History Film / MatchstickMen

''Matchstick Men'' is a 2003 BlackComedy and {{Drama}} based on a book by Eric Garcia and is directed by Creator/RidleyScott. It stars Creator/NicolasCage, Creator/AlisonLohman and Creator/SamRockwell.

* TheCon: [[spoiler:The "big hit" on Chuck, Angela's arrival, and Roy's visits with Dr. Klein are all part of a big con by Frank against Roy.]]

* MassiveMultiplayerScam: The movie is on a smaller scale than the book because the mark has less money to take. The whole plot of the film is [[spoiler: just everybody that Roy thinks is either his mark or an ally (including Angela, Roy's estranged daughter - who turns out is just acting), pulling a con to take all of Roy's money and run. And in the final scenes, Angela tells Roy that Frank backstabbed everybody else and took their shares, too, so the scam had an extra layer to it, too]].

* MirandaRights: Sarcasically glossed over by the detectives. [[spoiler: Glossed over because THEY DON'T KNOW the full Miranda rights, as they are actors, not real detectives.]]

* MassiveMultiplayerScam: The movie is on a smaller scale than the book because the mark has less money to take. The whole plot of the film is just everybody that Roy thinks is his ally (including Angela, Roy's estranged daughter (who turns out is just acting)) pulling a con to take all of Roy's money and run (and in the final scenes, Angela tells Roy that Frank backstabbed everybody else and stole the money).

Cage plays Roy Waller, an [[SuperOCD obsessive-compulsive]], agoraphobic, germaphobic con-artist residing in Los Angeles. His partner is Frank Mercer (Rockwell). The two operate a fake lottery, selling overpriced water filtration systems to unsuspecting customers; in the process, Roy has collected over one million dollars and has developed a crush on Kathy (Sheila Kelley), a cashier at a local supermarket. Roy was married long ago; his wife, Heather (Melora Walters), was pregnant at the time he divorced her. After Roy has a violent panic attack, Frank insists he see a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist, Harris Klein (Creator/BruceAltman), contacts Heather, and reveals that Roy has a daughter, Angela (Lohman). Not long afterwards, Angela turns up on Roy's doorstep. It seems she wants to get to know the father she never had, and also, [[LittleMissConArtist that she wants in on his and Frank's upcoming con]]...

* WhamShot: Roy stumbling out of [[spoiler: his "hospital room" into an empty warehouse.]]

Cage plays Roy Waller, an [[SuperOCD obsessive-compulsive]], agoraphobic, germaphobic con-artist residing in Los Angeles. His partner is Frank Mercer (Rockwell). The two operate a fake lottery, selling overpriced water filtration systems to unsuspecting customers; in the process, Roy has collected over one million dollars and has developed a crush on Kathy (Sheila Kelley), a cashier at a local supermarket. Roy was married long ago; his wife, Heather (Melora Walters), was pregnant at the time he divorced her. After Roy has a violent panic attack, Frank insists he see a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist, Harris Klein (Bruce Altman), contacts Heather, and reveals that Roy has a daughter, Angela (Lohman). Not long afterwards, Angela turns up on Roy's doorstep. It seems she wants to get to know the father she never had, and also, [[LittleMissConArtist that she wants in on his and Frank's upcoming con]]...

''Matchstick Men'' is a 2003 BlackComedy and {{Drama}} based on a book by Eric Garcia and is directed by Creator/RidleyScott. It stars Creator/NicolasCage, Alison Lohman and Creator/SamRockwell.

* MassiveMultiplayerScam: [[spoiler:Roy thinks he is working with Frank to take Chuck Frechette for $80,000. In reality, Frank, Angela, Dr. Klein, and several other accomplices are all working together to take Roy for the million-plus in his safe deposit box.]]
* NeatFreak[=/=]SuperOCD: Roy is obsessive with cleanliness -- he can't stand to be outdoors, insists his visitors remove their shoes, opens and closes the front and back door three times, and spends an entire day cleaning the house out of fear it may be dirty.
* NoHonorAmongThieves: [[spoiler:Not only does Frank run a MassiveMultiplayerScam against Roy, but "Angela" later reveals that he cheated her out of her cut, as well.]]

* TheCon: Well yah.

* TheConWithinACon: [[spoiler:The "big hit" on Chuck, Angela's arrival, and Roy's visits with Dr. Klein are all part of a big con by Frank against Roy.]]

-->'''Angela:''' "Teach me something! A con."\\
'''Roy:''' "I'm not teaching you anything."\\
'''Angela:''' "Why not?"\\
'''Roy:''' "Because you're far too bright and innocent and beautiful and I'm not going to screw that up like everything else."

-->'''Dr. Klein''': "What if you weren't a criminal?"
-->'''Roy''': "I'm not a criminal, I'm a con artist. They ''give'' me their money."

-->"Hey, have you ever been dragged to the sidewalk and beaten till you...'''PISSED'''...'''BLOOD'''?!!!!"

-->'''Roy:''' "I told you I'd teach you a con. I didn't say I'd let you get away with it."

* LargeHam: "Hey, have you ever been dragged to the sidewalk and beaten till you...'''PISSED'''...'''BLOOD'''?!!!!"

* LukeYouAreMyFather: [[spoiler: Expoilted. It's a scam.]]

* TheEndingChangesEverything: [[spoiler:When Roy discovers [[AbandonedHospitalAwakening his hospital room isn't a hospital]] and gets the letter from Frank, he (and the viewer) realizes that the events of the entire movie has been one long con against him.]]

* TheFilmOfTheBook: The movie is based on the book by Eric Garcia.

* GambitRoulette: The last major con relied on some pretty egregious coincidences. Namely: