Matchstick Men

[catch22girl]

Went to the movies today. Well, first went to Weight Watchers, gained about a pound, which is okay, since I had ice cream at like midnight and so it's not a true weight, well whatever. Also got to eat at a Quiznos - and yes, their subs are *much* better than Subways.

Big event for today was seeing Matchstick Men...just a few thoughts.

Okay, well, I really enjoyed the film, let me say that right away. The acting, the camerawork, the story, it was all well above average. The cons with Frank and Roy felt very natural and their schemes were downright ingenius. I also loved the relationship between Roy and Angie, which is why I had a little bit of trouble with the ending.

There's been this movement over the last few years to have trick endings, moments where the audience is suddenly left dazed and blinking at an ending plot twist. There is a small problem, in that most of the time these ending plot twists make other parts of the movie an exercise in plot convience theater.

Matchstick Men skirts that line.

It becomes this: If X is true, than Y makes sense. However, if X is not true, than Y is difficult to believe.

Cons are always dangerous, because any wrong word, any misstep, could ruin the entire thing. If for instance, Roy without his medication had a breakdown. Or, what if he didn't take to the little girl? Or the big thing -- what if he accidentally got shot? There was a lot of margin for error, and when you add in the twist ending, the margins get huge.

But, Rachel, you're saying, it's a movie.

Yes, it is a movie, and one that I appreciated and felt was an excellent example of film (one of the best movies of the year, easily). However, it's more of an "I wish the story had gone this way..." than an actual dissatisfaction with the ending. I just felt, that with all the emotional investment the audience had in the relationship (especially that scene of him offering joint custody - *sniffle*), that to have it revealed...well, we felt very much like Roy. Technically, Chuck wouldn't have a leg to stand on -- you can only report a crime if you're not commiting one yourself, and especially not when you're trying to steal money.

Alison Lohman's performance was amazing, especially at the end.

I was getting odd 24 flashback with Angie holding the gun (anyone else feel that at all?).

However, I'm willing to admit that I might not know enough about dramatic structure. So, if someone could explain to me why the ending *had* to be ending, I'd appreciate it :)

Comments

[cadenzaallli.livejournal.com]

hey, rachel! this is not in response to your post, really...i was just lazy and decided to ask you this here instead of email. :D (though i question your opinion of quiznos vs. subway) ;D

um, you went to american university, right? you may or may not know i'm finally looking to go back to school...and that is one of the ones i'm interested in. what can you tell me about it? is it large, small...what's the campus like? what's the student population like...did you like the time you spent there? living situation?

also, what about other schools in the d.c./maryland/virginia area? i really, really want to go to school there...

anyway! i know i'm going to double major: finish my degree in music, and get a degree in something else....i just don't know exactly what, yet. :D i have many options as of now. :D thanks!

[catch22girl]

Yup, went to AU for a few years :) Well, it's a good size, very large gay population (which means if you're looking for a school where you can get your ms...that's probably not it - LOL). DC is a *GREAT* town, but things close at like...2 am there. Living situation can be weird, there's a lot of expensive places to live, it all depends, really. GW is cool, Catholic has an amazing music program I think...oh hell, if you want music, come to purchase! We have a great program :)

I'm going there at the end of hte month (hopefully!)

[cadenzaallli.livejournal.com]

yay! but a large gay population? then what's the point of leaving manhattan? ;D (i need me some man! hehe.)

you know, i'm looking into catholic u, and it sounds fantastic!! (on top of all that, i'm catholic!) i'm definitely going to seriously consider it. did you live in dc, virginia, or maryland?

[catch22girl]

Well, exactly -- that's what I said ;)

Catholic U is in a bad area, but very pretty campus.

I lived At American University for three years and in an apartment for one. So yeah, fully in DCish.

[cinesister.livejournal.com]

We will discuss the movie later, now that you've seen it. I'm gonna have a nice day tomorrow lounging around in bed, watching DVDs, and chatting to all my nice friends on AIM, so if you're there we can talk about it then. *g* If you saw my post...well, then you'll pretty much know what I had to say about it. But I have a LOT to say about that movie, and it would be cool to throw the ideas around for a while.

I actually liked the final part of the movie. I don't think it was really a deliberate trick ending...I believe that's how it was in the book, although don't quote me on that. But it was the classic case of dramatic, very powerful irony, and although a lot of people may have felt tricked by that...the recent trend you spoke of MUST have conditioned movie audiences to expect and absorb that kind of thing by now.

So yeah. I liked it. *G*