Ridley Scott journeys to inner space with Matchstick Men, his new film about con man (con artist) Roy Waller and his encounter with the teenaged daughter he never knew he had.

The film is most effective when it focuses on Roy's obsessive-compulsive behaviors and tics: we get to know what it's like to live in Roy's world. Kudos to sound for producing the noise of stocking feet on low-pile carpet. (Of course, some people would just think of Roy as a rather dedicated housekeeper.) Does Nicolas Cage have the franchise for sympathetic protagonists who are low-functioning nutball criminals? Perhaps.

As the picture moves forward and must deal with the con game, the puzzle of who's-playing-who, it becomes rather more conventional. It moves quickly enough that you don't see the plot holes and unmotivated twists until you're on the subway home. But it features another inventive film score, sprinkled with 60s lounge-act hits, Percy Faith filtered through supermarket muzak, subtle accordion riffs at an emotional high point, and a peculiar pop song from the 20s.

posted: 9:20:31 AM