Sticking with the notion of movies that are comedies, following the Matt Lynn Digital review of The Replacements (2000) last Saturday, we return to the directing magic of Ridley Scott with the film Matchstick Men (2003). Ted Griffin and Nicholas Griffin take a deft hand to the Matchstick Men book written by Eric Garcia, offering a movie that hits on many levels for a film based in drama, crime and dark comedy.
Roy Waller, as portrayed by Nicolas Cage, is the feature character underpinning a criminal partnership with Frank Mercer, as portrayed by Sam Rockwell. Waller takes an overly particular approach to cleanliness and order that extends well beyond customary limits into what we as viewers see interrupts with Waller’s ability to function in his life. Mercer sees this interfering in their criminal enterprise.
Mercer ultimately convinces Roy Waller to see professional help, which leads him to Dr. Harris Klein. Klein, portrayed by Bruce Altman, changes Waller’s medication while setting him on a course that seems to address some of the emotional situations that has been with him since separating from Heather, his ex-wife, more than a decade in the past. Melora Walters portrayed Heather.
The biggest thing, among several, to come from the Dr. Klein and Roy Waller relationship, was Roy’s willingness to pursue a relationship with Angela, his daughter. Portrayed by Alison Lohman, Angela is the 14-year-old daughter that he knew could have been yet had never been connected to for years. Angela pursues a relationship with Roy, which develops in some of the more keenly felt moments through the film. The connection between Roy and Angela makes the movie more than the criminal element, the comedy, or anything that comes up with Chuck Frechette.
Chuck Frechette, as portrayed by Bruce McGill, becomes an important antagonist in the criminal and emotional layering for the film. The criminal enterprise between Frank Mercer and Roy Waller gets to a place through dealings with Frechette that seem to prove costly to him personally. The depth of the comedy, the crime and the drama all gain their impact in the story driven through this storyline.
Matchstick Men presents a compelling story that speaks most fully to the relationships between characters. The criminal elements prove satisfying. There were laughs along the way. The soundtrack built into the movie enhances the experience of a film that brings out perhaps the finest performance I’ve seen from Nicolas Cage in a movie. It is for these reasons that we grant Matchstick Men as directed by Ridley Scott 4.25-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.
Matt – Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Matt Lynn Digital 