Confidence
Movies centering on con artists are unique from other film genres in that they are often unpredictable. Until it's over, you aren't sure who's the con, who's the mark, and who's on which side. In many cases, repeat viewings are requisite for understanding the entire plot. One of the best con films ever released was the The Sting, starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman, which won the 1973 Best Picture Oscar. Recently, Director James Foley (Glengarry Glen Ross) and screenwriter Doug Jung brought Confidence, a mediocre con movie, to the screen.
Jake Vig (Burns) is a confidence man, a grifter. He and his acting company, consisting of himself, an inside man, some bent cops, and other players, have made conning people into an art. His last job succeeded in pilfering a weenie accountant out of 150 Gs. Unfortunately, that money belongs to Winston King (Dustin Hoffman), an eccentric crime boss. The only reason that Jake's still vertical is because he didn't know that he was stealing a part of the King's collection of dead presidents.
To make it up to the King, Jake agrees to con a crooked banker out of the due $150,000 and then some. To do this, he and his gang need to pose as a legitimate corporation in need of a loan. They research the bank's loan officers and pick the loneliest VP, the one with potentially the most moral flexibility. They reel the vice president of corporate loans in with the help of a gorgeous pickpocket (Rachel Weisz). With the added challenge of a federal agent on their tails, the gang has their work cut out for them.
It's obvious that The Usual Suspects inspired the director and the screenwriter. In both of these movies, the story is told by one character, and the narrative jumps from the present to different points in the past. This storytelling style helped make Suspects become a cult classic, but it's not as original this time. Confidence's plot is still complicated, but this movie will be forgotten in a month (and I'm in an optimistic mood as I'm writing this).
The casting, for the most part, is off-target. Edward Burns is not as charismatic as he tries to be; his attempts to deliver clever lines make Burns come off like a Steve McQueen wannabe. Hoffman's King is more comical than convincing; he suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and he "plays for both teams." The audience doesn't fear the consequences should Jake fail to return the King's money. Unfortunately, this movie is a reminder that Hoffman's career is slowly dwindling. One could argue that he is demonstrating his versatility, but it's doubtful that Hoffman would have agreed to this movie during the pinnacle of his career.
Confidence is a should-see if you're in the mood for a movie that requires active viewing. If the plot befuddles you, you can still ogle Rachel Weisz or Edward Burns.
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Drink if you feel the need, but try to keep a brain cell or two in order to figure out what the hell is going on.
Edward Burns and Rachel Weisz make an attractive on-screen couple, sure to light both male and female fires.
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2) The Usual Suspects
3) Heist
4) The Graduate
5) The Shape Of Things
