Confidence poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Edward Burns, Rachel Weisz, Andy Garcia, Dustin Hoffman, Paul Giamatti ... see more see more... , Donal Logue , Luis Guzman , Brian Van Holt , Franky G , Morris Chestnut , Robert Forster , Tommy 'Tiny' Lister , Robert Loggia

James Foley directs the slick crime caper Confidence, written by first-time screenwriter Doug Jung. Told in flashback, smooth-talking con man Jake Vig (Edward Burns) relates an elaborate scheme orches... read more read more...trated by his gang :Gordo (Paul Giamatti), Miles (Brian Van Holt), and Big Al (Louis Lombardi). The crew pulls off a swindling job stealing money from a guy named Lionel (Leland Orser), who turns out to be a mob accountant for the crazy crime boss known as the King (Dustin Hoffman). After the damage has been done, Jake and his crew attempt to pull off an even bigger scam to make up for their mistake. This time the con involves the King's enemy, the mob-connected banker Morgan Price (Robert Forster). Two corrupt cops (Donal Logue and Luis Guzman) join Jake's team while the King appoints his henchman, Lupus (Frankie G.) to oversee the operation. Rachel Weisz plays Lily, Jake's love interest who is also in on the scam. Eventually, Andy Garcia shows up as FBI Agent Gunther Butan, who has been perpetually chasing after Jake. Confidence premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Flixster Users

69% liked it

16,948 ratings

Critics

71% liked it

151 critics

R, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: James Foley

Release Date: April 25, 2003

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: September 16, 2003

Get It:

Stats: 863 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Confidence 2003 Confidence 2003 Confidence 2003 Confidence Confidence 2003 Confidence 2003 Confidence 2003 Confidence 2003 Confidence 2003 Confidence Confidence Confidence Confidence Confidence Confidence Confidence
Upload a Photo | View All Confidence Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (863)

  • garyX
    December 19, 2010
    garyX
    A conman whose crew accidentally takes the money of a crime kingpin is forced into doing a job for him to pay back the debt. Attempting the same kind of smart, sassy and easygoing charm of the likes of the Ocean's films, Confidence is just a little too generic to really light any... read moreone's fire. Edward Burns is rather too "made for television" to have enough charisma to carry the film, Dustin Hoffman, although a great actor in his day, at his age (and height) cannot do intimidating and easily the best character played by Andy Garcia gets nothing like enough screen time. It does have some charm and wit and is slickly directed by James Foley, but it's just a little too overly familiar and does not have enough in the way of personality or surprises to be considered for the big leagues. If it's an undemanding crime caper you're after and you've run out of Clooney films to watch, you could do a lot worse though.
  • aliceinpunderland
    July 27, 2010
    aliceinpunderland
    Clever twists and slick humor - not as satisfying upon second viewing though. Edward Burns is charmingly stoic.
  • SirPant
    September 28, 2009
    SirPant
    It?s ok but Dustin Hoffman was terribly miscast considering in the book, his character is this giant muscle-bound thug who sends fair into the hearts of all things living. Hardly!
  • Gx7
    April 25, 2009
    Gx7
    "In every con, sooner or later, somebodys gonna ask the right questions."

    A medium paced con film that should NEVER even be compared to Oceans Eleven. (O11 is fast paced and upbeat, this one just likes to take a power walk.) A... read moren all star cast ensemble that delivers just the right amount of ear catching dialogues. Starts of rather choppy but it picks up after a while.

    So its nothing fresh, but its quite an interesting ride. Sure it has a few minor dents, but its also got a golden easter egg. Want to find out what it is? Watch it from start to finish.

    I absolutely love the soundtrack! Christophe Beck, Fischerspooner, Groove Armanda, Zero 7 and Coldplay are just a few of the names on the OST. Check it out!!

    What not to expect: Gun totting action

    Director: James Foley
    Rated R
  • lewiskendell
    February 29, 2008
    lewiskendell
    A decent heist film in the vein of the Ocean's movies.
  • matertenebraum
    November 16, 2007
    matertenebraum
    Jake Vig, a charming presence even in the worst of times, makes a perfectly beguiling grifter; as Jake Vig he displays both the smarts to spot big money and the ruthlessness to go after it. Early on in Confidence, he sets his sights on a big target -- The King, a pint-sized crime... read more boss with an eye for strippers and a bad case of ADD. In other hands, the King might have just been a collection of quirks, but Hoffman has the effortless ability to make him both fascinating and complete. Together, he and Burns form a strong pair of tentpoles under which Confidence can develop its complicated scheme.

    Naturally, it's not as simple as Vig picking the King out of a crowd. He and his crew unknowingly fleece an important underling, stealing a substantial chunk of the King's money. Before they realize their error, one of their number has a bullet in his head and the rest are ready to cut and run, leaving Vig to do some fast thinking. So he approaches the King directly, offering to pay back the funds by pulling an even bigger scam on the crime lord's hated rival. Unfortunately, the plan requires an additional player, and Vig settles on a pickpocket femme fatale named Lily who may not have the group's best interests at heart. He also neglects to mention the federal marshal on his trail, who could land the entire lot of them in prison.

    Like he did in Glengarry Glen Ross, Foley demonstrates considerable skill working with an ensemble, aptly balancing the characters with the needs of the story. As a technical exercise Confidence is well-tuned, and the 98 minute running time feels just about right. The script brims with terrific dialogue, which the cast takes great relish in delivering, and the uniformly excellent performances never become forced or mannered .Dustin Hoffman gives a fresh and original performance that should have landed him at the very least an Oscar nomination. Like the length of the film is just about perfect. It's incredibly fast paced. This one movie that has re-watch-ability written all over it and an excellent flick that should not be missed.
  • allan913
    September 28, 2007
    allan913
    Relentlessly enjoyable. A smart, funny, stylish and teriffic crime thriller. It packs plenty of twist and endless surprises. Ed Burns gives his best performance to date.
  • ceWEBrity
    May 18, 2007
    ceWEBrity
    Fantastic performances, a strong sense of style, and immaculate pacing keep Confidence from becoming a generic heist thriller. I've never found Edward Burns to have much personality as an actor, but he does well here. Rachel Weisz is great as always, and Dustin Hoffman and Paul G... read moreiamatti really steal the show.

    The main plot is by no means brilliant, eschewing extensive character development in favor of energy and trimness, but it is just right for this kind of movie. The characters are likeable people (at least, for a group of cons). Oh, and you've gotta love the ending.

    Highly recommended.
  • mjgildea
    November 10, 2006
    mjgildea
    A great heist movie. The only thing that killed it for me was the Coldplay song I heard a billion times that lead into the credits.
  • xxdebxx
    July 9, 2011
    xxdebxx
    Ed Burns is Jake, the leader of a band of con men who rips off a mob boss (played by Dustin Hoffman). Now to pay back Hoffman, they have to try and con one of the most important people in the city. Rachel Weisz plays the street thief Burns takes under his wing who serves as bait.... read more Paul Giamatti is great as Burn's cohort and Andy Garcia has a nice bit as a grungy, yet ruthless federal agent.

View All Confidence Reviews

Critic Reviews

Rex Reed
May 16, 2003
Rex Reed, New York Observer

Overplotted, overcontrived, overshot and overedited. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 8, 2003
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

This is a one sweet sexy sting of a movie.

David Edelstein
May 2, 2003
David Edelstein, Slate

Identity is suicidally insecure. Full Review

Andrew Sarris
April 30, 2003
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

What it shares with most of its predecessors is a sterling cast, in this instance almost entirely male, and the willingness of several talented performers to play against type, with entertainingly com... Full Review

Richard Roeper
April 28, 2003
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

... Confidence does suffer a bit from some plot devices that haven't been original since The Sting, but it's a top-notch character study and a fun exercise in style. Full Review

Peter Rainer
April 27, 2003
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

Surely there is something wrong with a movie that is supposed to make you go Wow! yet instead provokes a great big Huh? Full Review

Mike Clark
April 25, 2003
Mike Clark, USA Today

On a level with Steven Soderbergh's blah remake of Ocean's Eleven. Full Review

Peter Howell
April 25, 2003
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

A feature lesson in how not to make a caper movie. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
April 25, 2003
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

A very smart thriller. Full Review

Joe Baltake
April 25, 2003
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

This is strictly a by-the -numbers affair, camouflaged ever so slightly by some nifty rapid-fire dialogue and the requisite double crosses and plot twists. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Ocean's Eleven
    Ocean's Eleven (58%)
  • Foolproof
    Foolproof (33%)
  • Ocean's Twelve
    Ocean's Twelve (43%)
  • 21
    21 (100%)

More Movies like Confidence

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Confidence : Watch Free on TV

Confidence Trivia

  • Which actress has battled mummies, displays Confidence in herself with no Envy, and didn't make it to the end of The Constant Gardener?  Answer »
  • Which movie starred Edward Burns, Rachel Weisz, Andy Garcia and Dustin Hoffman with the tag line "They lie. They cheat. They steal... But they do it with style."?  Answer »
  • Film Soundtracks The songs in this musical include: Do-Re-Mi Edelweiss I Have Confidence How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria My Favourite Things Sixteen Going On Seventeen So Long, Farewell Something Good The Lonely Goatherd  Answer »
  • All the following movies were based on Elmore Leonard's books except?  Answer »
More Confidence Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Confidence. Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Confidence Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Confidence to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

CHESHlRECAT Skin by CHESHlRECAT
27 Profiles
Add to Profile

More Skins