JAMES Foley's elaborate thriller is set in the cut-throat world of liars, cheats and money-hungry charlatans.

Jake Vig (Edward Burns) is a master con man who knows every trick in the book.

Together with his larcenous best men Gordo (Paul Giamatti), Miles (Brian Van Holt) and Big Al (Louis Lombardi), he orchestrates daring double-bluffs and swindles, often leaving his victims none the wiser.

When his latest scam goes horribly wrong, leaving Jake in debt to crime lord King (Dustin Hoffman) for more than $150,000, he attempts the biggest con of his life.

He persuades King to loan him another $200,000 to set up an operation which could net them both a cool $5 million.

King sends along his henchman Lupus (Franky G) to ensure everything goes to plan, while Jake enlists the services of sexy grifter Lily (Rachel Weisz), whose motives are far from clear.

As the scam goes into action, Jake and his team must also outwit a wily federal agent (Andy Garcia) and two double-crossing cops (Donal Logue, Luis Guzman), who would do anything for money - including selling out their friends.

Confidence is an entertaining and slickly directed suspense thriller, which fails to pull the rug from under us.

The familiarity of the characters and their situation breeds disinterest and on too many occasions, screenwriter Doug Jung signposts his intentions in advance. Only the characters seem genuinely surprised by the inevitable.

The plot bears a striking similarity to David Mamet's vastly superior Heist - the make or break theft of millions, an unexpected inclusion of an outsider in the team, double- and triple-cross between the con men, sexual tension clouding the characters' judgement, and a neat final flourish.

Burns doesn't have the necessary charisma or presence to convince as a master con man. He's a little too bland, although this does fit in rather nicely with his character's ability to conceal his true emotions.

Weisz slinks sexily through proceedings, yet manages to imbue her siren with almost comical nervousness and Hoffman is quirky, investing his money man with a host of string tics and mannerisms.

His performance is the glittering diamond in the rough.

See it at UCI, Odeon