Ocean's Eleven (B+ or 3/4 stars)
Recently paroled con man, Danny Ocean (George Clooney), wants to score the most elaborate casino heist in history. Gathering 10 accomplices from around the country, they plan to simultaneously rob 3 Las Vegas casinos, owned by the ruthless Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia). Can they do it? If they do, will they get away with it? 'Ocean's Eleven', a 1960 Rat Pack remake, directed by Steven Soderbergh, is a Hell of a lot of fun. It isn't the most ambitious or original plot you'll ever see, no. But the cast is awesome; each member lending their own individual flair for the betterment of the whole.
For Danny, this heist will be the 'big one': $150 million (divided 11 ways). His crew? Right-hand man Dusty (Brad Pitt); a thief out of retirement, Saul (Carl Reiner); a bitter casino mogul, Reuben (Elliot Gould); inside man & card dealer, Frank (Bernie Mac); British bad guy, Bashir (Don Cheadle); pickpocket, Linus (Matt Damon); 2 front men, brothers Turk & Virgil (Scott Caan, Casey Affleck); explosives expert, Livingston (Eddie Jamison); & a Chinese contortionist/gymnast, Yen (Shaobo Qin). On the night of the Lennox Lewis-Wladimir Klischko heavyweight battle, these men will attack The Bellagio, The Mirage, & The MGM Grand.
It ain't gonna be easy. Even though the all the $$ (for the 3 casinos) are stored in The Bellagio, they have some obstacles to overcome: tons of surveillance cameras, armed guards, a vault door, a secure-tight elevator, an insanely sensitive security system ... and the biggest obstacle of all, Danny's ex-wife, Tess (Julia Roberts). Why is she an obstacle? Because she represents 'emotion'; something that could trip up the whole affair. And the fact that she's currently Terry Benedict's girlfriend doesn't help to quell Danny's anxious mood, either.
'Ocean's 11' is a lark. Even though the plot is simple, the movie has the wit, energy & brains to make it a breezy, dazzling, beautifully-mounted, & fun experience. The confusion & chaos that ensues is great to watch. But the film thrives because of the acute comedic timing of its ensemble cast.
Clooney oozes charm & sophistication; his twinkling eyes & sly smile go a long way in this role. Pitt, Damon, Roberts & the rest of the versatile cast (with their sarcasm, inside jokes, & charisma) are uniformally excellent; particularly Carl Reiner as the elderly, but capable Saul, and Andy Garcia as the 'villain who gets his comeuppance'. While the specific details in 'Ocean's Eleven' may vanish from your mind soon after leaving the theater, this is still a wonderful popcorn flick; you have a blast WHILE you're watching it. This movie is sure to have legs at the box office for some time.
For Danny, this heist will be the 'big one': $150 million (divided 11 ways). His crew? Right-hand man Dusty (Brad Pitt); a thief out of retirement, Saul (Carl Reiner); a bitter casino mogul, Reuben (Elliot Gould); inside man & card dealer, Frank (Bernie Mac); British bad guy, Bashir (Don Cheadle); pickpocket, Linus (Matt Damon); 2 front men, brothers Turk & Virgil (Scott Caan, Casey Affleck); explosives expert, Livingston (Eddie Jamison); & a Chinese contortionist/gymnast, Yen (Shaobo Qin). On the night of the Lennox Lewis-Wladimir Klischko heavyweight battle, these men will attack The Bellagio, The Mirage, & The MGM Grand.
It ain't gonna be easy. Even though the all the $$ (for the 3 casinos) are stored in The Bellagio, they have some obstacles to overcome: tons of surveillance cameras, armed guards, a vault door, a secure-tight elevator, an insanely sensitive security system ... and the biggest obstacle of all, Danny's ex-wife, Tess (Julia Roberts). Why is she an obstacle? Because she represents 'emotion'; something that could trip up the whole affair. And the fact that she's currently Terry Benedict's girlfriend doesn't help to quell Danny's anxious mood, either.
'Ocean's 11' is a lark. Even though the plot is simple, the movie has the wit, energy & brains to make it a breezy, dazzling, beautifully-mounted, & fun experience. The confusion & chaos that ensues is great to watch. But the film thrives because of the acute comedic timing of its ensemble cast.
Clooney oozes charm & sophistication; his twinkling eyes & sly smile go a long way in this role. Pitt, Damon, Roberts & the rest of the versatile cast (with their sarcasm, inside jokes, & charisma) are uniformally excellent; particularly Carl Reiner as the elderly, but capable Saul, and Andy Garcia as the 'villain who gets his comeuppance'. While the specific details in 'Ocean's Eleven' may vanish from your mind soon after leaving the theater, this is still a wonderful popcorn flick; you have a blast WHILE you're watching it. This movie is sure to have legs at the box office for some time.