OK, so I�ve waited some three days to write this, so I have to make it a quickie.

Well made flick, worth your time.

There. Done.

No?

OK, more.

Now that we've gotten through that wasteland known as "late summer" weekends, it's time for the "serious Fall Oscar contenders" to start coming out, beginning with Matchstick Men.

I don't know what it is about Nicolas Cage, but I've probably seen more of his films, per-capital, than any other actor than John Wayne. Whether it's a role that's serious, action or comedic, he picks movies that I want to see, and largely enjoy. His talent isn't anything extraordinary, but consistent, which stands for something reliable when you plunk down cash at the booth.

If I tell you that Matchstick Men was directed by Ridley Scott, I assume I've gotten your attention. If the mention of his name attached doesn't perk your interest, you need to just go see Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star down the hall.

Cage's Roy is full of tics and obsessive-compulsive disorder. He's also a con "artist," not a con man. Why? Because people practically give him their money, as if it's his reward for such a great con. He doesn't engage in just fooling them out of their dough, but even follows up with the victims for a bigger score.

Sam Rockwell (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) is Cage's partner, and a good one at that. Rockwell has emerged as a name that is sure to bring a solid performance in a good movie.

Cage finds out that he has a 14-year-old daughter from a long-ago marriage, Angela, who takes a shine to him right away, and sweetly moves in on being his prot�g�. Sure, he's just teaching her how to be a criminal, but she's so cute and eager, and they have so much fun ... well, here, take ten bucks!

While I say that the movie is well made and worth seeing, I can't say that I "loved" it, but will say that it could rightly deserve some nominations come Oscar time.

Sorry. That's it. I apologize for conning you out of five minutes of your time that could be spent with singing Viking kittens. But one might say that you freely gave me your time, so I appreciate your gullibility ... er, willingness to provide me with an outlet for expressing my opinion.