Matchstick Men (2003)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writers (WGA):

Eric Garcia (book)
Nicholas Griffin (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

12 September 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

lie cheat steal rinse repeat

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Con Artist | Daughter | Taxi | Supermarket | Exotic Dancer

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Thur. July 23

6:00 AM

USA

Cast

Nicolas Cage	...	Roy Waller
Sam Rockwell	...	Frank Mercer
Alison Lohman	...	Angela
Bruce Altman	...	Dr. Klein
Bruce McGill	...	Chuck Frechette
Jenny O'Hara	...	Mrs. Schaffer
Steve Eastin	...	Mr. Schaffer
Beth Grant	...	Laundry Lady
Sheila Kelley	...	Kathy
Fran Kranz	...	Slacker Boyfriend
Tim Kelleher	...	Bishop
Nigel Gibbs	...	Holt
Bill Saito	...	Pharmacist #1
Tim Maculan	...	Pharmacist #2
Stoney Westmoreland	...	Man in Line
Lynn Ann Leveridge	...	Bank Clerk
Giannina Facio	...	Bank Teller
Sonya Eddy	...	Parking Garage Cashier
Michael Clossin	...	Long Winded Parking Booth Driver
Kim Cassidy	...	Stripper
Paul Hubbard	...	Store Clerk
Monnae Michaell	...	Carpet Store Manager
Dennis Anderson	...	Cashier
Marco Kyris	...	Pizza Boy
Jerry Hauck	...	Taxi Cab Driver
Jim Zulevic	...	Bartender
Ramsey Malouky	...	Hospital Intern
Andi Sherrill	...	Pharmacy Cashier
Kate Steele	...	Strip Club Waitress
Adam Clark	...	Strip Club Bouncer
Daniel Villarreal	...	Car Wash Employee
Marco Assante	...	Valet Parker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Larry Vigus	...	Pharmacy Customer (uncredited)
Melora Walters	...	Heather, Roy's Ex-Wife (uncredited)

Directed by
Ridley Scott

Writing credits (WGA)
Eric Garcia		(book)
Nicholas Griffin		(screenplay) (as Nick Griffin) &
Ted Griffin		(screenplay)

Produced by
Sean Bailey	....	producer
Giannina Facio	....	co-producer
Ted Griffin	....	producer
Jack Rapke	....	producer
Charles J.D. Schlissel	....	co-producer
Ridley Scott	....	producer
Steve Starkey	....	producer
Robert Zemeckis	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Hans Zimmer

Cinematography by
John Mathieson

Film Editing by
Dody Dorn

Casting by
Debra Zane

Production Design by
Tom Foden

Art Direction by
Michael Manson

Set Decoration by
Nancy Nye

Costume Design by
Michael Kaplan

Makeup Department
Tarra D. Day	....	makeup department head (as Tarra Day)
Amy L. Disarro	....	makeup artist
Mary L. Mastro	....	hair department head
Kristina Vogel	....	makeup artist
Larry Waggoner	....	hair stylist: Mr. Cage
Allen Weisinger	....	makeup artist: Mr. Cage

Production Management
Teresa Kelly	....	post-production supervisor
Mark Scoon	....	executive in charge of production
Leigh Shanta	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve Battaglia	....	second second assistant director
K.C. Hodenfield	....	first assistant director
Jeff Okabayashi	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Chuck Askerneese	....	co-property master
L. David Gordon	....	drapery foreman
Brock Helfer	....	set dresser
Daniel R. Jennings	....	assistant art director
Adam Khalid	....	art department coordinator
Ann Knight	....	set buyer
Doug Madison Jr.	....	property master
Bobby Mara	....	propmaker foreman
Fred O'Connor	....	propmaker
Mike Peritz	....	set dresser
Eric Rosenberg	....	graphic designer
William V. Ryder	....	set designer
Jessica Samuelson	....	assistant property master
John Villarino	....	construction coordinator
Cheree Welsh	....	art department coordinator
Richard Robinson	....	propmaker (uncredited)

Sound Department
Mike Anderson	....	utility sound
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer
Christopher Assells	....	sound effects editor
Karen M. Baker	....	supervising sound editor (as Karen Baker Landers)
John Bires	....	sound engineer
Eddie Bydalek	....	sound recordist
Colette Dahanne	....	adr mixer
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer
Per Hallberg	....	supervising sound editor
Chris Jargo	....	adr supervisor
Anna MacKenzie	....	adr editor
Anna MacKenzie	....	sound editor
Michael Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Philip D. Morrill	....	assistant sound editor
Melissa Muik	....	assistant to Hans Zimmer
Tony Negrete	....	first assistant sound editor
Myron Nettinga	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lee Orloff	....	production sound mixer
Thomas A. Payne	....	boom operator
Gregg Silk	....	second engineer
Peter Staubli	....	sound editor
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Kimaree Long	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Bruce Maddocks	....	mastering engineer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jeff Bresin	....	special effects technician
Martin Bresin	....	special effects coordinator
Jake Valdez	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Alfredo R. Barcia	....	lead production services technician: SPI
Sarah Coatts	....	visual effects associate producer: main title sequence: yU+co.
Lisa Deaner	....	senior Inferno artist
Sheena Duggal	....	visual effects supervisor
Stephen Kowalski	....	systems engineer
Andrea Maxwell	....	visual effects editor
Paul McGhee	....	digital color timer: SPI
Ethan Ormsby	....	digital artist
David A. Smith	....	CG supervisor
Marty Taylor	....	Inferno artist: SPI
Cari Thomas	....	visual effects producer
Jeremie Winslow	....	visual effects production assistant: SPI
Lisa Zusmer	....	visual effects production manager
Jessica Berri	....	visual effects production assistant: SPI (uncredited)
Danielle Conroy	....	digital production management (uncredited)
Timothy Eaton	....	visual effects editor (uncredited)
Christopher Grandel	....	trailer digital effects, Howard Anderson Company (uncredited)
George Richman	....	senior production services technician: SPI (uncredited)
Mitch Zeitlin	....	video editorial coordinator: SPI (uncredited)

Stunts
Carrick O'Quinn	....	stunt driver
Michael Trisler	....	stunts
Eddie Yansick	....	stunt coordinator
Eddie Yansick	....	stunt double: Nicolas Cage
Bill Willens	....	precision driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Rob Abbey	....	video assist operator
Dominic Aluisi	....	second assistant camera
Phil Balani	....	generator operator: base camp
Paul Birk	....	electrician
A. Anthony Cappello	....	assistant camera
David Deever	....	video engineer
Mitch Dubin	....	camera operator: "a" camera
François Duhamel	....	still photographer
Keith Dunkerley	....	camera production assistant
Carlos M. Gallardo	....	dolly grip (as Carlos Gallardo)
Tony Hibbard	....	set lighting technician
Scott Kidner	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Damon Marcellino	....	set lighting technician: re-shoots
Steven Meizler	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Ralph Mendoza	....	aerial camera operator: SpaceCam
Ron Newburn	....	lighting technician
Reggie Newkirk	....	first assistant camera
Tony Olivieri	....	Steadicam focus puller
Tony Olivieri	....	first assistant Steadicam
Greg Patterson	....	set lighting technician
Naomi Villanueva	....	assistant camera
Jim McComas	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Terri Taylor	....	casting associate
Tannis Vallely	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lorraine Crossman	....	set costumer
Adrienne Greshock	....	costume production assistant
Vincent Lapper	....	costumer
Linda Matthews	....	costume supervisor
Natasha Paczkowski	....	costume manufacturing foreperson
Hana Rausalova	....	costumer
Debbie Travis	....	wardrobe: Mr. Cage

Editorial Department
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Cybele O'Brien	....	assistant editor
Pablo Prietto	....	assistant editor
Adam P. Scott	....	associate editor
Trudy Yee	....	assistant editor
Bill Daly	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

Music Department
Al Clay	....	score mixer
Bryan Clements	....	scoring crew
James Dooley	....	music arranger (as Jim Dooley)
James Dooley	....	music programmer (as James Michael Dooley)
Dody Dorn	....	music supervisor
Mark Eshelman	....	scoring crew
Bruce Fowler	....	conductor
Bruce Fowler	....	orchestrator
Malcolm Luker	....	additional scoring mixer
Robin Lynn	....	music consultant
Marina Manukian	....	musician
Frank Marocco	....	musician
Adam Michalak	....	score recordist
Trevor Morris	....	music score consultant
Melissa Muik	....	music score consultant
Heitor Pereira	....	musician
Satnam Ramgotra	....	musician (as Satnam Singh Ramgotra)
Emil Richards	....	musician
John Rodd	....	orchestral scoring recordist
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Del Spiva	....	assistant music editor
Marc Streitenfeld	....	music editor
Marc Streitenfeld	....	music supervisor
Pat Weber	....	scoring technician
Geoff Zanelli	....	composer: additional music
Hans Zimmer	....	music arranger
Hans Zimmer	....	music programmer
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor (uncredited)
Mark Graham	....	music librarian (uncredited)
Yvonne S. Moriarty	....	additional orchestrator (uncredited)
Mel Wesson	....	music arranger: electronic arrangements (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Phil Balani	....	driver generator operator
Rob Byer	....	driver
Robert Dulys	....	driver dispatcher
Rita Lundin	....	transportation
Mike Riportella	....	transportation captain
Wayne Williams	....	transportation coordinator
Dennis Lally	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Tommy Bernard	....	production assistant
Stephen Bures	....	assistant: Mr. Cage
Chris Castaldi	....	set production assistant
Matthew B. Chamberlin	....	key assistant location manager
Kelsey Clark	....	assistant: Mr. Zemeckis
Scott Cler	....	production secretary
Heather I. Denton	....	crowd extras coordinator
Lisa Dietrick	....	assistant to producer
Devon Evans	....	animal trainer
Jack Hayes	....	assistant to producer
Cheri Jacobs	....	second assistant accountant
Valerie Johnson	....	set production assistant
Janette Kim	....	set assistant: Nicolas Cage
Jon Ko	....	medic
Tracie Laymon	....	set production assistant: re-shoots
Ernie Malik	....	unit publicist
Margaret Mitchell	....	production accountant
M. Michelle Nishikawa	....	production coordinator
Kathryn Oden	....	assistant: Mr. Rockwell
Monique Perez	....	assistant to writer and producer
Janice Polley	....	location manager
Jessica Rapke	....	set production assistant
Jay Sheehan	....	production assistant
Jordan Sheehan	....	assistant: Mr. Scott
Neville Shulman	....	special advisor: Mr. Scott
Margaret Sigel	....	assistant: Mr. Rapke
Heather Smith	....	assistant: Mr. Starkey
Ryan Suffern	....	set production assistant
Ray Utarnachitt	....	assistant production coordinator
Daniel Villarreal	....	production assistant
Amy Wilkins	....	set production assistant
Anne Marie Wilson	....	set staff assistant
Garson Yu	....	title designer
Stuart Raven Barter	....	location scout (uncredited)
A. Brent Carlson	....	set staff assistant (uncredited)
Gregg Lehrman	....	technical assistant: Hans Zimmer (uncredited)
Moanike'ala Nakamoto	....	assistant: Hans Zimmer (uncredited)
Lynnanne Zager	....	adr voice (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
• ImageMovers
• Scott Free Productions
• Rickshaw Productions (in association with)
• LivePlanet
• HorsePower Entertainment

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2003) (France) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2003) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Warner Sogefilms S.A. (2003) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Cinergia (2003) (Ukraine) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2004) (Finland) (theatrical) (DVD) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Net5 (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• V&K Holding (2004) (Estonia) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPI) (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Movie Movers  hair and make-up trailers
• Movie Movers  production trailers
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Runway  post-production
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack published by
• yU+Co.  main titles

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, violence, some sexual content and language.

Runtime:

116 min | Canada:120 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Malaysia:U | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 (w) | Ireland:12 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:12A (original rating) | UK:12 (video rating) (2004) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39979)

Filming Locations:

Anaheim Convention Center - 800 W. Katella Avenue, Anaheim, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Roy's pills are actually Benadryl, a popular over-the-counter allergy medicine.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Angela is in Roy's house drinking a beer, there is alternately foam/no foam in the neck between shots.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Roy: Uno, due, tre.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Tricks of the Trade: Making 'Matchstick Men' (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Perfidia

Nice change of pace for Ridley!

The latest effort from Ridley Scott equates to Spielberg's latest, Catch Me If You Can. It is a nice, technically simple film that follows their more epic, effects, and set piece driven movies preceding them. Spielberg followed Minority Report and AI, whereas Scott is following Gladiator, Hannibal and Black Hawk Down. It is a nice and welcome change of pace for a master director, as CMIYC was to Spielberg.

The film stars Nicholas Cage, who is making up for some lost years thanks to his role here and of course in Adaptation. Cage plays an obsessive compulsive con man who has an obsession of cleanliness and a fear germs and wide open spaces, and is hyped up on prescription drugs. Cage is superb here, it is a great performance, amusing and likeable. This is the sort of quirky character that brings the best out of Nic Cage. Co-starring as Cages partner in crime is the up and coming Sam Rockwell. I have been a fan of his since I first saw him in Charlie's Angels and then in his best role thus far in Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind. He was superb in Confessions and looks like he could be a top new star. Rockwell plays his character here with panache. Also starring as Cages daughter who turns up out the blue is Alison Lohman. Lohman is playing a 14 year old, who Cage has never seen and didn't know of at the start of the film. Lohman is much older in real life and so playing a 14 year is something she can do well but with the maturity and actress of that actual age may not have. Lohman is a lovely presence, she is charming and sweet and endearing to the audience, she is also a good young actress.

The film is funny, charming and simplistic. It doesn't tax too much and is a quick and pleasant, much like junk food, only more good for you. I love it when Scott does his big epic and more elaborate films but this is a good change of pace, that Scott must have really enjoyed. It is something he could do with his eyes closed compared to say Gladiator.

The film is well paced and there is a great twist that lets the film end on a real high. This is a good use of a great cast, and imaginatively edited. Overall a pleasing viewing. ****