Every Ridley Scott Movie Ranked Worst To Best

As Ridley Scott's most underrated movie, Matchstick Men stars Nicolas Cage and Sam Rockwell as two conniving conmen who find their lives up-turned by the arrival of Cage's estranged daughter (Alison Lohman).

Throughout this article, one thing most clear about Scott's weaker films has been their over-reliance on the director's eye for style over a compelling narrative, but where his other films may fail, Matchstick Men finds Scott balancing the stylistic tics that characterise his work with a tightly wound and deeply affecting story.

Nic Cage is a revelation as OCD-suffering criminal Roy, who struggles with his need to practice his shady past-times and care for the child thrust upon him.

It makes for a tantalising character study, and though it briefly relies on some heavy-handed sentimentality, it's just funny, charming and thrilling enough to keep itself from being anything other than one of Scott's best films.