As a cinephile with a soft spot for con artist films, I must say that the list you’ve compiled is nothing short of a treasure trove for those who appreciate a good hustle! Each film offers a unique take on grifting, from the masterful performances of legends like Ian McKellen and Michael J. Fox, to the timeless charm of classics like “The Music Man” and “Trading Places”.
For a considerable period in Hollywood, swindlers have been beloved characters, appearing in many cherished films since the industry’s inception. Classics such as The Wizard of Oz and The Music Man showcase these cunning individuals from early Hollywood. To pay homage to this rich history, we’ve put together a list of our favorite movies that revolve around con artists and their clever tricks.
American Hustle
In the 1970s-set film, American Hustle, the intricate hairstyles and makeup often sparked jokes about it being titled “American Beauty and Cosmetics”. This nickname fits since the film is inspired by a true con orchestrated by the FBI to catch corrupt politicians. Additionally, the movie’s hair and makeup are an enjoyable bonus, contributing significantly to making American Hustle an entertaining watch.
Heartbreakers
The film titled “Heartbreakers” is renowned for its con artist plotline. Starring Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love Hewitt in lead roles, this movie tells the story of a mother-daughter duo who swindle men into marriage and wealth. Scattered throughout are delightful minor deceptions, adding an extra layer of enjoyment. The climax offers a surprising twist that can only be uncovered by watching the film itself.
The Sting
Undeniably, one of the finest films centered around swindling is none other than “The Sting“. This timeless classic, starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Robert Shaw, leaves an indelible mark with their captivating performances that make the scenery seem secondary. The essence of the movie lies in David S. Ward’s brilliant script, skillfully breaking down a potentially complex con into an easy-to-grasp tale on the surface.
The Wolf Of Wall Street
In essence, “The Wolf of Wall Street” portrays the perils of greed and self-importance, but at its core lies the colossal swindle orchestrated by Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his associates in constructing their deceitful business. Swindles on Wall Street are nothing exceptional; they merely escalated to heights unparalleled before.
The Grifters
Any list like this is going to have to include anymore called The Grifters. The movie, starring John Cusack, Anjelica Huston, and Annette Bening as a trio of con artists plays out like a ’50s crime novel set in the early ’90s. It has a “classic” feel to it and it’s really fun.
Ocean’s Eleven
One could label “Ocean’s Eleven” as primarily a heist movie, but it offers much more than just burglary – there’s a good deal of swindling throughout the film. Each of the “eleven” characters has their own con-artist touch, with Danny Ocean (George Clooney) being the most notable example. He relies more on his cleverness than brute strength to orchestrate their impressive heist. This results in some captivating dialogue and moments that leave a lasting impression.
The Greatest Showman
It might not be totally fair to call PT Barnum a con artist, but there is a reason he is associated with the famous quote, “There’s a sucker born every minute,” though he almost certainly didn’t actually say it. But as a showman, there was still a little grift in him. He just made it worth it to be to give them his money.
Boiler Room
Before “The Wolf of Wall Street” graced our screens, I was captivated by the trio consisting of Ben Affleck, Giovanni Ribisi, and Vin Diesel in “Boiler Room”. This movie, released earlier, presented a similar storyline to the Scorsese film, revolving around a questionable brokerage firm, where they were pulling off essentially the same scam that Jordan Belfort was known for. It offers an unvarnished portrayal of the industry and its underhanded practices.
A Fish Called Wanda
Wanda Gershwitz (Jamie Lee Curtis) isn’t the greatest grifter of all time, and her boyfriend Otto (Kevin Kline) has to be one of the dumbest ever. Teaming up with Ken and Archie (Michael Palin and John Cleese, respectively) doesn’t help them much, either. Somehow, A Fish Called Wanda has become a little bit of a forgotten classic more than three decades after its release, but it’s still wild and hilarious and we promise you won’t be DISAPPOINTED with it.
The Wizard of Lies
As a gamer, I’d put it like this: One infamous swindler who left a trail of destruction was Bernie Madoff. His multi-decade scam ended up hurting many innocent folks, leaving them to bear the brunt. However, two silver linings emerged from that dark period. Initially, Madoff spent his final years in prison, living a wretched existence. Secondly, HBO produced an outstanding movie about the entire scheme, with Robert De Niro playing the role of Madoff, providing us with a gripping tale of deceit.
Six Degrees of Separation
The film “Six Degrees of Separation” is inspired by a play, and that play was partly based on the real-life con artist David Hampton. Hampton tricked Manhattan high society people into giving him money under the pretense of being Sidney Poitier’s son. In the movie, Will Smith’s character, Paul, performs similar deceptions. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that this play popularized the term “six degrees of separation.”
The Talented Mr. Ripley
In the film “The Talented Mr. Ripley“, portrayed by Matt Damon, Tom Ripley stands out as a chilling charlatan. Throughout the suspenseful movie, it becomes clear that he will go to extreme lengths to acquire what he desires, making this not one of the lighthearted films about swindlers.
Focus
In a twist of events, Margot Robbie finds herself being deceived by the character played by Will Smith, a smooth-talking swindler. This intriguing relationship forms the core of the story, although it may not be entirely novel in Hollywood terms, the film’s polished production and swift dialogue make it an engaging watch for any audience.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
As a gamer, let me tell you about an old-time favorite flick I always revisit: “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”. In this movie, Steve Martin and Michael Caine play slick con artists who team up to swindle the rich. It’s quite the spectacle…until it backfires, leaving them on the receiving end of a scam. This timeless comedy about deceit is simply unmatched in its genre, and I believe Steve Martin delivers one of his finest performances here, wouldn’t you say?
The Wizard Of Oz
In simpler terms, the character of the Wizard in “The Wizard of Oz” is undeniably a masterful con artist. He’s quite skilled at this deception, managing to fool nearly everyone in Oz with his false stories. However, Dorothy isn’t so easily deceived; she quickly figures out his scam.
The Usual Suspects
The most cunning deception the devil ever managed was making people believe he wasn’t real, and this line perfectly encapsulates the character of Verbal Kint (alias Keyser Söze, played by Kevin Spacey). This statement serves as a succinct summary of the entire movie. Verbal Kint is the epitome of a master con artist, oozing confidence, as he manages to carry out his swindle right under the noses of police officers who are hot on his trail.
Saltburn
In the ’90s, similar to how The Talented Mr. Ripley pushed the boundaries of deception, the movie Saltburn also goes to great lengths in portraying con artistry. The character Oliver Quick, played by Barry Keoghan, is remarkably cunning in devising and carrying out his scams. What makes it even more chilling is that he manages to pull off these schemes undetected.
Catch Me If You Can
The film “Catch Me If You Can” is filled with intriguing layers. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, it’s adapted from the autobiography of a con artist named Frank Abagnale. Despite being an engaging movie that viewers often rewatch, there’s growing skepticism about whether any part or even all of the book is factual. This adds another layer of intrigue to the story itself – it feels like it could be a con within a con.
Matchstick Men
In “Matchstick Men,” Nicolas Cage portrays a trickster whose fortune seems perpetually unfavorable. The film offers an intriguing perspective on what transpires when deceptions fail, essentially. Much like other films about swindlers, we find ourselves cheering for the wrongdoer, and Cage’s acting coupled with his character’s misfortune makes it effortless.
The Spanish Prisoner
1. One classic and universally employed swindle in history is referred to as The Spanish Prisoner. In the film carrying the same name, Steve Martin’s character deceives Campbell Scott’s character using this very con. It’s similar to the scams we’ve all encountered from Nigerian email scammers, who offer wealth through helping a distant relative of theirs retrieve a large inheritance.
The Producers
Among Mel Brooks’ remarkable films, “The Producers” stands out as one that has remarkably persisted through the years. It has spawned a highly successful musical adaptation and even a movie based on the musical. In essence, the storyline is an old-fashioned con game.
The Prestige
At their core, magicians are essentially masterful deceivers. Even the most esteemed magicians would acknowledge this truth. Their art lies in skillfully manipulating perception rather than resorting to illegal swindling. This is what sets them apart from common swindlers. It’s for these reasons that “The Prestige,” a story about rival magicians outsmarting each other with their tricks and illusions, fits perfectly on this list. In essence, the elaborate acts of magic performed by competing magicians are merely sophisticated hoaxes.
Now You See Me
In “Now You See Me,” the magicians are portrayed as utilizing their skills in deception and performance for criminal activities. They leverage their knowledge of magic and illusion to carry out crimes, yet they display a hint of Robin Hood-like behavior by sharing their ill-gotten riches. It’s a complex plot that adds to its charm.
Curly Sue
Kids have been used in deceptions for centuries and in the movies we’ve seen it with movies like Curly Sue. It’s a classic grifter movie, with James Belushi playing the most stereotypical con man of all time. And yet, the movie still works really well. Sure, it’s a bit dated, but hey, keep a sharp eye for a young Steve Carell, who made his film debut here.
Leap Of Faith
It turns out Steve Martin has a real knack for blaming scam artists. In Leap of Faith, he plays one of the oldest versions of a grifter on earth – the religious type. Martin stars as Jonas Nightengale, a con man who discovers that he can make serious money by pretending to be a faith healer, using every trick in the book to separate desperate people from their money.
I Love You Phillip Morris
“I Love You Philip Morris” is essentially a love story, but it revolves around a masterful swindler who is so smitten by Philip Morris that he continues to deceive people and escape from prison just to be with him. Jim Carrey’s portrayal of Steven, the crafty scoundrel, stands as one of his most under-recognized roles in an otherwise illustrious career.”
The Good Liar
1. Romance scams, such as the one portrayed in “The Good Liar,” have been around for ages. Yet when Sir Ian McKellen plays the con artist, it’s hard to resist watching. He embodies the role of an elderly swindler so convincingly as he targets a widow (played by Helen Mirren).
The Frighteners
As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I’d like to share my thoughts on Peter Jackson’s unique masterpiece, “The Frighteners.” This film deviates from the typical con artist genre in an intriguing way. The protagonist, portrayed brilliantly by Michael J. Fox, uses ghostly allies invisible to others to pull off his cons. Believe me when I say that this underrated gem showcases outstanding performances across the board and is one of Jackson’s often overlooked cinematic gems.
The Music Man
If you haven’t watched the film “The Music Man,” but you’re an avid fan of “The Simpsons,” you might recognize some similarities between the two. One of the most memorable episodes of “The Simpsons” is “Marge Vs. Monorail,” and it shares a lot with “The Music Man.” In this episode, rather than selling a monorail, the character in question deceives the town through his words and songs, much like the character in “The Music Man” swindles the town with his con.
Maverick
Mel Gibson has some overlooked successes, and “Maverick” is a prime example of one that deserves more recognition. In this film, Gibson portrays a gambler and skilled card player from late 19th-century America who happens to be traveling to participate in a poker tournament but discovers numerous opportunities for swindling along the way.
White Men Can’t Jump
Billy Hoyle skillfully manipulates opponents during basketball games. He develops a fierce rivalry with Sidney Deane, both on and off the court. However, their competition eventually turns into collaboration as they join forces to swindle larger sums of money.
Trading Places
In a different wording, the movie “Trading Places” might not initially seem like it belongs here due to its focus on swindlers. However, the elaborate scheme that Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) and Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd) orchestrate against the Duke Brothers at the end is a significant reason for its inclusion. Much like other entries on this list, it’s hard not to cheer for those executing the scam.
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2024-08-30 14:38