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John C. Reilly, who’s best known for his sad-sack roles, goes against type in this remake of the Argentine film Nine Queens from first-time director Gregory Jacobs. He plays a con man who takes on an apprentice (Diego Luna) just as the opportunity for a big score falls into their laps. Reilly has the hangdog face of a sucker, and he works it to his advantage while conning waiters for free meals and frazzled soccer moms for free gas. Jacobs, who wrote the screenplay with Steven Soderbergh (under the name Sam Lowry), evokes a corrupt Los Angeles where everyone is on the make, and the film’s seedy/sleek look complements the tone. But movies about cons revolve around the question of who’s scamming who and hinge on a twist ending. The ending here won’t surprise anyone who’s ever seen a movie about grifters, and it isn’t really satisfying, either. Still, Reilly and Luna and a supporting cast that includes Maggie Gyllenhaal almost pull this caper off. (87 minutes)
BY BROOKE HOLGERSON
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