It’s All in the Con

A conman in cinema is as old as the medium itself. A tale with clever twists, turns, double crosses, and the finally the heist, has captivated audiences throughout the years. With a little resurgence in the genre recently, another example of this is $5 a Day, the new film from director Nigel Cole that came to Blu-ray and DVD August 24th from Image Entertainment, telling the story of a conservative son of a thrifty conman begrudgingly joins his father on the road — after being released from jail for one of his dad’s earlier crimes. Killer Film thought it would be a fine time to pull a caper ourselves and look at the genre.

The Brothers Bloom (2009)

The Con? Swindling an eccentric heiress out of her money, all for the perfect con.

Rian Johnson’s second film is a very clever film, in which the title brothers pull off a series of capers, until they realize that their last con, could be the perfect one. Nothing goes as planned, or does it? Dialogue and comedy are front and center for this great little film.

The Italian Job (1969, 2003)

The Con? About a con to steal a gold shipment from the streets of Turin by creating a traffic jam.

Both films are fun and good in their own right, even earning a spot on the Top 100 British Films. While the cars and dialogue are slick, it’s all about the planning and the how-to, which makes both versions unique in their own right. “You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!” Stealing $4 million in gold has never been this…cool.

The Sting (1973)

The Con? A young con man is seeking revenge for his murdered partner. He teams up with a master com man to win a fortune from a criminal banker.

One of the more critically acclaimed con films ever made, winning 7 out of the 10 Oscars nominations including Best Picture, created the lingo the following decades have used. Out of all of the great films, this one isn’t talked about as much. A great cast – Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Robert Shaw – makes this the Con Film of All Con Films.

The Pink Panther (1964)

The Con? Catching a jewel thief who is right under his nose a jewel thief who is right under his nose.

The Steve Martin films never had the comedy beats down or the class, behind all of the silliness, about a hapless detective and a jewel thief. It just might be a con on who hired Clousseau, but we’re happy to relive the trouble he goes through as the funniest caper film around. A perfect anti-The Sting.

To Catch a Thief (1955)

The Con? When a retired jewel thief is suspected of returning to his former occupation, he must ferret out the real thief in order to prove his innocence.

Even Hitchcock gets in on the con game, with a stellar film from the master. A retired con man must clear his name, as only with snappy dialogue and strong lead performances from Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. This is a prime example of when people say “they just don’t make them like they use too.”

Grand Slam (1967)

The Con? A con to rob a diamond.

This largely forgotten Italian caper flick stars some big names like Janet Leigh, Edward G. Robinson, and Klaus Kinski, and features a classic set-up: bored with his teaching duties in Brazil, Robinson’s character organizes a team of top talents in crime to pull off a diamond heist during the Rio Carnival. Although the cast sold the film, those who can look past the casting will find a proficient little caper movie.

Ocean’s 11 (1960, 2001)

The Con? To rob five of the biggest casinos in Las Vegas in one night.

Both the original and the remake feature an all-star cast on professional con men trying to outsmart Vegas. Both are funny, clever, and examples of why con men are so cool. Whether it’s the Rat Pack or the Who’s Who in Hollywood team, wearing suits doing a con has never been so glamorous and suave.

Bottle Rocket (1996)

The Con? An elaborate plan to pull off a simple robbery and go on the run.

Wes Anderson’s debut film might still be his best, but it also features this list’s biggest knuckleheads in the con game. They’re slackers, live at home, and aspire to get hired on full-time to a Made Man. Mot con artists want to get in, get out, but the Wilson’s are planning a career into it. Quirky might be the word, but so is clever and funny for this caper film.

With such a large and old genre, we’ve missed something. Leave us a comment below about your favorite caper films, whether serious or comedic, down below!