Keep your friends close and your money closer.
Features: DVD
What Jake Vig (Edward Burns) doesn't know just might get him killed. A sharp and polished grifter, Jake has just swindled thousands of dollars from the unsuspecting Lionel Dolby with the help of his crew Insideman Gordo (Paul Giamatti) and Shills Miles (Brian Van Holt) and Big Al and two corrupt LAPD officers Lloyd Whitworth (Donal Logue) and Omar Manzano (Luis Guzman). But when both Lionel and Big Al turn up dead, it becomes clear that Lionel wasn't just any mark; as Jake soon learns, he was an accountant for eccentric crime boss Winston King (Dustin Hoffman).Never one to shy away from a challenge, Jake offers to repay "The King" by pulling off the biggest con of his career. The mark? Morgan Gillette, a banker with deep ties to organized crime. With so much riding on the outcome, Jake decides to bring in a brash, blonde pickpocket named Lily (Rachel Weisz), who joins the crew in a complex scheme involving corporate loans, creative accounting, wire transfers and off-shore accounts. The first sign of trouble comes when Lily arrives for work with a head of freshly dyed red hair, a bad omen if ever there was one. To make matters worse, Jake also must contend with his old nemesis, FBI agent Gunther Butan (Andy Garcia), The King's henchman Travis (Morris Chestnut) and a double-crossing partner. Against these diminishing odds, Jake and his crew will have to stay one step ahead of both the criminals and the cops to finally settle their debt.
"This is one sweet sexy sting of a movie." Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
"...thoroughly engaging, provocative and funny..." Bruce Kirkland, JAM!Movies
"...a very smart thriller..." Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Editor's Note
Ed Burns gives the best performance of his career in James Foley's fast-moving CONFIDENCE. Foley, who directed David Mamet's GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, has learned much from his mentor, making a who's-conning-whom film worthy of the master of the genre. Burns plays Jake Vig, the leader of a small group of con artists who unknowingly steals money from a sleazy but powerful underworld lord known as King. In order to get his dough back, King forces Vig and his gang to pull off a nearly impossible con that could get nearly everyone involved killed. Meanwhile, Vig is being watched closely by a stubbly federal agent who is following the money. Foley has put together a terrific cast, including Paul Giamatti and Rachel Weisz as part of Vig's crew, Andy Garcia as the fed, Dustin Hoffman as King, and Luis Guzman and Donal Logue as two cops on the take. As in Mamet's films, the audience will have to keep guessing whose side the characters are on right up until the final shot, never quite knowing who's conning whom.
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