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Ocean's Eleven (Widescreen Edition) Customer Reviews (7 - 9 of 80 Reviews)

Unimpressed
I only caught the 2nd half of this movie on tv last night so can't comment on the movie as a whole except to say that I am no fan of ludicrous caper movies. But I must point out that the scene near the end where Julia Roberts runs up to George Clooney as he's being led away by the cops is totally stolen from the final scene of "Green Card" (Andie McCowell & Gerard Depardieu) and it's not done nearly as well, either. Don't want anyone to think that got past me.

Epitome of cool
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie when it first came out back in 2001, despite some excruciating emotional turbulence that I was going through at the time. That I was able to enjoy the movie through a cloud of depression was surprise enough but I was even more surprised - pleasantly so as well - to find I enjoyed it even more a second time, when it was screened on cable TV a while back. That's when I decided to get it on DVD and after watching it a third time I can honestly say I look forward to watching it again sometime. It's a welcome addition to my collection.

Most folk know the story by now. George Clooney and his A-list buddies have a blast in the Las Vegas sun, in a slick caper directed by Steven Soderbergh. A loose remake of the 1960 Rat Pack venture of the same name, Clooney comfortably (and ably) steps into Frank Sinatra's shoes as Danny Ocean. Ocean is fresh out of jail but this doesn't seem to cool his enthusiasm for putting together an audacious heist with the help of a ten-man crew. His star cronies include Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle. Much has been said about Cheadle's cockney accent and in my opinion, those (mostly UK journalists) who have described it as "appalling", "awful" or "the worst you've ever heard" are just miffed that an American was able to carry it off. Or that a British actor wasn't chosen to do it. Maybe they're upset about both things. All I can say is that he sounded like a true cockney to me and I lived in East London for many years. Kudos to him.

Anyway, the plan is to hit the vault containing the take from three of the biggest casinos in Vegas, all of which belong to tycoon Terry Benedict played by a suave Andy Garcia and he just happens to be dating Ocean's ex-wife, played by Julia Roberts. It all kicks off from there. Amazingly, and thankfully, the mechanics of the heist (not to mention the implausibilty of its success) take second place to the glorious interplay of a stellar cast that is clearly having lots of fun revelling in the sharp, quick fire dialogue and the neat paced action. A first rate movie worth watching again and again.

Apart from the DVD extras mentioned, mine also had one interesting feature that will be a must for the fashionistas: Called "The Look of the Con", it explores how the costumes were designed for each of the stars. Yummy.

...WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS...
Ocean's Eleven is a fun heist movie gifted with an all-star cast, a funny, intricate script and a director who knew what he was doing and was having a blast doing it. This is a remake of the pretty dull 1960s Las Vegas heist movie of the same title starring Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack. I've seen both films and I must say that this is one of those rare exceptions where the remake improves on the original.

Danny Ocean (George Clooney) is an ex-con newly released from prison who immediately jumps back into the shady life. He already has a larcenous scheme in mind and enlists his old right-hand man Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt) to help him recruit a thieving crew. Oh and what a crew: Matt Damon as the rookie, quick-fingered and well versed in pickpocketing; Bernie Mac as the inside man; Don Cheadle, armed with a great Cockney accent ("We're in Barney"; Clooney makes a nonplussed gesture; "Barney Rubble - Trouble!") is the explosives expert; Carl Reiner plays the old con-man out for a last con; Casey Affleck as the computer/surveillance technoman; etc. Ocean and company target the super-protected vault underneath the Bellagio casino. This vault stores money for three casinos: the Bellagio itself, as well as the MGM Grand and the Mirage. Apparently, on weekend nights of big boxing matches, the vault by law has to house at least $150 million to cover all bets. The man who owns the Bellagio is Terry Benedict (played with smooth, reptilian menace by Andy Garcia), who is also the current love of Ocean's ex Tess (a radiant Julia Roberts). Hmmm, you start to think.

Ocean's motivations are not the only thing that'll keep the viewer guessing in this funny, fast-paced, twisty film. The director Steven Soderbergh skillfully plays fast and loose with flashbacks, dizzying, continuing pan shots and sleight-of-hand camerawork. There is plenty of false jeopardy played out in the course of this movie, numerous plot reversals. Don't take anything for granted until the end credits come up.

Steven Soderbergh directs this remake with such a light touch that it seems as if all he's done is throw all these high-profiled megastars in the same room and nonchalantly tell them to wing it. The performers deliver their lines convincingly and with panache. They are, after all, all damn good actors (check out the dvd actor commentary with Damon, Pitt and Garcia, who have a chuckle over the talented, serious actor Don Cheadle who gives his lines while covered in poo). I had a sense that everyone involved genuinely liked each other and had a great time bouncing off each other in their scenes. Clooney and Pitt, in particular, seem to have great buddy chemistry together, whilst romantically, Clooney and Roberts sizzle. Andy Garcia is a great villain, suave yet intense, worthy of going up against eleven crafty adversaries. Soderbergh does a masterful juggling act in this one: ensuring that everyone in the film gets his/her day to shine, managing to stage every scene so that every shot is interesting and keeping the convoluted plot on point. Kudos too to the music, which works to great effect and greatly influences the mood of every stage of the film. Great job by everyone involved. A four star effort.

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