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CONFIDENCE Rating:  (out of 5 stars)Director: James Foley Producers: Michael Burns, Marc Butan, Michael Ohoven & Michael Paseornek Writer: Doug Jung Director of Photography: Juan Ruiz Anchia Cast: Ed Burns, Rachel Weisz, Dustin Hoffman, Paul Giamatti & Andy Garcia Visit the IMDB page for full cast and crew |
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Review by: Curtis
Raines
4/21/03
Ed Burns is probably the most inconsistent actor I've ever seen. I could love the guy one moment and hate him the next. His movies truly are hit or miss with me. But somehow Confidence presents Ed Burns on a level very new to me. Maybe director James Foley felt in order to utilize Burns' talent, he must minimize his presence. Like most things, less is better. But hate him or like him, Burns' sarcastic ways are going to make you laugh at least a few times here and there. His charisma translates well to this film and although the guy says "fuck" every other word, he's a very likeable protagonist. Some guys curse and it sounds flat out filthy. But somehow Ed Burns makes it look cool and stylish. Did I really just say "stylish?"
Having Ed Burns star in an ensemble piece is a very good idea. Having him star in an ensemble piece with a good cast is even a better one. And the cast is definitely the strongest point of this movie. It has a lot of my favorites like Luis Guzman, Donal Logue and Robert Forster. Granted they have small parts, but they added to the film greatly. Throw in Andy Garcia, Dustin Hoffman, Paul Giamatti and Rachel Weisz and now you've got something.
As far as the story, it's your basic caper/heist story with a ton of twists at the end. There isn't much below the surface to this movie. It's much more about style than substance. And as long as you realize this, you should enjoy it.
Ed Burns plays Jake Vig, the ultimate grifter. He and his crew pull off a caper that gets them in hot water with a big shot known as "The King" (Dustin Hoffman). In order to pay off their debt to The King, they must pull off the mother of all capers. They seem a little in over their heads, but only the fourteen twists at the end will let you know why they're not.
Director James Foley, minus Glengarry Glen Ross, doesn't have the best resume in the world. In fact, that's the only movie of his I've enjoyed. Stuff like The Chamber, Fear and Who's That Girl? have made my "never ever see again" list. So I was a little skeptical about his vision in this flick. But I must admit his style is perfect for this movie. I've heard a lot of criticism about him ripping off Tarantino in Confidence. Yes, their styles are sort of similar, but I couldn't imagine this movie being shot any other way. It's a caper story with a lot of double-crossing and sarcastic remarks. In order to mix in humor like Tarantino does so well, you must have that cool Pulp Fiction look. Even if Foley did copy that style, I'm glad, because it works well in this movie.
Confidence is nothing that will blow you away. The twists are predictable to a certain degree and of course everything has to go perfectly for the scams to work just right. The performances are good and Ed Burns is Ed Burns but not so much to annoy you. This film is simply one of those movies that's fun to watch and so inoffensive that it really doesn't stick with you a week or two later.
Guys, take your girlfriend, you'll both have a few laughs. You'll have a little discussion about some of the twists afterwards and then tuck Confidence away in the back of your mind along with all the other movies you have forgotten about until you see them on Showtime at 2:00 A.M. three years later.
(A Lions Gate Films release. Opens
in wide release on April 25, 2003.)
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