Confidence - DVD

`Confidence' is an `Oceans-11' type Heist movie with its own unique personality. While he sticks to the genre formula, Director, James Foley, moves this film along at a steady, active pace and throws in enough twists and turns to keep us involved.Ironically, the master mind is a guy named Jake Vig (Ed Burns). Ironic because Mr. Vig (his last name meaning 'the take' or 'the amount charged by the bookie for services rendered') is a `charming, virile fellow' (slang definition for `jake`) who wishes to accomplish his 'gigs' with minimal actual violence. Unfortunately, a heist goes sideways when he and his crew find they have jacked a morally bankrupt criminal called 'King' , who is not partial to letting things slide. In fact, with an act of very harsh measure, King makes it acutely clear what he requires to resolve the matter. Of course Jake refuses and the negotiations begin. This is where the twists and turns commence and the whole thing gets interesting.The caliber of talent in `Confidence' is amazing. The crew, Brian Van Holt (Cougar Town), Paul Giamatti (Oscar nom.), Rachel Weisz (Oscar winner) and Ed Burns (a celebrated actor/director himself) come off as a tightly knit, intelligent bunch that are as close and trusting as family should be. Two cops on the take (Donal Logue and Luis Guzman) are hilarious hired help who hope to come out ahead. Of course, King (Dustin Hoffman, Oscar winner) has bodyguards galore. Tiny Lister (as Harlan) intimidates politely, yet inimitably, as usual. A young, handsome Latino, Frankie G, displays his chameleon-like acting chops as Lupus, Harlan's understudy. There is a moderate amount of subtle symbolism, in my opinion. Unfortunately, I've been told I have to be hit up long-side the head with it (symbolism) to see it. For example, the name Lupus seems apropos for this particular bodyguard's character, in terms of the word's medical implications. It would be a fun subject for discussion.The movie, 'Confidence', ends up being a Heist/Revenge movie with some great twists and a surprise ending. I'm not a great fan of Heist films, but I enjoyed my 97 minutes just fine. It was well paced, well acted, and well ... I liked it.

I had to rewind up to the part where Lupus confesses to Jake about Big Al's murder just to watch the ending again.Love how it all plays out in the end!Great story, and the entire cast were perfectly fated to their roles 👍🏼👏🏼

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.

If you're a cinephile with a lot of experience in heist movies, you might find this one to be predictable, but I can still see this film as having good plot twists for the unsuspecting. Aside from that, it's still an altogether entertaining film with great acting and very few dull moments.Edward Burns made for the perfect con man. He really made you question if any of his actions were genuine, because they all seemed equally genuine - a perfect con man.At first I was skeptical of Dustin Hoffman being a mob boss with a sinister reputation, but he turned out to be an enormously entertaining eccentric that made for a refreshing change of pace. I must repent for ever doubting that Hoffman could pull off any roll.

YMMV

This is a movie about a group of con artists and a giant size con they're plotting to pull off.---If you like a flick with lots of twists and turns, some edge, some violence and some humor all rolled into one then you'll probably like this. ---Its got a great cast--Edward Burns,Andy Garcia,Dustin Hoffman, and Rachel 4 a little eye candy.--Its light fair yet pretty good with only a couple of overacted scenes . I love the interaction between Burns character and Hoffmans character.--- Its not an academy award winner but its fairly entertaining if you like the subject matter. I found the DVD picture quality fine.---I give it 4 stars

inauthentic and boring movie.

One of my favorites. I keep buying it, loaning it out, and failing to get it back. I need another one now.

A smart little crime thriller, well-conceived and satisfyingly executed.A group of small-time con artists unwittingly scam a local kingpin and in an effort to make amends (and avoid his wrath) agree to scam a rival who owns a bank; the story is engaging, has multiple twists and the excellent cast put in a fine ensemble performance; for a relatively low-budget, understated film it's better than some glitzier, higher-profile movies with similar subject matter.The standard UK DVD release has three commentaries, a series of cast/director interviews (totalling approx. 45 minutes), a 27-minute “Anatomy of a Scene” featurette and deleted scenes.English subtitles are available if required.

This 2003 crime drama starts with a flashback to when a bunch of con artists rip off their latest target. The title voiceover explains the con and the concept behind it. But the money actually belongs to a local crime boss and so they go to work for him and target one of his rivals as the next victim, but, as usual, things don’t go so smoothly.Well filmed with a good sound this tends to explain most of the plot as it goes along, so isn’t too hard on the brainbox. Dustin Hoffman is superbly on form as the crime boss and Rachael Weisz plays an entertaining bad girl. It is fast moving throughout but takes almost a third of the movie to get to the point.The single disc features play, scene selection. Special features [anatomy of a scene, deleted scenes,commentaries, trailer, interviews] subtitles on/off, and forthcoming releases [3 of with a single select or paly all]. Rated 15 this suffers from a huge amount of swearing [over 130 uses of the F word] and cussing from the start which weakens the script needlessly, but has little else to offend, other than some sexual innuendo and one instance of topless nudity early on. If you like con movies such as ‘The Sting’ or ‘The Grifters’ you’ll probably like this, but you’ll probably spot the ‘twist’ coming before it arrives. Deserving more than a **** this gets a grudging ***** rating.

Well - excellent movie, clever plot, clever dialogues, some sterling performances - Dustin Hoffman (cast against type) is interestingly creepy, Rachel Weisz is pure "bait with brains" and Edward Burns (not really my favourite actor, I admit) comes over with a surprisingly great amount of suave confidence... as for the supporting cast - as good as the leads (Andy Garcia takes the cake, though) , moody soundtrack, and - just for once - in this almost "sucked-dry" genre of 'Heist' and 'Sting' movies, an unpredictable ending.....And while it skips over some of the less interesting details of the sting's setup and planning (like some forgeries etc - a forgivable offense ), the story stays sound - especially through Burn's comments from off-screen filling in details, attitude and superstitions. It compares very well to "Oceans Eleven" but is less swinging, ironic and hip, much grittier with ugly stains showing through the gloss, and somewhat less certainty about the outcome. Maybe because it was done with one tenth of the budget. Maybe because "Ocean's Eleven" is just too glossy and elegant.As for the story - a group of conficence men pull off the wrong guy, or rather they con him out of the wrong money. Now, in debt to a local mobster (Hofmann ), they agree to trick an old enemy of said mobster out of several million bucks - and doing this with crooked cops, irritated gangsters and federal agents on their tail. Sounds simple, but like all good "sting" stories (and of course a fan of the genre will have seen pieces or bits of similar cons and double-bluffs elsewehere - It's an old genre and there are only _so_many_ original ideas. It's the way they are arranged that makes it sweet ) it has a cartload of double-dealing, backstabbing and corrupting gears busily shifting and turning. Rather surprisingly for a contemporary gangster/crime flick depicting the grimy underbelly of society the violence, while definitely there, is neither overwhelming, eceedingly bloody nor sickeningly self-serving , the camera-work is hands on, dialogue is crisp and for once the world is at its most dangerous when it looks glossy, stylish and neat.Very much under-promoted , very much under-rated, and easy to dislike for the 2_explosions_a_minute_crowd. Just like the perfect con - you don't notice its excellence until it's over, and even then you need some brains to understand just how you have been fleeced. Now wisen up guys and at least get the DVD. No regrets - trust me on this.

One of Edward Burns "hits", rather than mortgage payment makers.Worth seeing for Dustin Hoffman's character alone.This film chugs along nicely, and is clever without being too clever: i.e. it doesn't trip itself up or lose the audience with the twists and turns of the plot.Oh and Paul Giamatti's in it too, so you can't really go wrong!

Very good heist movie. It has elements of 'The Sting' and it is a believable storyline. The male and female leads, Edward Burns and Rachel Weisz are very good and there is a chemistry between them. Dustin Hoffman's character is a great creation - credit to the actor. I enjoyed the film.