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Matchstick Men

Matchstick Men

Comedy · Drama · Crime · 2003

A phobic con artist and his protege are on the verge of pulling off a lucrative swindle when the con artist's teenage daughter arrives unexpectedly.

Movie details

Matchstick Men

“Lie. Cheat. Steal. Rinse. Repeat.”

2003 Comedy · Drama · Crime 1h 56m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.0 / 10

Community rating

A phobic con artist and his protege are on the verge of pulling off a lucrative swindle when the con artist's teenage daughter arrives unexpectedly.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Matchstick Men?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Comedy · 2006

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Petty crook and cop-killer Martin Rome, in bad shape from wounds in the hospital prison ward, still refuses to help slimy lawyer Niles clear his client by confessing to another crime. Police Lt. Candella must check Niles' allegation; a friend of the Rome family, he walks a tightrope between sentiment and cynicism. When Martin fears Candella will implicate his girlfriend Teena, he'll do anything to protect her. How many others will he drag down to disaster with him?

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Ridley Scott

Written by

Nicholas Griffin · Ted Griffin

Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage

Roy Waller

Sam Rockwell

Sam Rockwell

Frank Mercer

Alison Lohman

Alison Lohman

Angela

Bruce Altman

Bruce Altman

Dr. Klein

Bruce McGill

Bruce McGill

Chuck Frechette

Jenny O'Hara

Jenny O'Hara

Mrs. Schaffer

Steve Eastin

Steve Eastin

Mr. Schaffer

Court is in session

Put Matchstick Men on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.