Confidence (2003): The Smart Crime Movie You Missed

The Short Verdict

Confidence is slick, fast-talking, and stylish in that early-2000s way we secretly miss. Think Ocean’s Eleven and Focus with a grimier edge and fewer cocktails — a crime drama that doesn’t hold your hand, just plays the game.

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If you missed Confidence in the early 2000s, you’re not alone. It slipped quietly under the radar, outshined by louder blockbusters with bigger budgets. But that’s exactly why it works — Confidence isn’t here to impress you. It’s here to hustle you.

Stylish but never smug, lean but layered, this is the kind of crime con movie that doesn’t spoon-feed the plot. Instead, it pulls you into the con and lets you figure out where you stand — if anywhere. It’s smart, it’s gritty, and it’s all things early-2000s swagger. A Friday night watch that rewards attention and rewatches.

Plot

Edward Burns plays Jake Vig, a career grifter with a polished crew and a sharp game — until a con goes sideways and they accidentally rip off a bag man for a volatile crime boss known only as “The King.” Played with glorious weirdness by Dustin Hoffman, nonetheless.

To pay back the debt and save their own skins, Jake’s crew is forced into one last, high-stakes con targeting a shady banker. But nothing is ever what it seems — not the team, not the target, and especially not the story you’re being told.

As the layers peel back, Confidence plays a game of double-crosses, hidden agendas, and one killer endgame.

Cast

Confidence thrives on chemistry, and this cast brings it in spades.

Edward Burns is perfectly cast as Jake — calm, calculating, and confident enough to sell any lie without blinking. He walks the line between likeable and lone wolf, which is exactly what you want in a grifter leading the charge. Rachel Weisz plays Lily, a fellow con with a sharp tongue and sharper instincts. She bounces off Burns — suggesting there is more than just the con and the job at stake.

Then there’s Dustin Hoffman as “The King,” delivering one of his most entertainingly erratic performances. He plays the crime boss — unpredictable, twitchy, and impossible to know what will happen next. His energy disrupts every scene he’s in, and the film is better for it.

Reviews

Critics were split, but audiences got it — Confidence holds a 70% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.6 rating on IMDb. It’s not a popcorn crowd-pleaser. It’s a niche pick for people who like their crime with edge, wit, and a bit of grit under the nails.

Trailer

How To Watch Catch Me If You Can

Confidence is available to stream on Stan.

Until next week.