Matchstick Men (2003)

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

12 September 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

lie cheat steal rinse repeat

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Con Artist | Protégé | Criminal | Flim Flam | Neurotic

Awards:

1 nomination

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		(director of photography)

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
Barbara Russo	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

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
Todd Bennett	....	plaster foreman
Denis Cordova	....	general foreman
R. Scott Doran	....	leadman
L. David Gordon	....	drapery foreman
Brock Helfer	....	set dresser
Daniel R. Jennings	....	assistant art director
Adam Khalid	....	art department coordinator
Ann Knight	....	set buyer
Douglas T. Madison	....	property master (as Doug Madison Jr.)
Bobby Mara	....	propmaker foreman
Frank Musitelle	....	greens coordinator
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 Baker Landers	....	supervising sound editor
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
Tom Lalley	....	sound re-recording engineer
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
Mike Sabga	....	computer and video supervisor
David A. Smith	....	CG supervisor
Marty Taylor	....	Inferno artist: SPI
Cari Thomas	....	visual effects producer
Jeremie Winslow	....	visual effects production assistant: SPI
Lisa Zusmer DelPrete	....	visual effects production manager (as Lisa Zusmer)
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)
Anthony Harris	....	digital color timer (uncredited)
George Richman	....	senior production services technician: SPI (uncredited)
Mitch Zeitlin	....	video editorial coordinator: SPI (uncredited)

Stunts
Mickey Giacomazzi	....	stunt performer
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
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)
Paul Hazard	....	best boy rigging electric
Tony Hibbard	....	set lighting technician
Scott Kidner	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Stuart Kirschner	....	lighting technician
Damon Marcellino	....	set lighting technician: re-shoots
Steven Meizler	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Ralph Mendoza	....	aerial camera operator: SpaceCam
Ralph Merzbach	....	computer video playback
Ronald A. Miller	....	rigging grip
Ron Newburn	....	lighting technician
Reggie Newkirk	....	first assistant camera
Tony Olivieri	....	Steadicam focus puller
Tony Olivieri	....	first assistant Steadicam
Greg Patterson	....	set lighting technician
Paul Toomey	....	film loader
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
Bob Kaiser	....	color timer
Cybele O'Brien	....	assistant editor
Pablo Prietto	....	assistant editor
Adam P. Scott	....	associate editor
Trudy Yee	....	assistant editor
Bill Daly	....	post-production executive (uncredited)
Adrian Kays	....	editor: main titles (uncredited)

Music Department
Al Clay	....	score mixer
Bryan Clements	....	scoring crew
Jim Dooley	....	music arranger
Jim 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
James Thatcher	....	musician: French horn
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
Hedy Phil Balani	....	driver generator operator
Casey Boden	....	driver
Rob Byer	....	driver
Linda Cipperley	....	transportation
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
René Brar	....	story editor
Stephen Bures	....	assistant: Mr. Cage
Chris Castaldi	....	set production assistant
Matthew B. Chamberlin	....	key assistant location manager
Brian Clark	....	rigging medic
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
Adam Howell	....	intern
Cheri Jacobs	....	second assistant accountant
Valerie Johnson	....	set production assistant
Heather Kelton	....	assistant: Mr. Starkey (as Heather Smith)
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
Ryan Robertson	....	main title producer
Jay Sheehan	....	production assistant
Jordan Sheehan	....	assistant: Mr. Scott
Neville Shulman	....	special advisor: Mr. Scott
Margaret Sigel	....	assistant: Mr. Rapke
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)
Kevin Blumenfeld	....	technical assistant: Hans Zimmer (uncredited)
Ardy Brent Carlson	....	set staff assistant (uncredited)
Gregg Lehrman	....	technical assistant: Hans Zimmer (uncredited)
Moanike'ala Nakamoto	....	assistant: Hans Zimmer (uncredited)
Jesse Wagler	....	production assistant: yU+Co. (uncredited)
Lynnanne Zager	....	adr voice (uncredited)

Production Companies

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

Distributors

• Warner Bros (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)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment (2003) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Net5 (2006) (Netherlands) (TV)
• V&K Holding (2004) (Estonia) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Germany) (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
• Creative Domain  poster design (uncredited)
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• 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
• Tomkats Catering  catering
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack published by
• yU+Co.  main titles

Also Known As:

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)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

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) | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:U | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:M | Singapore:PG13 (re-rating)

Filming Locations:

3508 Meier St, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

The airport scenes, set at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), were actually filmed in the main entrance of the Anaheim Convention Center, a mile south of Disneyland. Due to recent security measures in the nation's airports, filming rights have been severely restricted on airport property.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Roy is telling Angela he doesn't want her around, she unwraps the puppy angel ashtray and reaches into the car. But when she sets it on the dashboard the ashtray is still wrapped, Roy then picks it up and unwraps it again.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Veronica Mars: Green-Eyed Monster (#2.4)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

See You Again

Nick Cage is awsome!

Reviewing a movie like Matchstick Men is tough because it's a con movie and as such I really can't go into the plot all that much. So, I'll just give a quick little synopsis of the plot, but really if you've seen any trailers for the movie, you know the plot pretty well.

Nicolas Cage plays Roy, a con man (or, as he likes to say, a Con Artist!) who has a lot of problems. For one, he's a compulsive cleaner, he hates the outdoors and he has lot of ticks Roy needs medication to keep him sane.

One day he knocks his pills into the sink and when he calls his doctor to get more he finds out that his doctor is no longer in town! This provides one of the funnier/saddest part of the movie. I'm not sure if it was suppose to be played up for laughs or not, the tone was kind of hard to tell, but Roy spend the next day and a half cleaning his house, his ticks got worst and well it made me feel kind of bad for him.

His partner Frank, played by Sam Rockwell provides him with the number for another psychologist who can help. Roy goes to the psychologist thinking that it'll be easy, to just ask for the pills and he'll get them. No, this guy wants to help Roy and will not give him any pills until he talks. Which, I must say, shows two things. One, Nick Cage is great when he plays these type of rolls, and two, he's damn funny. What he tells the psychologist was both funny and sad. During that time though it's reviled that Roy was married at one time, and when his wife left she was pregnant and he doesn't know what happen to the child who would be 14 by now.

After getting the pills (only a weeks worth mind you) Roy decides to find out about his daughter, but he can't because he's too scared, so after getting the number of his ex wife he asks his psychologist to make the call when he can. Later that night he gets a call from him and finds out that he has a daughter who wants to meet him.

That's as far as I'll go with the plot because the movie really picks up from there as he bonds with his new daughter and sets up a really complex and dangerous con.

Like I said, Nick Cage is great in the movie, but I also want to point out that his daughter, Angela (played by Alison Lohman) was just fantastic to watch. She really lit up the screen when she smiled and it looked like Alison Lohman was just having a ball playing her. She was your typical 14 year old (only, and this shocked me when I found out, Alison Lohman is 24 years old! If you watch it, keep that in mind and tell me she doesn't look like a 14 year old.) who knew just how to work her dad! Some of the funnier moments came after he would yell at her, then she'd start to cry and Roy would just completely collapse and start apologizing for what he said, even if he was completely right! It was just really funny.

Matchstick Men isn't a fast paced movie, it's more of a character study between Roy and Angela and how she changes his life and makes him reprioritizes his values and the way he runs his life.