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Ocean's Eleven (Widescreen Edition) Customer Reviews (73 - 75 of 80 Reviews)

Pure fun and total cool from start to finish
They may be a modern-day version of the famous 'Rat Pack', this cast of the remake of "Ocean's 11". There is just such a smooth 'coolness' that emanates from this movie that they viewer can't help but enjoy it. In an era where film studios and directors try to smash the audience over the head with what they think the audience should think is popular and cool, it's refreshing to see a movie that lets its 'cool' develop on its own. Director Stephen Soderbergh to a break from such serious, award-winning movies as "Traffic" and "Erin Brockovich" to direct this film that was essentially a recreational activity with a group friends with names such as Pitt, Damon, Clooney, and Roberts.

The plot of "Ocean's 11" centers on a plan by con-man Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his partner-in-crime Rusty (Brad Pitt) to pull off biggest heist in Las Vegas history: the seizure of $150 million from a secure vault that services three of Vegas' biggest casinos. This does present itself as an easy task to accomplish. In a humorous aside, the man who will be financing this heist (played by Elliott Gould) tells Ocean and Rusty about the three most successful heist attempts in Las Vegas history. Each one failed to make it past the security and each one incurred some major injury in the process. These were the most SUCCESSFUL heists(!), and now Ocean is trying to break into the most secure vault this side of Fort Knox. Obviously, in order to pull of this caper, many players will need to be involved and have to ply their respective skills in order to make this plan work. However, beyond just the security issues, there are a couple of issues that put this plan in jeopardy. #1: The casino vault is controlled by ruthless casino owner Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia) who, when crossed will "kill you, then he'll go to work on you". #2: Ocean's motives seem suspect when it becomes known to Rusty that Ocean's former wife, Tess (Julia Roberts) is now the girlfriend of Benedict. Is Danny committed to the success of the heist or will he compromise everything to show up Benedict in an attempt to get Tess back?

Clooney continues to develop into a top-notch leading man by improving on the smoothness he first demonstrated in earlier Soderbergh film, "Out of Sight". He brings a swagger to the screen that is reminiscent of Sinatra's 'Rat Pack' days. Garcia is perfectly cast as the menacing Benedict in this film. The viewer can taste the venom dripping off every word he utters. The performances of Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Carl Reiner, Brad Pitt, Bernie Mac, and Elliott Gould add a degree of panache to the proceedings. The Asian actor who played the contortionist was a unique 'twist' (no pun intended). The Malloy brothers, played by Casey Affleck and Scott Caan don't really bring much to the screen other than there juvenile bickering, but they are necessary to plot. The one truly disappointing performance is turned in by Julia Roberts as Tess Ocean. Roberts seems like she has very little to do here other than pose as window dressing and upbraid Danny for being a 'bad boy'. I don't know if it was just the material are just a poor performance, but an actress of Roberts' caliber shouldn't fail to register in a movie like this. That gripe aside, though, "Ocean's 11" is as good a time as one can have at the movies. If only more 'fun' flicks like this could be made.

Entertaining and well paced.
Ocean's Eleven is directed by Steven Sunderburgh who also did Traffic and The Limey. The tale takes place in Los Vegas and is basically an updated heist movie. The planners get their crew together, plan the heist and execute it. Sometimes the audience is aware of the plan, sometimes not.

The film is somewhat gimmicky at times and the plot stumble a bit. But don't let that distract you. There is some great dialogue especially between Clooney and Pitt, as well as a twist or two during the execution of the robbery.

No, this isn't a "great" film. What it is, is a lot of fun, with some good acting and directing.

Good movie.

Ocean's Eleven is genuinely cool
Ocean's Eleven is cool.

I don't mean in the "wow it's really great you should see it" cool. I mean -- it's cool. The movie is genuinely cool. Watching it, you are convinced you probably look cool. Walking around with the DVD, you can imagine it will help you pick up chicks (it won't). But still, you can hope that the coolness inherent in this movie to rub off on you. It's THAT cool.

And with good reason. George Clooney. Brad Pitt. Bernie Mac. Matt Damon. Julia Roberts. That's a lot of slick actors in one package.

Clooney plays Danny Ocean, a recently divorced, recently released from prison con man. His ex-wife, who he is still very much in love with, has shacked up with a real creep -- an arrogant man who puts money before everything else. Danny sets out to get back at him in a rather extravagant way. He gets ten of his old buddies together and they take on the most oturageous heist in history.

The plot is about taking down not one, not two, but THREE casinos at the same time. It's full of manly, geeky fun. The movie doesn't take itself too seriously (how could it?), but the cast is obviously having so much fun that you can't help but enjoy yourself. I never saw the original -- but if it had half the charm this movie does, it must have been cool indeed.

Carl Reiner is excellent as a grumpy old conman. Shaobo Qin players a convincing acrobat (who doesn't talk much). There's two brothers who bicker all the time and you can't tell if it's part of the con or not. In fact, the whole movie plays with the audience -- is it really a con? Because of its playful tone, you forgive it for fooling you more than once, sometimes with the same trick.

The one weak point is Don Cheadle. He's a black guy playing a black guy with a...bizarre (Australian? Cockney?) accent. It sounds like me doing an accent. And I sound fake when I do it.

There are a few other moments that dim the glow of this movie -- Maleficent pointed out that Julia Roberts can't walk like a lady and apparently either no one's telling her or she just doesn't care. She stumps around onscreen like Lenny from the Grapes of Wrath. It's embarassing. The director tries to compensate, but fails -- in one scene, she's supposed to be sashaying across the screen, but instead ends up gallumphing by instead. For such a pretty lady that's supposed to be a real class act, it shatters the illusion.

But that's me being nitpicky. This movie is excellent. For any guy who has ever wanted to be cool...or in this day and age, isn't sure what cool is in anymore...this movie will help guide the way.

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