Great period film, but a slow and trudging story and pace

Rating: 7/10 (20 January 2014)

There are some good acting performances and an interesting story that unwinds in a 70's period that is masterfully recreated throughout. But the specifics of the confidence games or "cons" are glossed over when they are in fact vital to a film that is based on a true story. The relationships between con artists, con artists and marks, con artists and agents and politicians and gangsters receive the lion's share of the script. The pacing of dialog that frames the relationships for the audience is often slow, methodical, and offers a good opportunity for most movie-goers to make a quick trip to the restroom without missing much. This film over-develops some of the characters out of fear of under-developing them. The final product that has wowed so many pundits is in my humble estimation one that is comparable to watching a championship American football game---a collection of talented performers on a grand and entertaining stage----played on a wet surface on a rainy day and plagued by penalties, injury time-outs, replays and lengthy commercials.