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Matchstick Men
Matchstick Men

Matchstick Men

September 12, 2003· 1h 56m
Directed by
Cinemagraphs Score7.5

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.

Critics Sentiment

Critics7.5
No audience data yet —
1 — Hated it5 — Neutral10 — Masterpiece
Critics
|
8+ Great
6-8 Good
<6 Poor
16 reviews·Last updated 2mo ago
Peak Moment

Roy discovers the entire con including Angela was orchestrated by Frank

8.7at 1h 40m
Lowest Moment

Chuck confronts Roy and Angela with a gun and beaten Frank

6.8at 1h 32m
Biggest Swing

The dramatic jump from Chuck's threatening confrontation (6.8) to the stunning revelation of Frank's elaborate long con (8.7), representing the film's most significant tonal shift.

Critics consistently praised Nicolas Cage's committed performance as the OCD-afflicted con artist, with most reviewers calling it one of his finest roles. The father-daughter relationship elevated the film beyond typical con movie territory, though the twist ending divided audiences between those who found it brilliant and those who felt betrayed by the emotional manipulation. Despite mixed feelings about the reveal, most critics appreciated the redemptive conclusion and the film's themes about love versus money.

16 reviews analyzed|Sources: Imdb, Tmdb
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15.510

Rate each story beat:

0 of 8 rated

Roy and Frank running telephone scams selling water filters
Not rated
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Roy's severe OCD and cleaning compulsions are introduced
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Hated itNeutralLoved it
Roy visits psychiatrist Dr. Klein seeking replacement medication
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Hated itNeutralLoved it
Angela moves in with Roy after fighting with her mother
Not rated
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Roy and Frank prepare the pigeon drop con on Chuck Frechette
Not rated
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Chuck confronts Roy and Angela with a gun and beaten Frank⬇ Lowest moment
Not rated
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Roy discovers the entire con including Angela was orchestrated by Frank⬆ Peak moment
Not rated
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Roy forgives Angela and embraces his honest life with pregnant wife Kathy
Not rated
Hated itNeutralLoved it

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