Matchstick Men

Four stars. Recommended.

Funny, clever, twisty, and touching story about a con man ("con artist") who is reunited with a teenage daughter he has never met. Nicolas Cage's tics and quirks skirt dangerously close to being annoying, but they turn out to be integral to the plot, and their presence (and absence) also act as background barometer for tension levels throughout the film. Sam Rockwell is amusingly glib, and Alison Lohman balances vulnerability and sullen edginess for a believable and lovable teenager. Snappy script, and some lovely cinematography, too. I apreciated this as a con film, but also as parent/child relationship movie. (I think I'm developing a weak spot for those. Must watch out for soppy tendencies.)