Confidence (DVD 2004)

Crackling stuff. Rented it twice then bought it. Simply put, it's The Sting meets Ocean's Eleven. That's to say, a clever team of grifters hit a big "mark" by mistake and have to plan an even bigger con to settle the debt. It's not better or worse than Ocean's 11, but it is a lot more human and less gadgety. It works because you believe the characters. Smashing performance by Paul Giamatti. By the time people read this he has had a personal success in "Sideways", and this is long overdue; I've always enjoyed his performances. Edward Burns would not have been my first choice for the George Clooney rôle but he doesn't put a foot wrong. Rachel Weisz is gorgeous and more than competent as the "brainy bait". Dustin Hoffman is the unfortunate mark and I'm going to upset everyone by saying that I can always see Mr Hoffman acting. He is very clever and does his job immaculately, but I can't seem to penetrate his performance to get through to the character. Hey-ho, you can't have everything. Enjoy.

If you like Danny Ocean and crew then you'll love this film. Worth a watch for Dustin Hoffman alone, a masterclass in how to be menacing without a gun. Great chemistry between Rachel Weisz and Edward Burns and a fantastic twist at the end. A real classic.