The Alphabet Project: M is for...

Matchstick Men (2003)

Meet Roy (Nicolas Cage) and Frank (Sam Rockwell), a couple of professional small-time con artists. What Roy, a veteran of the grift, and Frank, his ambitious protege, are swindling these days are "water filtration systems," bargain-basement water filters bought by unsuspecting people who pay ten times their value in order to win bogus prizes like cars, jewelry and overseas vacations--which they never collect. These scams net the flimflam men a few hundred here, another thousand there, which eventually adds up to a lucrative partnership. Roy's private life, however, is not so successful. An obsessive-compulsive agoraphobe with no personal relationships to call his own, Roy is barely hanging on to his wits, and when his idiosyncrasies begin to threaten his criminal productivity he's forced to seek the help of a psychoanalyst just to keep him in working order. While Roy is looking for a quick fix, his therapy begets more than he bargained for: the revelation that he has a teenage daughter (Alison Lohman)--a child whose existence he suspected but never dared confirm. What's more troubling, 14-year-old Angela wants to meet the father she never knew. At first, Angela's appearance disrupts her neurotic father's carefully ordered routine. Soon, however, with his own unique spin on parenthood, Roy begins to enjoy a relationship he never dreamed of having with his daughter. But while he develops paternal feelings for the 14-year-old, she's developing a fascination with Daddy's questionable career. Hilarity ensues.

Trivia: The airport scenes, which 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, liberal filming rights for movies has been severely restricted on airport property. Frank Mercer was named for Frank Sinatra and Johnny Mercer. Roy Waller is seen playing records by the two. Roy's pills are actually Benadryl, a popular over-the-counter allergy medicine. Alison Lohman went to the audition dressed and acted like a 14-year-old girl. Ridley Scott only realized her real age when she told him. She was 22 at the time.

I was a bit surprised when Mick didn't get this movie. He has been wanting me to see it for awhile, but I guess he was busy with three kids and going back to school and stuff. Now for the movie. It was very good. Nic Cage always seems to play the neurotic guy good and Lohman was great as the daughter with the penchant for the family business. It is also kind of telling when you see that Roy can act normal when he is in his con man persona but at home the neurosis comes out. Also related to that, it is cool seeing that when Roy is at home, he wears generic gray sweats of simple nondescript clothing while when he is being a con man he is fashionably attired. Impman, flimflam artist and matchstick man are synonyms for a con man.

Next Up: "N" This weeks clue: It's cool man, it *could* have inspired Northern Exposure maybe, but probably not. (by the way, Anonymous Ken is excluded this week since I am going to be watching it with him.) Now for last weeks guesses:

Miranda - A librarian begins a passionate affair with a mysterious woman who walks into his library.

Monster House - Three teens discover that their neighbor's house is really a living, breathing, scary monster.

The Muppet Movie - Kermit and his new found friends trek across America to find success in Hollywood, but a frog-legs merchant is after Kermit.

Mary Poppins - A magic nanny comes to work for a cold banker's unhappy family.

Meet The Parents - Male nurse Greg Focker meets his girlfriend's parents before proposing, but her suspicious father is every date's worst nightmare.

Moby Dick - The sole survivor of a lost whaling ship relates the tale of his captain's self-destructive obsession to hunt the white whale, Moby Dick.

My Girl - A When your Dad's an undertaker, your Mom's in heaven, and your Grandma's got a screw loose...it's good to have a friend who understands you. Even if he is a boy.

Me, Myself and Irene - A nice guy cop with multiple personality disorder, must protect a woman on the run from a corrupt ex-boyfriend and his associates.