Matchstick Men

After decimating theaters with Gladiator and Black Hawk Down, can director Ridley Scott be blamed for making a small, character-driven movie? A father-daughter relationship flick disguised as a slick con movie, Matchstick Men has style to spare (not to mention scene stealing from the underrated Sam Rockwell, whose character, Frank Mercer, is rumored to have been named for Frank Sinatra and Johnny Mercer), even when it sometimes gets buried under Nic Cage’s grating attempts to twitch, bark, and overact himself to death. Still, the twist is a beaut. The behind-the-scenes featurette, “Tricks of the Trade,” exhaustively follows Scott through preproduction, shooting, and editing—but provides enough access to meetings, rehearsals, and test screenings to keep you suckered. Don’t let the flash fool you, this con is no fraud.