Matchstick Men (2003)
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A con artist with Tourette syndrome attempts to balance his criminal lifestyle with a burgeoning relationship with his estranged daughter.
The story
Roy Waller is a con artist from Los Angeles suffering from Tourette syndrome and OCD who runs short cons with his partner, Frank Mercer. After a medical mishap leads to a cleaning spree and a subsequent panic attack, Roy is encouraged by Frank to see a psychiatrist, Dr. Harris Klein. Klein provides Roy with medication and helps him reconnect with his estranged daughter, Angela. While Roy attempts to navigate his new relationship with Angela, he agrees to work with Frank on a long con targeting a businessman named Chuck Frechette, leading to a series of complications as Roy tries to balance his criminal career with his personal life.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Roy Waller, a con artist with Tourette syndrome and OCD, runs small scams with his partner Frank Mercer. After a doctor's visit leads him to reconnect with his daughter Angela, Roy tries to balance his life with her while planning a 'pigeon drop' con on businessman Chuck Frechette. During the con, Chuck chases them, and Roy later discovers Angela was previously arrested. Roy learns his medication is a placebo and decides to reconcile with Angela. However, they are confronted by a wounded Frank and a gunman Chuck. Angela shoots Chuck, and Roy sends her and Frank into hiding. Roy is later tricked into believing he is in a hospital, only to discover he has been conned by Frank, who stole his savings. Roy learns his daughter never existed; the girl he met was Frank's accomplice. A year later, Roy, now an honest carpet salesman, encounters the girl again. He forgives her, realizing he is happier as an honest man, while she reveals she was the only con she ever pulled.
- First release year
- 2003
- Runtime (minutes)
- 116
- Production countries
- United States; United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ridley Scott
- Writers
- Ted Griffin · screenplay; Nicholas Griffin · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Nicolas Cage · Roy Waller; Sam Rockwell · Frank Mercer; Alison Lohman · Angela; Bruce McGill · Chuck Frechette
- Genres
- black comedy; crime; comedy-drama; heist
- Themes
- father-daughter relationships; con artistry; honesty vs. deception; mental health
- Tone and mood
- black comedy; sly; biting; emotionally satisfying
- Premise and plot tags
- heist; crime; comedy; drama; con artist; Tourette syndrome
- Source material / true-story basis
- Eric Garcia's 2002 novel of the same name
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews and was described as 'generally favorable' by Metacritic, with a score of 61 out of 100. It also received a 'B' grade from CinemaScore audiences.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 61 · scale: 100 · review count: 38
- Production trivia
- The film was released on September 2, 2003, at the 60th Venice International Film Festival.; The film grossed $65.6 million against its $62 million budget.; The film's opening weekend gross stood at second place with $13.0 million.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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