American
films are perhaps unique in glamorizing notorious lawbreakers,
thus enabling freeway daredevils, unscrupulous lawyers,
and white-collar embezzlers to feel that they are part
of a respected tradition. No criminals are more revered
than "con men," from The Sting (1973) to Catch
Me If You Can (2002). Although the film Confidence, directed
by James Foley, tries to find a place in the genre, one
important ingredient is missing: None of the characters
is affable. They mostly prove to be victims of their own
game, that is, relying disingenuously on the proverbial "honor
among thieves." The most important con in the film
is how Jake Vig (played by Edward Burns) fools the Los
Angeles mobster The King (played by Dustin Hoffman) with
the aid of a federal official Gunther Butan (played by
Andy Garcia). However, the endless subplots, clever lines,
and superfluous voiceovers by Burns are so drowned out
by a blaring filmscore that filmviewers will suspect that
the film's promoters hope at least to make up box office
losses by selling CDs. MH
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