"Confidence" is an ultra slick drama about con artists with a twist laden screenplay by Doug Jung. Edward Burns stars as experienced con man Jake Vig, who works with a small team. As the movie opens, they're scamming a loser accountant (Leland Orser) who just so happens to work for a crime kingpin, "The King" (Dustin Hoffman). Naturally, the kingpin wants revenge, but he and Vig work out a deal: Vig and his team will pull a scam on a financial high roller (Robert Forster) whom the kingpin resents.
For its duration, this is actually a rather involving story that holds ones' attention, although given the way that it plays out, and is ultimately resolved, it may have viewers thinking that the story wouldn't hold up to any intense scrutiny. There may indeed be a dearth of truly likable characters, but these people are still fascinating in spite of themselves. As in any film of this kind, it is amusing to see these seemingly intelligent schemers work their way through the steps of the con, and try to figure out how to solve problems. Director James Foley guides it all in style; with the help of his editor, Stuart Levy, he crafts a quickly moving scenario that has some mildly amusing surprises to dole out along the way.
It is a pleasure to watch this group of actors at work. Burns is a tight lipped anti-hero, Rachel Weisz is tantalizingly sexy as the new "shill" in his team, Andy Garcia is a hoot as a scruffy federal agent on Burns' tail, and Dustin Hoffman makes the most of his role as a creepy, somewhat irreverent crime figure. Morris Chestnut, Louis Lombardi, Paul Giamatti, Brian Van Holt, Donal Logue, Luis Guzman, Tommy 'Tiny' Lister, Franky G, John Carroll Lynch, and Robert Pine all deliver solid performances, with Giamatti in particular standing out. He offers some comedic content as a man who's fussy enough to not like using public restrooms.
Overall, entertaining stuff that doesn't set out to muck about with any formulas established in previous Hollywood features about con artists.
Seven out of 10.
For its duration, this is actually a rather involving story that holds ones' attention, although given the way that it plays out, and is ultimately resolved, it may have viewers thinking that the story wouldn't hold up to any intense scrutiny. There may indeed be a dearth of truly likable characters, but these people are still fascinating in spite of themselves. As in any film of this kind, it is amusing to see these seemingly intelligent schemers work their way through the steps of the con, and try to figure out how to solve problems. Director James Foley guides it all in style; with the help of his editor, Stuart Levy, he crafts a quickly moving scenario that has some mildly amusing surprises to dole out along the way.
It is a pleasure to watch this group of actors at work. Burns is a tight lipped anti-hero, Rachel Weisz is tantalizingly sexy as the new "shill" in his team, Andy Garcia is a hoot as a scruffy federal agent on Burns' tail, and Dustin Hoffman makes the most of his role as a creepy, somewhat irreverent crime figure. Morris Chestnut, Louis Lombardi, Paul Giamatti, Brian Van Holt, Donal Logue, Luis Guzman, Tommy 'Tiny' Lister, Franky G, John Carroll Lynch, and Robert Pine all deliver solid performances, with Giamatti in particular standing out. He offers some comedic content as a man who's fussy enough to not like using public restrooms.
Overall, entertaining stuff that doesn't set out to muck about with any formulas established in previous Hollywood features about con artists.
Seven out of 10.