Matchstick Men

MOVIE #1,112 • 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿 • 08.17.23 Starting in 2020, I decided to watch & review the entire Nicolas Cage filmography in alphabetical order. This is 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔜𝔢𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔣 ℭ𝔞𝔤𝔢 – Chapter 45. [Ed. Note: This CAGE review is one of a few that was not done in the patented 'video recap' style. I apologize for the inconsistency and will strive to never let this happen again.] We’re right in the middle of the Nicolas Cage filmography review project and, folks, we’ve got ourselves an interesting one, at least on paper. This is Cage’s only collaboration with Ridley Scott and it’s definitely something of a departure for the latter. Like Scorsese’s Bringing Out the Dead, which also featured our boy, it turns out Scott wasn’t immune to that awful mid-00s aesthetic either…

I liked this one a good deal. It features at least one classic Cage Rage freakout…


…and it’s an inspired performance throughout. There’s also a slew of strong character actors in the supporting roles.

The non-realistic plot elements all turn out be in service of the Big Twist, which I admittedly did not see coming at all. I chalked them up to bad writing. That everything would work out so neatly is still a stretch but I tip my hat nevertheless.

Also, speaking of inflation, did you know that 8 packs of cigs and 8 cans of tuna cost only $36 total in 2003! That’s insane!!

THE VERDICT: 8 CAGES OUT OF 10

CLICK HERE for all 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔜𝔢𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔣 ℭ𝔞𝔤𝔢 Chapters + Ongoing Rankings.

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CHRONOLOGICALLY
⫷ MOVIE #1,111 - (YOU ARE HERE) - MOVIE #1,113 ⫸

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Matchstick Men is a 2003 black comedy crime film directed by Ridley Scott and based on Eric Garcia's 2002 novel of the same name. The film stars Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, and Alison Lohman. The film premiered at the 60th Venice International Film Festival and was released in the United States on September 12, 2003. It received generally positive reviews and grossed $65 million against its $62 million budget. It was released on September 2, 2003.