Confidence [DVD] [2003]

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.

To my mind, a film's potential success has at least four determinants: the acting, the plot, the environment (created by the cinematography, soundtrack, FX, etc.), and the degree of bonding between the audience and the characters. CONFIDENCE succeeds in all but the last.

Perhaps the best incentive to see CONFIDENCE is Hoffman's portrayal of the ickiest, creepiest and most venomous character he's ever played. It may be worth a Best Supporting Actor nomination for the next Oscarfest. Burns, as well as the multitude of others in supporting roles, are adequate to advance the (admittedly clever) storyline, but none were endearing, at least to this viewer. Even the moll of the piece, Lily (Rachel Weisz), is too unrelentingly flinty to be attractive.The only character of any interest besides King is Gunther Butan (Andy Garcia), the scruffy Federal agent and Vig's ostensible nemesis, who appears to be the wild card in the evolving scam.

The director made creative use of flashbacks and visual asides to keep my in-seat interest level high.

CONFIDENCE is, ultimately, an emotionally sterile experience.