Nicholas Cage, Sam Rockwell, and Alison Lohman form a perfect con-trifecta in Director Ridley Scott's latest, "Matchstick Men," which saves it's biggest con-job for the audience. Like with an illusionist, you know there will eventually be a big payoff in the end, but the real test is whether the misdirection is enjoyable and attention grabbing as well. Thankfully, after an enjoyable build-up, the magical team pulls out a wild card and amazes us all. Unfortunately, you see where the trick is headed, but for once, the misdirection is the better prize than the final trick.

In "Matchstick Men," Cage plays the obsessive-compulsive Roy, who has been slowly building up his protégé Frank (Rockwell) as they work small cons on a daily basis. As criminals go, Roy and Frank are below the radar, never getting caught, yet never going after the big score and risking their livelihood. Of course this means their lives are in fact a con. When Roy's "doctor," who was supplying him with illegal medication moves, he visits a new psychiatrist in order to get refills on his prescription. While talking with the shrink, Roy discusses his former wife and their unborn child, whom he left 14 years ago, yet thinks about constantly. Getting the Doctor to call his former wife for him, he gets to meet his Daughter Angela (Lohman) and starts to build a relationship with her, even unwittingly bringing her into the con game.

Going after one last big score, Angela's inclusion in the former partnership between Frank and Roy causes friction, and things go south. Fast.

Ever the master character actor, Nicolas Cage has perfected the obsessive-compulsive Roy. Aside from the ritual cleaning and rhythmic repetition, the subtle way in which Cage perfects the mannerisms are a joy to watch. His interaction with Angela brings a halt to the twitching, and instead you see the wonder and love in his eyes as he longs for something in life other than the next con. The transformation of Roy from beginning to end is a fabulous character study, and a testament to Cage's growth as an Academy Award Winning Actor.

As for Sam Rockwell, he is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors to watch. His "breakout" role in last year's "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" cemented him as a viable Actor as opposed to comic sidekick, yet he is relished to that role here again. As Frank, Rockwell embodies the goofy yet slick learner, yet the shadow he casts in the film is undercut by Cage's performance, which is too bad.

While many people will recognize Cage's Roy as the eye-catcher in the film, Lohman's Angela is most certainly the most subtle breakout character of the film. Her displays of emotions, ranging from something as simple as the delight of eating pizza, to the raw emotion of crying in fear of losing the love of you father, Lohman steals almost every scene she is in and comes across as being the most human of the trio.

While the ultimate con is somewhat telegraphed, the build up to the payoff is enjoyable to behold, particularly because of the trio of wonderful actors, and their ability to trump each other with screen presence. With the look and feel of a fifties-style con film (and set with the same era's music), Ridley Scott transitions from chapter to chapter and keeps the pace of the film in line with the beat of the Rat-pack music; upbeat and stepping right along.

Yes, there are minor, forgivable plot holes, and the ending is (somewhat) telegraphed, but in the end, "Matchstick Men" is a held up on the strength of its acting and direction. When the curtain is finally pulled away and the illusion is revealed, the show was enjoyable anyway and you can respect the illusionists, even if you know how it was done.