by Darren Casey
Audiences love films about scams because, more often than not, the victims of deception in cinema are bad people. Gangsters, crime bosses, corrupt politicians or con artists like the main character in the film, but immoral and generally unpleasant. Therefore, the viewer sympathises with the swindlers and fraudsters on the screen and wishes them success.
Today we are focusing on films about scams, but we are not talking films about bank or casino robberies (with a few exceptions, which we will discuss separately). At the heart of the story is a scheme designed to mislead all participants and emerge victorious with the grand prize in the form of money, fame, freedom, recognition or revenge. The films in the selection can be divided into three conditional groups: crime thrillers centred around such a cunning criminal scheme; stories with a real or almost real basis; comedies, the core of which is a mechanism for deceiving other people for profit.
Fracture (2007)
If you have thought everything through carefully and cold-bloodedly, you can avoid punishment even for the most obvious crime you have committed. Or can you? What if, on the other hand, there is an equally persistent and rational law enforcement officer who will look for the slightest clues in this dead case? Anthony Hopkins’ character kills his wife and is determined to avoid imprisonment. But the assistant district attorney (Ryan Gosling) intends to thwart his insidious plans.
The Sting (1973)
Small-time crooks have ripped off the wrong guy: they stole a substantial amount of money from him, and that money turned out to be mafia money. Punishment was swift, and one of the participants in the scam was killed. Now his partner in crime wants revenge, and what could be better than hitting these people where it hurts most — their money. But how to pull off a job of this magnitude and stay alive? Older and much more experienced comrades come to the rescue, giving a real master class in preparing and carrying out a scam involving card cheating, forgery, theft, bluffing, blackmail and betting.
Starring the iconic duo of the ’70s, Paul Newman and Robert Redford.
The Big Short (2015)
How did the 2009 economic crisis come about? Why did the world’s superpowers collapse? Why was there suddenly not enough money for everyone, when just yesterday there was so much? This film answers these complex questions in a simple, understandable (but not simplistic) way, while telling the story of three groups of people who managed to predict the future economic collapse and quickly develop a plan to make millions of dollars from it.
The Illusionist (2006)
A trick is a small scam. An illusionist makes a living by constantly deceiving the audience, making them believe in something that does not actually exist. But it’s all fair, because the audience consciously goes along with this self-deception, enjoying the pleasure of ignorance. However, someone who can deceive people in an auditorium can do something similar outside of it, especially when the lives of people dear to him are at stake. But can an illusionist be just as effective at creating deception when it is no longer about a rabbit in a hat, but about real people, and the magician has the police hot on his heels?
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
We said that we would not include films about casino and bank robberies in this article, but the trilogy about Ocean and his gang is based not on reckless raids, but on a carefully thought-out and executed scam. And it’s done in such a relaxed, easy-going style that the film simply had to become a hit for several decades (we’ve already watched it several times, but we still want to see Danny and Rusty rob a casino, a collector, a museum, and outsmart the police, special services, and unscrupulous colleagues from the workshop). For those who enjoy casino-themed stories off-screen, using a Wanted Win bonus code can add a little extra excitement to your own gaming experience.
The female version, Ocean’s 8, was decent but too weak compared to the trilogy, so we can probably expect a reboot with a new cast of Hollywood’s most popular actors (and if you think that’s a bad idea, remember that the film with Clooney and Pitt is also a remake of the film with Frank Sinatra).
Gone Baby Gone (2007)
Ben Affleck directs this detective thriller starring his brother Casey Affleck in the lead role. Casey plays a private detective who deals with minor cases, but he gets the chance to take on a big case involving the kidnapping of a child. At first, he wants to refuse, but gradually the missing girl takes over his mind. And the fact that neither the police, nor the local mafia, nor even the missing girl’s family are enthusiastic about his investigation only fuels his interest in the hopeless case…
Two for the Money (2005)
Matthew McConaughey is a skilled forecaster. Using his knowledge of the industry and a wealth of insights, he accurately predicts the results of sporting events. Al Pacino is an even more skilled businessman who offers to multiply McConaughey’s skills with his resources to earn an order of magnitude more. As is often the case, the devilish tempter is very generous at first and keeps his promises. But then the initial charm wears off and the analyst is faced with harsh reality.
Runaway Jury (2003)
The lawsuit against the arms company seems doomed to failure for the plaintiff, a young woman. Against her is a powerful corporation with huge money and lawyers who know how to not only defend in court, but also work with jurors, including through pressure tactics. On her side is a savvy lawyer who lobbies for a ban on the free sale of weapons, but will that be enough to win?
Gone Girl (2014)
What is hidden in the mind of the person closest to you? Can you consider that you know them, even if you have lived together for years? What if one day your wife disappears and everyone suspects you of committing a crime? Ben Affleck has to face all these questions and the threat of imprisonment after his wife (Rosamund Pike) goes missing. A thrilling thriller from director David Fincher with a completely unpredictable plot.
The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
A talented (and very wealthy) con man steals paintings from museums in such a way that everyone knows it is him, but they cannot prove anything. An experienced and meticulous investigator takes on the case and gradually falls in love with the thief, unable to understand whether her feelings are real or whether he is simply using her. A remake of the film starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway, with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo playing their roles respectively.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
Mr. Ripley has several talents, among which is his ability to take someone else’s place, forge documents, plant evidence, and, most importantly, stop at nothing to maintain his success. Matt Damon, Jude Law, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Gwyneth Paltrow star in this film adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel.
Gold (2016)
The story of a fanatical search for gold in the depths of the Asian jungle turns into a grand scam. This undeservedly overlooked film starring Matthew McConaughey and Edgar Ramirez shows the thorny success story of those who joined the new ‘gold rush’ and accepted any hardship in order to achieve their goal.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
The town is too small for two professional con artists, one of whom is simple-minded and content with little (Steve Martin), while the other is a representative of high society, rich, with good manners, and therefore much higher demands in terms of fraud (Michael Caine). They try to work together, even playing the roles of student and mentor, but this alliance is extremely short-lived. In the end, they decide to resolve their conflict with a bet. Whoever can deceive the next victim will remain in the city to reap the rewards from rich ladies… A luxurious comedy, a remake of the 1964 film starring Marlon Brando and David Niven.
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
The true story of the great schemer Jordan Belfort, who came to Wall Street as a young broker on the eve of the famous Black Monday in 1987. Many companies were left out of the game, but Jordan (Leonardo DiCaprio) did not despair and came up with a grandiose scheme involving the sale of small shares, gradually creating a highly profitable enterprise and finding himself in a whirlwind of debauchery, soft and hard drugs, expensive and cheap prostitutes, marital infidelity and the violation of all moral principles. The FBI is already close, but the happy swindler has no intention of slowing down…
The Wizard of Lies (2017)
This is not a film about a scam in the usual sense: there will be no carefully calculated combination with a detailed explanation after its successful completion. The film begins with the family of the most influential figure in the stock market being confronted with the fact that for decades their respected father and husband (Robert De Niro) has been deceiving everyone, even his closest associates, but now the deception can no longer continue. The business is on the verge of collapse, and the feds are coming for the boss himself. What follows is the story of a spectacular fall from the very top. Unfortunately, the father of the family drags his wife and children down with him, and it is impossible to look away from this tragedy as it gradually unfolds…
Maverick (1994)
A western whose focus is not shootouts and duels, the outcome of which is determined not by the ability to draw your Colt faster (although this is also present in the film), but a carefully calculated multi-move combination and the psychology of card games. The ability to read your opponent will come in handy not only at the gaming table, because behind it, the scam is just beginning. Mel Gibson’s character is opposed by skilled card players, quick draw artists and cunning swindlers. Will he be able to overcome all obstacles, especially considering that one of his rivals is the seductive Jodie Foster? Now his strict rational thinking is under threat…
Wag the Dog (1997)
What if the scam was not conceived to get hold of some money, but to keep the president in power? In that case, a war is needed to divert attention from the sex scandal involving him. But waging a real war is expensive and time-consuming from a logistical point of view. In addition, too many people would have to be convinced of the necessity of such a war. If so, we need to pretend that the war is going on. And invite a Hollywood producer to make everything as realistic as possible — because if they say on TV that the country is at war, then it’s true.
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
For many con artists, deception is not a means of earning a living or surviving, it is a way of life. They are ready to run endlessly, inventing new ways of fraud to keep the feeling that they are alive. One such con artist is played by Leonardo DiCaprio. He is pursued by an equally fanatical investigator (Tom Hanks). Over time, it becomes clear that these two mean more to each other than to anyone else around them. Because in the chase, the main thing is not the capture, but the pursuit itself. Just as for a swindler, the main thing is not to hide in a safe place, but to throw down a new challenge to his pursuer.
Parasite (2019)
This is more of a social drama and thriller than a film about a scam, but still, the parasitic con artists pull off a serious operation to break through to a better life, so it’s impossible to ignore this film (especially considering its four Oscars). A Korean family lives without work and without money, getting by on free Wi-Fi from an establishment above their shack and handouts from the state. But when the chance to work for a wealthy family arises, the obstacles cease to exist. Work references are forged, skills and work experience are invented, and competitors for the position are eliminated without ceremony. It is unlikely that such a desire for someone else’s fame and money can end in anything other than tragedy…
