Watch The Con Artist

The Con Artist, released in 2010, is a black comedy that tells the story of a young, talented but down on his luck, artist named Vince (Rossif Sutherland) who's been wrongly accused of a crime. He's sent to prison, and when he gets out, he finds himself completely broke and with nothing to his name. All he has is his art, his wits, and his desperation.

Determined to clear his name, Vince begins to hatch a plan. He decides to con his way to money and fame by creating fraudulent art pieces, and a forged identity as an internationally renowned artist. He starts small, with a few forgeries of famous paintings, but soon he becomes more ambitious, creating original pieces that he claims are the works of an unseen artist named Isaac. With the help of a young gallery worker named Belinda (Sarah Roemer), and a shady art dealer, Adrien (Greg Germann), Vince pushes the envelope more and more, until the fraud becomes a game of life and death.

The story is compelling and moves along at a brisk pace, as Vince's scheme grows increasingly more complex and dangerous. The film's dark humor often highlights the absurdity of the art world, which makes the film entertaining even for those not typically interested in art. Rossif Sutherland delivers a strong performance as Vince, capturing the character's desperation, frustration, and cunning.

Sarah Roemer also shines as Belinda, the struggling gallery assistant who becomes caught up in Vince's scheme. At first, she's just trying to pay her bills and maintain her job, but she gradually gets swept up in Vince's world, becoming more and more involved in his scam. Belinda's character shows a range of emotions from the initial skepticism, and to her later choice of loyalty to Vince.

Greg Germann, who plays the sleazy art dealer Adrien, is a highlight of the film. He's both manipulative and charming, and helps Vince navigate the art world's seedier side. As Vince's mentor, Germann's Adrien walks the line between friend and foe and keeps the audience guessing as to whether or not he can be trusted.

The cinematography and music also help set the tone of the film; the camera work is clean and polished, focusing on the glamour of the art world and the beauty of Vince's creations. The score is minimalist and moody, adding tension and suspense to many scenes.

The Con Artist is not just a comedy, it's also an exploration of identity and morality. Vince is haunted by his own guilt and the knowledge that his success is based on lies and fraud. As his scheme becomes increasingly more complicated and dangerous, Vince becomes more isolated and unhinged. Belinda, meanwhile, is torn between her loyalty to Vince and her own sense of right and wrong.

Overall, The Con Artist is a fun and engaging film that manages to tell a compelling story without taking itself too seriously. It's an entertaining ride with an engaging cast and a memorable soundtrack. Anyone who likes art, con movies or dark comedies will likely enjoy this film.

The Con Artist is a 2010 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 24 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.7.