IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY....IT'S ABOUT THE CON
Added 3/13/2008
Lousy con movies are some of the worst around. They can have a visible outcome from the get go, but it's the way they carry the story out that makes them bad. No class, no style, no sense of wonder at how the con will go down exactly.
A good con movie on the other hand is a thing to behold. HOUSE OF GAMES from David Mamet comes to mind, where the con that goes down come completely out of left field, even thought all of the clues were presented from the beginning. Or the greatest con movie of all time, THE STING. We saw or thought we saw what was going on. But by films end, we discovered that not only had Lonnegan been taken, but the entire viewing audience had been conned as well.
Now comes a con movie that uses the term in its title. CONFIDENCE tells the story of Jake Vig (Edward Burns) and his crew as they pull of a con right from the start, staging a fake murder, getting the mark to leave and then taking the money and running. It's not until later when one of the crew is murdered that they discover they conned the wrong man. The mark was an accountant for one of the deadliest independent crime bosses in LA, The King (Dustin Hoffman).
Rather than let themselves be taken out one by one, Jake sets up a meet with The King and makes a proposition. He won't pay back the money. But what he will do is run a tremendous con for The King, paying him back the original amount as well as interest.
Although wary, The King agrees and the game is on. Jake assembles his crew once more, replacing the newly deceased with a new shill (part performer, all con artist). He chooses a woman named Lily (Rachel Weisz) who picked his pocket earlier in the week. Along with his two partners and a pair of watchful eyes that The King insisted be a part of the crew, the fun begins.
The con involves a rival of The King, a mark named Morgan Price (Robert Forster). An upscale banker and shopping center investor (where he launders enough money to rival the mint), Jake and crew set out to con him out of $5 million. Finding the easiest target they can, they set the con in motion.
Into this mix are all sorts of surprises from crooked cops that aid Jake (Luis Guzman and Daniel Logue) to a federal agent (Andy Garcia) whose been trying to get the goods on Jake for some time. While watching, keep in mind that no one is who they seem. And yet others are.
The fun of this movie comes on various levels. It's first off fascinating to watch how the con goes along, each step of the way. It's fun then to sit and wonder just who is conning who and if this person or that is involved. And it's a treat to watch a group of actors blend so well into their characters that you don't even consider the fact that they're acting.
I figured out portions of the ending before they came along and you will too. But then there are those magnificent twists that come as a surprise at the films end. Surprises that make this movie one that is a pleasure to watch.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
Style over Substance
Added 10/22/2007
Caper movies have been well served in the 90's and to some extent into the noughties. Movies like Ocean's Eleven, The Grifters, Heist and many others, have raised the bar for the con artist on the silver screen. `Confidence' aims high, and just scrapes over the bar, but without much room to spare.
The plot - well, it would spoil it to tell.. but even if I wanted to it would be difficult, as maze-like as it is. Suffice to say, when a con turns out to have inadvertently trodden on a ganglord's toes (Dustin Hoffman), the con-artist (Ed Burns) agrees to pull a huge job to get the money back and keep everyone happy... but who can anyone trust, and what is as it seems?
Great performances abound - the talent on display here is formidable through to the most minor of characters. However, for the most part these fantastic character actors are being called on to play parts which are by their definition artificial. It all works well for the plot, but the sheer cleverness of the whole thing does pull you out of the experience and constantly remind you that this is not real, just a movie.
Having said that, the script is fine, even if lacking that David Mamet style it so much wants to have. Dustin Hoffman in particular benefits from some juicy lines, chewing the scenery as his menacing though dwarf like ganglord with a predilection for sex of any kind. He looks for all the world like Eddy Jordan on speed, turned to a life of crime and hedonism. Ed Burns is a fine actor, but seems a little out of his depth, and Rachel Weisz plays the sexpot admirably well. In the end we do find a satisfying cleverness to the eventual proceedings - But without an investment in the characters that makes us really care one way or the other who did what to who.
It's a stylish movie, and worth watching, but one could have expected more from the talent involved. Watch it, enjoy, and forget it about 5 minutes later.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
A terrific consemble!
Added 8/20/2007
A delightful, stylish movie featuring an ace ensemble pulling a twisty caper. Confidence makes the Ocean movies feel utterly self-conscious: "Look at us! Huge stars being cool!" It's amazing that Edward Burns carries this film as well as he does, and he does. The supporting cast is simple brilliant; kudos to the casting director. Dustin Hoffman is just wonderfully edgy: brutal here, sensual there, with a comic undercurrent throughout. Sensational. Andy Garcia, barely recognizable in a 5 day growth of beard, shades and a cigar, manages to deliver the Garcia goods so you see it's him even though you can't tell it's him at first. Rachel Weisz manages to play it unaffected for a change. It's nice to see her being directed out of her "Aren't I precious" mannerisms. Production design is always colorful and the editing lively. The music is really nicely done. Foley scrambles a variety of genre elements into an eminently watchable picture.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
As in chess, you needs to see 20 moves ahead in the game
Added 6/10/2007
CONFIDENCE (2003) is a hit for audiences who can find a way in
themselves to laugh at the misfortune of those who make wrong
decisions, costing them thousands, purely from the blindness of their
greed, and engage in unusual business deals.
Although Edwards Burns is reminiscent of Ben Affleck, and Rachel
Weisz of Melanie Griffith, the charm they project to the cameras, is
natural, and convincing.
The editing is a strong point in this movie, because it keeps the
audience on its toes, the action upbeat, the attention spans wide
open as the story unfolds in a clear, understandable manner.
A lot of effort was put in the script, clearly, in terms of the
number of short funny phrases, and in the semi-serious narrative. As
said, there's a pleasure, excitement and personal presence projected
by every single one of the actors that raises the picture a notch or
two.
The soundtrack is upbeat, cool and brings a relaxation ambience to
the underlying action, very well done.
The filming is excellent, showing a wide spectrum of sharp sequences
indoors and outdoors, variety of pastel colors in a number of scenes,
contrasted with black and while in other moments, to change the mood
of viewers. The wide-screen brings a theatrical feeling to the home
viewer.
There's perhaps an excessive effort in educating viewers in
terminology , touching upon a mark, shill, roper, insider, score,
fix, Belize offshore, money laundering, setting up a shell
corporation, arranging for a loan, but this is not surprising
considering the need for a all viewers to accompany the action. The
subtitles may also help, for those not familiar with some jargon.
An unfortunate aspect, is the excessive comfort of the story teller
with the actual behavior being done, such that some might see it
condoned, from the lack of addressing the moral implications
involved.
Also, every single person in the movie seems to be on the take, which
seems unnecessarily unrealistic or simplistic.
Andy Garcia brings in a semi-comical, very professional, low-key
performance in playing the role, as someone whose intentions are
hard to perceive.
Overall, from every standpoint, most audiences will find this DVD
entertaining. "As in chess, you needs to see 20 moves ahead in the
game."
2 out of 3 people found this helpful.
|
Brilliant - a jewel
Added 4/28/2007
I must echo the writer who says s/he has watched this over and over. I too have repeatedly watched this wondeful movie. I come across few people who have ever seen it. This is a movie that begins with Ed Byrnes saying "So, I'm dead." His narration reminded me in feeling of the very fine narration by Nicholas Cage in Raising Arizona or Mogran Freeman's in Shawshank Redemption. There is complexity here in the story and noir poetry in the dialog and in the character's movements on screen. I watched the movie several times before I really felt that "I got it". And the movie became more fun every time I watched it. I have a top ten list of movies that I wander around with - this movie has never left my top ten. I do recommend it - if you liked Rasing Arizona, if you liked Shawshank and you liked House of Cards - you'll like this - but don't don't expect to 'get it" the first time thru - that is part of what makes it so much fun.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
Confidence-Great movie from a great cast
Added 10/22/2009
This is one of my favorite movies. Story moves ahead briskly with a cast that just delivers from start to finish. Sound track is terrific but the ending song from Coldplay (Clocks) is not on the sound track of the movie CD!!! Had to but it as a single from iTunes (this is my only complaint)! Must see movie..............st
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Low-rent caper film
Added 10/3/2009
The Bottom Line:
Between the lackluster plotting, anemic acting (with the exception of Dustin Hoffman, who's a little annoying but certainly not boring) and the sad feeling of the film merely going through the motions, Confidence gives potential viewers almost no reason to watch the film when there are many far better movies about con men (e.g. The Sting, The Spanish Prisoner, House of Games, even Matchstick Men) out there.
2/4
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Great grifter flick
Added 7/18/2009
On par with 'The Grifters'. Well done. Plus Dustin plays a very mean bad guy.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
