, 2003, 02:57:43 AM
yeah i was wondering what happened to geena davis.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Pozer on September 14, 2003, 11:54:27 AM
Quote from: Pyeah i was wondering what happened to geena davis.

I WAS GONNA FUCKING SAY THAT!
now I'll just say, touche!
FUCK, THAT WAS SAID TOO!
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: edison on September 14, 2003, 02:11:56 PM
Pretty good flick, reminded me a lot of House of Games though. I dont think Nic will get a Oscar nomination, maybe a Golden Globe.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Finn on September 14, 2003, 02:27:21 PM
Good movie, but I didn't think the ending was surprising. Nicholas Cage is the man!
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Alethia on September 14, 2003, 02:36:13 PM
i really didn't like the ending.  what a fucking cheat.  but still worth seeing, the rest is good.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Ghostboy on September 16, 2003, 01:34:03 AM
Yeah, too bad Cage is venturing back into Bruckheimer territory after this, because it was a wonderful performance. Alison Lohman is just too cute. And I thought the epilogue was nice. But the ending...well, let me move into inviso-text:


It's one of those 'everything you knew was a lie' cliches, and it just annoyed me. It made the film impossible to take seriously anymore, because something like that would just be too complext to pull off at that level. I guessed that Frank would screw Roy, but I didn't guess the extent of the con, just because I thought the movie was playing things closer to reality. It makes everything that came before it seem completely predestined, if you will. Took all the spontanaeity out of it.

Roger Ebert must have seen this movie at precisely the right time on precisely the right day to love it as much as he did.

Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Pwaybloe on September 16, 2003, 10:32:09 AM
I agree with the Friendly Ghost.  

SPOILERS
The con was just too complex to pull off in real life.  And all this was time and effort went into getting 1 million dollars (+ or -), AND splitting this up with, if I remember this right, 5 other people (not including his "daughter")?  Seems pointless.  
END SPOILERS

On a similar note, "Swimming Pool" had an ending that changed your whole perspective of the movie as a whole, and it worked because it was on more of a, er, psychological level.  "Matchstick Men" wasn't.  

The ending just didn't work, but the rest of the movie was really good.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Pubrick on September 16, 2003, 10:36:30 AM
ending ending ending
ending ending ending
ending ending ending.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Gold Trumpet on September 16, 2003, 07:10:36 PM
So many problems. To begin, (spoilers) Cage shows his lack of talents as an actor yet again and how Depp can join him in the same category. Both guys can be seen as actors driven to play parts of people......but with a weirdness to them; a quirck of some sort. The only "normal" people these guys came near touching was The Family Man (Cage) and Nick of Time (Depp). The thing is, their general weirdness, seems never really to have a point. Cage, in this movie, has ticks and a condition that allows him free reign on facial movements. Its not needed. The only set up for this condition is to the oddity of him having a daughter and dealing with it (typical French cliche) and starting to change from her being in his life (typical American cliche). Thing is, Cage just being a career criminal and having to be a dad all of a sudden could lead him to all these problems and changes. The ticks and conditions aren't needed. They actually destroy potential story because the movie spent 20 minutes just introducing his mental condition. Weirdness for the sake of weirdness. To get back to Depp, I did complement him in parts of his last two movies. They were cheap movies, though and by the time writing for his character got to general par, he was engaging because he was playing more likable characters and everyone was still written to crap. Unlike most others here, I'm not going to give him any dick suck for his last two performances.

Then, the revealing ending. it was cheap and destructable, but not what announced a bad ending. That came when the situation amounted to the girl killing the guy in the final confrotation. That was cheap thriller ending in every sense. The revelation itself was predictable. Any fan of Mamet saw that coming a mile away. Mamet was more for the con and clever in his movies so you felt less robbed by the gimmickery of a "turn the table" kind of ending. And of course, general rule in my opinion when a movie rests on a "surprise" ending, it usually suggests a shit film.

~rougerum
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: edison on September 16, 2003, 11:22:10 PM
I think the whole tick thing was because of the con jobs, because at the end he doesnt have them anymore, it was more of just a mental thing, i dont think he was really ill with it, he just though he was. but yeah, its mainly one of those ohhhh, heres an actor doing the i have a illness thing, lets nominate him for some awards, but really i think doing the con jobs messed him up more than anything.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: cinemanarchist on September 19, 2003, 10:08:27 AM
I was struck by the amount of corporate bonding that went on in this film. It seemed as though most of their memorable times together were either eating Domino's or Ben and Jerry's.

*SPOILER ALERT*
After she was gone he was still buying the ice cream...nothing like a product to remind us of things gone by.

*END SPOILER*

I realize we sometimes do this in our day to day lives, perhaps a food will remind us of someone...but the way it was handled in this film made it feel more like a commercial than anything else to me. Otherwise, terrific cinematography...the supermarket reminded me alot of PDL and his house reminded me of Boogie Nights.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Cecil on September 19, 2003, 06:35:27 PM
Quote from: cinemanarchistI realize we sometimes do this in our day to day lives, perhaps a food will remind us of someone...but the way it was handled in this film made it feel more like a commercial than anything else to me.

i disagree. cast away is what felt like a commercial to me
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: MrBurgerKing on September 19, 2003, 07:36:59 PM
Quote from: cinemanarchistI was struck by the amount of corporate bonding that went on in this film. It seemed as though most of their memorable times together were either eating Domino's or Ben and Jerry's.

*SPOILER ALERT*
After she was gone he was still buying the ice cream...nothing like a product to remind us of things gone by.

*END SPOILER*

I realize we sometimes do this in our day to day lives, perhaps a food will remind us of someone...but the way it was handled in this film made it feel more like a commercial than anything else to me. Otherwise, terrific cinematography...the supermarket reminded me alot of PDL and his house reminded me of Boogie Nights.

This is completely unrelated and I'm sorry, but --

cinemanarchist's Avatar Please Marry Me!

:shock:

I did like this flick. Nice cinematography.. Ridley Scott always knows how to make the best use of the widescreen.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: cinemanarchist on September 19, 2003, 08:49:58 PM
This is also completely unrelated...but a Gap, Burger King, Hitler cross promotion/marriage would truly bring the world to its knees...and provide comfortable slave labor khakis and delicious hamburgers...nay...Whoppers!
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: tpfkabi on September 19, 2003, 11:26:05 PM
so Allison Lohman is 23? ........i really believed that she was that
young........

***spoiler****

is she actually a 14 year old girl in the script though? i just thought it weird that a 15 year old girl would move in with a guy

****end*****

melora looks really old

oh, and Sam Rockwell was totally different that his character in Confessions.......i was surprised, but i also haven't seen any of his other films, so maybe that's his mold and Confessions was a departure
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Jensen Briggs on September 21, 2003, 03:16:57 PM
I suggest the book, it's marvelous.
The movie, however, was a let-down.  I was hoping for more focus on the scams than Roy's ticks.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: The Silver Bullet on September 22, 2003, 11:29:08 PM
Quote from: Cinephile...it's Ridley's Scott's best movie...
Quote from: NEON MERCURY...as for his best film..he already achieved that and most likely won't top it ..it's called Blach Hawk Down...
Ahem:

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emsf.rai.it%2Fdati%2Ftrasmissioni%2Fimages%2Fblade-runner.gif&hash=fb5e292c6923b082af3b6fadd4727501bd39cb72)
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: edison on September 22, 2003, 11:42:43 PM
Quote from: The Silver Bullet
Quote from: Cinephile...it's Ridley's Scott's best movie...
Quote from: NEON MERCURY...as for his best film..he already achieved that and most likely won't top it ..it's called Blach Hawk Down...
Ahem:

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emsf.rai.it%2Fdati%2Ftrasmissioni%2Fimages%2Fblade-runner.gif&hash=fb5e292c6923b082af3b6fadd4727501bd39cb72)

This movie is so choice, if you have the means I highly recommend picking it up for a viewing. Good call Silver Bullet.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: The Silver Bullet on September 23, 2003, 05:09:03 AM
Screw viewing, try owning.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: cine on September 23, 2003, 07:30:09 AM
I actually feel Matchstick Men is his best work. The runner up for me would be Blackhawk Down (that movie was just unjustifiably raped at the oscars), then Thelma and Louise, Someone to Watch Over Me, and then either 1492 or Blade Runner. I think that would be my own top 5.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Alethia on September 23, 2003, 08:01:52 AM
Quote from: Cinephile1492
Quote

I really HATED that movie.  I like most of his other shit though.  and i'd have to agree with whoever said it above me a few posts, I think Blade Runner is my fave.  blackhawk down i loved.  alien, well, just really cool.  matchstick men, i liked, but i already posted why i didnt love it.  hannibal was ok.  thelma and louise is really good, someone to watch over me was ok, gladiator i actually really liked (for certain reasons), and i also really like the duellists.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: abuck1220 on September 23, 2003, 12:13:20 PM
spoilers abound....

i also didn't particularly care for the wrapped up ending, but i felt as though the movie kind of sealed its own fate in a funny way. what i mean is this -- the "first" ending (cage realizing he's been duped totally -- no doctors, no shrink, no $, no daughter) is almost TOO harsh of an ending to pin on a guy the audience has come to know and love. i mean, that's just rough. so, unless they wanted the audience walking out of the theatre feeling really crumby they HAD to tack on the ending like they did. the super-rough quasi-ending written for cage's character kind of forced their hand in a way.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: edison on September 23, 2003, 12:51:47 PM
Quote from: The Silver BulletScrew viewing, try owning.

well thats what i meant, i guess i should have written it that way. and besides, who wants to buy it now when somewhere down the line that special edition is sure to be released on dvd.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Pas on September 23, 2003, 09:03:17 PM
Great great movie ! Cage totally owned the role and I'm really starting to like this Sam Rockwell guy.

I felt it should hav ended with Cage screaming in front of her ex-wife's door though. That would have been awesome.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Finn on September 24, 2003, 02:49:38 PM
I agree that the last two minutes in the store was probably not appropriate. it was like they were trying to wrap everything in a nice feel-good bow.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Vivian Darkbloom on September 26, 2003, 10:29:14 AM
This movie is not the sixth sense !

I actually liked the movie a lot as I was seeing it and I likedit a lot better when the ending came (not the supermarket scene but the one in  the store). It had to end like this because the movie then becomes a metaphor of its therapy (remember Freud used to say the patient has to pay with cash for every session in order to feel the transfer... In a way, that's what Cage's character does.) And it's also more vastly a metaphor of human relathionships : in the end, even know they both know they're lyring to each other, they're still pretending because it's easier, it's more relieving...
If the movie actually ended with Cage screaming, it would have ruined everything.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on September 28, 2003, 12:08:56 PM
Quote from: The Gold TrumpetThen, the revealing ending. it was cheap and destructable, but not what announced a bad ending. That came when the situation amounted to the girl killing the guy in the final confrotation. That was cheap thriller ending in every sense. The revelation itself was predictable. Any fan of Mamet saw that coming a mile away. Mamet was more for the con and clever in his movies so you felt less robbed by the gimmickery of a "turn the table" kind of ending. And of course, general rule in my opinion when a movie rests on a "surprise" ending, it usually suggests a shit film.

I agree. The end was terrible. And it doesn't even make sense. Mamet would cry at the mess the movie makes of its manipulative minutia. There's far too much to explain. There are just too many steps in the process. Event one leads to event two, which, through a minefield of innumerable, small, uncontrollable events, leads to event three, which perfectly sets up the twist ending. Unless they left a scene of divine intervention out of the final cut, I don't buy it.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: MacGuffin on September 28, 2003, 10:10:36 PM
I was really enjoying this movie. It had a nice relationship going between Cage and Lohman; along the lines of "Paper Moon"... But then the ending came.


*SPOILERS*



It really raped that relationship. It was a joy to see the two of them learning from each other. The final con went against the rest of the movie. It seemed too much of a leap to explain it as, "Roy, you always said to go for it when you see it." Roy says, he'll 'take' anybody (fat, lonely, etc.) But this became more personal (using Roy's ex-wife, his ticks, his long lost daughther) than a con.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: abbey road on September 28, 2003, 10:28:59 PM
i really hated it, i think nick cage (who i nrmally love) was going to far to the point of overacting/self-parody, the stor was way to confused upon weather it was a con film or a film with a point to it, the end, especially the con, wa horrible, i felt abused watching how the movie ended- i could have been waaaay better- but the cinematography was great, and ridley scott, even in bad descions, does a good directing job.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Gold Trumpet on September 28, 2003, 11:15:55 PM
A lot of this movie was organic in that it rested on characters and such. So much trickery for trickery's sake as if the characters weren't interesting enough to leave alone (Actually, I tend to agree with this though the solution falls flat also). In all that is bad with the ending, I will agree with Vivian Darkbloom's analysis on the final scene. It's a nice little touch. An ending of Cage just losing it all would have been further into genre cliche and out of the body (as all the trickery as well) of the film when focused on characters. A movie with better development and story would have made this final scene even better.

~rougerum
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: ©brad on September 29, 2003, 09:02:28 AM
spoilers abound.

Quote from: MacGuffinI was really enjoying this movie. It had a nice relationship going between Cage and Lohman; along the lines of "Paper Moon"... But then the ending came.


*SPOILERS*



It really raped that relationship. It was a joy to see the two of them learning from each other. The final con went against the rest of the movie. It seemed too much of a leap to explain it as, "Roy, you always said to go for it when you see it." Roy says, he'll 'take' anybody (fat, lonely, etc.) But this became more personal (using Roy's ex-wife, his ticks, his long lost daughther) than a con.

well let me get the good stuff out of the way; performances across the board were terrific, as was the cinematography. im amazed at scott's ability to make any shot, be it in a ford, an ugly doctor's office, in parking lots- all beautiful ones! and hans zimmer's score, well, i think the source music kinda drowned out the score itself, but nevertheless, it works.

i have mixed feelings on the ending. i didn't know what to think of it at first when we were driving home. one things for sure- it was certainly one of scott's more manipulative movies, if not the most. essentially what the movie is telling us is that everyone's a suspect and to believe in human decency is pointless cuz u can't trust anyone. this makes me question the final shot w/ the cashier- after going through the anal raping he did, would he fall so easily for this chick? what if it was yet another con? how could u trust anyone after that?

i tell u what would have been a better ending- angela has a change of heart as a result of her time spent w/ cage, and when she is suppose to do her part in the end, she ends up fucking roy and the other dude, leaving them high and dry. she comes back to cage's place to find him sitting in his living room, cleaning his carpet, chainsmoking, depressed, only to give him back his money. then they take off for hawaii.

see, that would've been better.

actually im not sure that would work either. u see, its doing my head in cuz there r times when i think the ending really does work.  :crazyeyes:

anyhow, the movie is defintely one to see. sum funny stuff in it too.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: MacGuffin on September 29, 2003, 02:49:09 PM
*SPOILERS*

Just thought of something. Correct me if I'm wrong, but at the beginning, Roy knocks over his bottle of pills and needs to find his shrink to get more, right? How would Rockwell's character have known this was going to happen? The whole con depended on Cage going to this new shrink recommended by Rockwell since it played into the whole finding the daughter, etc. And while I could believe Roy would have fallen for the rest, it seems like a big gaping plot hole that the pill spill could have been calculated into the con.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on September 29, 2003, 04:01:57 PM
SPOILERS

Quote from: MacGuffinJust thought of something. Correct me if I'm wrong, but at the beginning, Roy knocks over his bottle of pills and needs to find his shrink to get more, right? How would Rockwell's character have known this was going to happen? The whole con depended on Cage going to this new shrink recommended by Rockwell since it played into the whole finding the daughter, etc. And while I could believe Roy would have fallen for the rest, it seems like a big gaping plot hole that the pill spill could have been calculated into the con.

That's what I was thinking. Like I said, there are too many steps in the process. I guess Rockwell's character could have waited for his supply to run out and rigged the doctor being out of town thing. But still, they would have had to know A LOT about Roy, and mostly things that Roy doesn't even know, to predict that he would respond to the psychiatrist every time in every way he did... i.e. not really needing medication, having guilt about his previous marriage, having a secret urge for a paternal relationship, NEVER contacting his ex-wife (even about the custody thing), NEVER dropping off or picking up his daughter at her house or trying to call her or contact her at her house. It goes on. Besides, Mamet has taught us that there are much easier cons.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: godardian on September 29, 2003, 04:16:59 PM
I was really surprised by how little I disliked this. It was mostly the cutesy, "comic" stuff and Nic Cage hamming... the Ridley Scott Stuff was more or less vintage, though.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: modage on September 29, 2003, 08:30:20 PM
this movie broke my heart.  broke it.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Fernando on October 06, 2003, 01:54:05 PM
Does anybody know the song that is played in some of the trailers? I'm almost sure that it's an 80's song, it sounds like a single guitar or bass.

Mac? anyone?
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Pozer on November 08, 2003, 05:18:00 PM
Quote from: MacGuffin*SPOILERS*

Just thought of something. Correct me if I'm wrong, but at the beginning, Roy knocks over his bottle of pills and needs to find his shrink to get more, right? How would Rockwell's character have known this was going to happen? The whole con depended on Cage going to this new shrink recommended by Rockwell since it played into the whole finding the daughter, etc. And while I could believe Roy would have fallen for the rest, it seems like a big gaping plot hole that the pill spill could have been calculated into the con.

yeah, YES, yeah.
FINALLY saw this for a buck (godbless the new dollar theater by my house). And I don't care how many times it's been said: THE ENDING DESTROYED THIS MOVIE. Cage was great, man. All three of them were really good, but Cage (along with the story) kept me so entertained and then...BLEH.
Tell me your much more creative mind wasn't thinking of a better way to go with that story.
But Macguffins above statement is the exact thought I was left with and trying to explain to the people I went with. He wanted and would have nothing to do with another shrink, but by a miracle he lost his pills. They should've had him just run out of pills so he calls his shrink and then he finds out he mysteriously died or was just missing or something, then later reveal that it was apart of Rockwell's plan.
But that still wouldn't change the fact of the ending SUCKING!
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: modage on February 03, 2004, 02:56:58 PM
looks like we have a snapper...

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.amazon.com%2Fimages%2FP%2FB00012QLB4.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg&hash=6e54fa29a73efc140c0aaf49b8156b6435e1c68a)
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: ono on February 03, 2004, 03:00:44 PM
It boggles the mind why they do this.  These cases suck.  Anyone know what they're thinking when they opt for this style case?
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: modage on February 03, 2004, 03:07:26 PM
cause they're real real cheap.  same reason some movies come without inserts i guess.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Pubrick on March 21, 2004, 10:09:38 AM
man, i feel like sumone just cheated on me.

a question for the sick puppies who bought this HIDEOUS BITCH GODDESS of a movie on dvd, how can u watch it again? how can u look it in the eye without wanting to throw up?

endings are the most important things, and man, this has got to be....... .......... .................. there should be a support group for victims of abusive movies.

i wonder if alison lohman's hotness can redeem this in (reluctant) future viewings, i seriously doubt it.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: modage on March 21, 2004, 10:12:22 AM
Quote from: themodernage02this movie broke my heart.  broke it.

i know how you feel P.  

HUGE SPOILERS







i thought when i walked out of that movie that i'd never be able to watch it again.  to know that the sweet father daughter relationship, which i thought was the whole crux of the film, was only a con!!!  it totally broke my heart.  i could hardly look at her at the end of the film.  even though they tried to end it happily, i didnt see it that way at all.  however with a few months between me and the initial heartbreak i do feel like i will be picking up this film when i can get it for 10$ at my video store.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Pubrick on March 21, 2004, 10:26:48 AM
Quote from: themodernage02HUGE SPOILERS

however with a few months between me and the initial heartbreak i do feel like i will be picking up this film when i can get it for 10$ at my video store.
i hope that's just out of Macophilia (uncontrollable urge to collect every dvd), cos right now i cannot imagine anyone ever watching this again. hence my question to those who will/hav..

the cast, original story, everything was so perfect. i thought i was witnessing a new likeable side of ridley scott. god, what a jerk.

oh well.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Kal on March 21, 2004, 10:31:21 AM
SPOILERS

The movie was excellent until the end... I was very dissapointed with the end, because not only they fucked him but then she walks in and sees him as a carpet salesman and they act like everything is cool between them... they pretend to be father and daughter again... and it really doesnt make any sense... Cage's character loses personality and everything that had special during the film... he should have freaked out when he saw her again... or I dont know... he cant end up being a damn carpet salesman after all he experienced in his life and everything that happened...

How the fuck can he afford to continue to live in that house and have a wife and a child anyways working as a carpet salesman and marrying the supermarkets cashier?  :!:

btw during the movie I was already thinking "fuck what a great movie i have to buy this dvd right away"... and now i seriously wouldnt... i cant watch it again... it pisses me off from the start...

admin's note.. please use the edit button
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: MacGuffin on March 21, 2004, 10:34:30 AM
Quote from: Pubricki thought i was witnessing a new likeable side of ridley scott. god, what a jerk.

oh well.

It's not entirely Ridley's fault. According to the commentary track, the writers felt the same way after reading the book, and wrote their draft of the script without the twist. It was Robert Zemeckis (who left the project to do Polar Express) who told them to stay to the novel.

*MINOR SPOILERS*

In the documentary, there was actually a lot more indications to the con in the first cut of the film (exchanged glances and characters smiling to themselves) but they felt it was too on the nose.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Pubrick on March 21, 2004, 10:57:25 AM
Quote from: MacGuffinIt's not entirely Ridley's fault. According to the commentary track, the writers felt the same way after reading the book, and wrote their draft of the script without the twist. It was Robert Zemeckis (who left the project to do Polar Express) who told them to stay to the novel.

*MINOR SPOILERS*

In the documentary, there was actually a lot more indications to the con in the first cut of the film (exchanged glances and characters smiling to themselves) but they felt it was too on the nose.
oh. cool, that changes things slightly. i guess i'll check out those two features then..
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: cine on March 21, 2004, 11:25:21 AM
I don't know if I could actually see this film again and enjoy it like I did before. The first time I was immersed in the film's energy, but this time, I don't think I would care as much. The performances would be worth watching again though. Cage's performance was worth an Oscar nod before something like Penn's I Am Sam performance anyday.

Oh, and another thing. This is WAY better than 21 Grams. How do you like that, Neon?
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: modage on March 21, 2004, 01:06:14 PM
really cool/quirky editing in this.  and yes, a little macophilia but also because i'm a sucker for the CAGE.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: El Duderino on March 21, 2004, 04:03:52 PM
i liked the directing a lot. nic cage was great, sam rockwell was good, and alison lohman was good too. i agree, the editing was damn good
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: Pas on March 21, 2004, 04:19:23 PM
Weird I kinda liked the ending actually ... how being totally ripped off actually saved his life. What I hated though was the utter impossibility of bringing together such a con. The logistics it would take, god, just begin to think about it.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: ©brad on March 21, 2004, 08:54:38 PM
the second viewing was better for me. they're are a lot of clues you don't pick up on the first time (b/c obviously you're not looking for any-- how could this sweet little girl be punk'in this dude?)

but yeah, the ending still does bug me. they're a lot of different things they coulda done, i think.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: NEON MERCURY on March 21, 2004, 09:07:39 PM
Quote from: Cinephile

Oh, and another thing. This is WAY better than 21 Grams. How do you like that, Neon?


Ha.!!! i just saw this (obviously)...i'll defend 21 grams over this film anyday

here is what matchstick men is:
.a b-movie  wanna be mamet con film w/ a-list actors and snazzed up by  scott giving it his shine.....thats it........if i want to watch a con film i would watch something way more superior like.....House of Games, and/or  the spanish prisoner..........
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: cine on March 21, 2004, 09:23:50 PM
Quote from: NEON MERCURYhere is what matchstick men is:
.a b-movie  wanna be mamet con film w/ a-list actors and snazzed up by  scott giving it his shine.....thats it........if i want to watch a con film i would watch something way more superior like.....House of Games, and/or  the spanish prisoner..........
Oh I can agree with you on wanting a great Mamet film over MM. But 21 Grams, I just couldn't stand. I stopped caring about this movie because of the constant shifts of time. It if was in chronological order, the ending would've been much more powerful. The performances were the only thing worth watching as I couldn't get into the story with how it constantly flip-flopped. And I generally don't mind that style at all but this time around, ugh, I was sick watching it progress to nothing.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: NEON MERCURY on March 21, 2004, 09:41:24 PM
Quote from: CinephileAnd I generally don't mind that style at all but this time around, ugh, I was sick watching it progress to nothing.

nothing????........
del toro's character goes through a rollercoaster.in the beginning he's all religious and stuff then ..oh yeah SPOILERS....FOR 21 GRAMS

......he hits the people with his truck .goes to prison and runs the gamut of religious/emotional faiths and doubts..etc..then he gets shot at by penn but misses to hang himself but."possible divine intervention?"..then at then end he's "redeemed" in  away and goes back to his family..........

watts .looses her kids/husband  bounces around drugs and sh*t......finds out about penn and his heart.then finds she's pregnant .life starts anew for her.....then you have penn who serves as the fimls anchor.....and hi sfinal voice over always brings them chills down my back......

.as for the puzzle piecing narrative, ......thats all subjective...it works for me  

i just don't see how MM could even be comparaed to anything to the greatness that is 21 grams......i would easily both amores perros and 21 grams in the same boat as mallicks' films.they both are emormously spiritual and psychological and beautiful..give Alejandro "my FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE film" Gonzalez Inarritu some props yo!!........

while MM is just a "slightly better" run-of-the-mill con film....nothing special
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: cine on March 21, 2004, 09:46:03 PM
I only used 21 Grams as an example since I saw it recently. Yes, the narrative structure is all entirely subjective. Usually works for me but this time, oh boy, it did NOT. What I meant about it progressing to nothing was that, throughout the film, I knew shit that was going to happen because it would just jump out at you out of nowhere in the next scene. For me, it didn't move me. While I was watching, I was wishing it was in chronological order because I suspect I would've been moved more by the shocking events that took place.
Title: Matchstick Men
Post by: NEON MERCURY on March 21, 2004, 09:52:20 PM
Quote from: CinephileI only used 21 Grams as an example since I saw it recently. Yes, the narrative structure is all entirely subjective. Usually works for me but this time, oh boy, it did NOT. What I meant about it progressing to nothing was that, throughout the film, I knew shit that was going to happen because it would just jump out at you out of nowhere in the next scene. For me, it didn't move me. While I was watching, I was wishing it was in chronological order because I suspect I would've been moved more by the shocking events that took place.

...... :idea:  oh..i see.......what you mean now....you do have  a point when you mention that  (see bold type)...thats a reasonable issue.but for me the films ambitions and just over all poetic beauty , acting, EVERYthing far outshined that aspect for me......
Title: Re: Matchstick Men
Post by: grand theft sparrow on April 21, 2004, 09:11:21 PM
Quote from: Slomb, in September, 2003,
Quote from: RegularKarate
Quote from: filmcritic..and the ending is gonna blow everyone away.

Man, I hate when people say this...

Yeah, because you start suspecting a lot and try to figure it out and then you do figure it out and it doesn't blow you away

That's just what happened to me.  I figured out the ending five minutes into it and I'm a little annoyed.  The acting was great (except for the shrink, who REALLY gave it away) but the best I can say for it is that, if I hadn't been able to figure it out so soon, I would have loved it (which is still more than I can say for the last few Ridley Scott flicks).