Fiche technique
Titre : Les Associés
Titre original : Matchstick Men
Réalisation : Ridley Scott
Scénario : Eric Garcia,
Nicholas Griffin & Ted Griffin
Production : Sean Bailey et Ted Griffin
Musique : Hans Zimmer
(additionnel : James Michael Dooley,
Mel Wesson,Geoff Zanelli,Clay Duncan,
Trevor Morris et Heitor Pereira)
Photographie : John Mathieson
Montage : Dody Dorn
Pays d'origine : États-Unis
Langue : anglais
Format : Couleurs - 2,35:1 -
DTS / Dolby Digital / SDDS - 35 mm
Genre : Policier
Durée : 116 minutes
Date de sortie : 17 sep 2003
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Wonderful 'Sting' Film with a Twist!
Author: Ben Burgraff (cariart) from Las Vegas, Nevada
12 September 2003
Anyone who thinks director Ridley Scott doesn't have a gentler side (after all, GLADIATOR, HANNIBAL, and BLACK HAWK DOWN are not exactly 'touchy-feely' movies) may be in for a surprise with his latest, MATCHSTICK MEN. The story of extremely neurotic but brilliant con man Nicolas Cage ("I'm not a criminal," he explains to his shrink, "Criminals hurt people; I don't..."), discovering a daughter he never knew he had (Alison Lohman, of WHITE OLEANDER), on the eve of a big 'Sting', offers as much emphasis on his acceptance
of his new parental responsibilities as on the caper he and his partner (the always watchable Sam Rockwell) are pulling off.
Cage plays the role brilliantly, making his quirky character sympathetic, and Scott proves again why he is one of Hollywood's premier directors.The success of a film like this depends on the chemistry between the leads, and Cage and Lohman are terrific together.The young actress manages to be 'sweet' without being 'innocent', and the tentative steps she and Cage take to understand each other are both believable, and touching. In one scene, he attempts to prove to her that he can cook by preparing a spaghetti dinner...after one bite, the scene shifts to the arrival of the Domino's delivery boy!
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Ultimately, however, MATCHSTICK MEN is a tale of 'The Con', and Cage and Rockwell's 'Sting' against 'fat cat' Bruce McGill, while appearing deceptively simple, has a series of twists and turns, leading to a climax that is both stunning and unexpected. This is the kind of movie that will have you putting pieces together, LONG after it ends.It is an intriguing and rewarding film, and shouldn't be missed!
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42 out of 50 people found the following review useful:
Nice change of pace for Ridley!
Author: Thomas Jolliffe (supertom-3) from Marlow, England
24 February 2004
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.
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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(Mwouais)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. ****
