Through the years, Ridley Scott has proven to be one versatile director. Fully capable of big budget, visual splendor (see Alien and Bladerunner), this talented film maker has also shown his aptitude for bringing films about characters to the screen (see Thelma and Louise and Someone to Watch Over Me). He's also clearly a technical wizard (see Black Hawk Down). Of his sizable catalogue of films, the only picture he's made that I'm not very fond of is G.I. Jane (that military flick starring a ripped Demi Moore).

His new picture Matchstick Men is perhaps his most character driven (and smallest in terms of scope), and despite a few minor flaws and a couple of twists that I felt were quite obvious, I was ultimately won over by the relationships in this picture.

Taking a cue from Paper Moon and As Good As It Gets, Cage plays a con man with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, whose already frenetic life becomes even more complicated when a daughter (wonderfully played by Allison
Lohman) whom he's never met comes to live with him for a weekend. Before long, the two begin to bond. In fact, they become so close that Cage even begins to show his young daughter some tricks of the trade.

Cage is quite good here although his series of physical ticks felt mechanical at times. This isn't a physical performance that matches the one given by Robert DeNiro in Awakenings, but then I guess Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder isn't quite as traumatic as the sickness on display
In that film. Cage does continue to display an expert sense of timing and His dramatic moments ring true.

Lohman (who was also fantastic in the less-than-stellar White Oleander) perfectly compliments Cage's eccentricities, and even though this young beauty is actually 24 years old, she very realistically embodies the spirit of a
14 year old. Sam Rockwell also appears as Cage's manic partner in crime, and once again, this zany performer shows what a supporting player is all about.

The strongest moments in Matchstick Men occur when Cage and Lohman play off one another. Their scenes add dramatic weight to this otherwise light, and playful picture.Ridley Scott puts an emphasis on character rather than twists, turns and other such con film devices. Ultimately, Matchstick Men feels more like Catch Me if You Can than say, Confidence. I liked that about this movie. I really got caught up in the relationship between Cage and Loman. I also love the look of this picture. Scott opts to use a lot of natural lighting which lends the movie a beautiful visual quality. There are lots of shadows, and a bright sunny quality that really work well with the tone of the film.

If you've read reviews for Matchstick Men, then you're probably already aware that there are many people out there that have a major problem with the ending of the picture. Matchstick Men does have one of those "One Year Later" endings in which the entire story is tied up in a nice little bow. And while I don't want to give anything away, I will say that I wasn't
terribly bothered by it. In fact, some of it felt very real. Personally, I found the stuff leading up to the "One Year Later" far more bothersome
because it felt much more obvious to me. Many will argue that the ending is too sweet, myself I found that the whole movie was pretty sweet.

Matchstick Men isn't a perfect movie nor is it Ridley Scott's best (it certainly isn't his worst), but it's is a light, sweet-natured caper with real relationships and fully textured performances. I also appreciate that Scott allows the character's to tell the story rather than resorting to a bunch of obvious gimmicks. As a result, this is a very good movie.