'Matchstick Men' (PG-13) (out of four)

Nicolas Cage proves once and for all that he's the king of quirky roles with "Matchstick Men," a delightfully original comedy that easily ranks among the year's best films and solidifies Ridley Scott in the ranks of industry's most diverse filmmakers.

MATCHSTICK MEN Ridley Scott, Alison Lohman Interviews, Slideshow, Trailer, Contest

Cage stars as Roy, an over-wound con artist who's on the verge of making a big score with the help of his silky-smooth protege Frank (Sam Rockwell). But while Roy is the brain of the duo, it's Frank that holds the operation together.

That's because as an obsessive-compulsive chain-smoking agoraphobe, Roy, needless to say, is finding it difficult to function in his day-to-day life. And considering that he has no personal life to speak of, those problems are starting to get in the way of his criminal operations.

On the verge of losing his mind, Roy is forced to seek the help of a psychoanalyst (Bruce Altman) to manage his ticks and phobias. But in the course of his therapy, Roy has revelation that he has a 14-year-old daughter out there that he always suspected, but could never quite confirm.

Alleviating his anxiety, Roy arranges to meet with Angela (Alison Lohman) and suddenly he finds himself having to assume the role of a parent. Forgoing parental responsibility, he answers Angela's burning curiosity about his occupation, and discovers in the process that she's inherited his natural gift for the grift. But is it a good idea that she becomes part of his operation?

While the movie ultimately recalls such con-men classics as "The Sting," "Paper Moon" and "The Grifters," "Matchstick Men" largely sets itself apart because of its wonderfully original characters.

Chief among them is Cage, of course, who, on the heels of his jaw-dropping dual turn in "Adaptation," turns in a masterful performance guy going through some serious issues.

There's no doubt that his problems provide for many comic moments, but thanks to the perceptive direction of Scott, Cage hardly plays his ticks and phobias over the top for cheap laughs. Sure, the constant ticks and grunts by his character may grind on some people's nerves, but ultimately, it's what makes the role so grand. Cage's performance stays with you long after the credits roll, particularly because of some beautiful payoffs with the growth of his character.

Equally as brilliant in her role is Lohman, who in her second major feature after "White Oleander" matches up to her "Matchstick Men" counterparts like a seasoned film veteran. Coming off as a young Jessica Lange in both looks and charisma, Lohman, who was 22 during the shoot of the film is completely convincing as the wide-eyed yet wise-beyond-her-years Angela. Rockwell delivers as usual, but gets less of a chance to shine since his role isn't nearly as demanding as his counterparts.

Perhaps the best way to describe "Matchstick Men" is that it's the ultimate con -- mainly because the film make us believe what where seeing is real. When all is said and done, you'll likely delight in the fact that you've been sucked right into the twists and turns of the movie, and you'll hardly feel like you've been swindled out of your hard-earned movie-going dollar.

And while the film's brilliant acting is largely a part of reason the film succeeds, behind it all is Nicolas and Ted Griffin's smart script (based on Eric Garcia's book) and Scott's unique storytelling prowess.

Having directed every genre but comedy, Scott clearly demonstrates that he not only has a knack for lighter material, he can execute in the most challenging of circumstances. From the very beginning, Scott manages to keep his audience entertained as he unwinds the complexities of the characters and the story. It's a great movie.