Ocean's Eleven

Steven Soderbergh, USA, 2001, 116 minutes

Danny Ocean (George Clooney) has just been released on parole from New Jersey state prison and his first order of business is to stage a massive heist on three of Las Vegas’ major casinos (The Mirage, Bellagio and the MGM Grand). Coincidentally all three casinos are owned by the same man, Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), who is coincidentally sleeping with Ocean’s ex-wife Tess (Julia Roberts). Coincidence? I think not.

In order to pull off such an ambitious robbery Ocean needs to assemble a team of the world’s finest criminals. First he seeks out his good friend and card-magician Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt). Together they travel the country recruiting the rest of this talented crew with Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould) providing the finance behind their little endeavour. After all Reuben has a personal interest in the success of the plan as he lost a casino to Benedict... that and a share of $160 million wouldn’t go amiss.

Frank Catton (Bernie Mac), a small time crook turned professional card dealer, becomes the gangs inside man. Transport and general grunt work is handled by the Malloy twins Virgil (Casey Affleck) and Turk (Scott Caan). Livingston Dell (Eddie Jemison), electronics, and cockney Basher Tar (Don Cheadle), pyrotechnics are next to be added to the crew. Ocean and Rusty find The Amazing Yen (Shabo Qin) dangling from a rope in a two-bit circus and so their numbers swell. Saul Bloom (Carl Reiner) is persuaded out of retirement by Rusty, his role is to impersonate a rich arms dealer who takes up residence in the hotel. Finally, Linus Caldwell (Matt Damon), completes the line-up, his nimble fingers can pick even the most closely guarded of pockets. But the task ahead of these ambitious criminals is not an easy one:

"I have a question, say we get into the cage, and through the security doors there and down the elevator we can't move, and passed the guards with the guns, and into the vault we can't open..."

"Without being seen by the cameras."

"Oh Yeah, sorry, I forgot to mention that."

"...Yeah well say we do all that... uh... were just supposed to walk out of there with $150,000,000 in cash on us, without getting stopped?"

This fantastically clever film has a little something for everyone; action, comedy and even a little romance on the side. Ocean’s Eleven have nothing to lose and everything to gain, but are the stakes to high even for them?

Review by Jane Birch
Written for EUFS Programme Spring 2005

"You’re either in or out, right now"

Danny Ocean (George Clooney) is a paroled thief, his plan: to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously by breaking into the most secure vault ever built. Ocean tours the country, assembling the perfect crew, including Russell “Rusty” Ryan (Brad Pitt), his right hand man; Linus Caldwell (Matt Damon), an expert pickpocket; Saul Bloom (Carl Reiner), a master of disguise, and not to forget The Amazing Yen (Shaobo Qin), a skilled acrobat. Once together in Vegas they attempt one of the most complicated robberies in cinematic history.

George Clooney plays the slick ruffian that we’ve met before in Out of Sight virtually unchanged, Brad Pitt wears possibly the loudest shirts ever, almost recreating Tyler Durden, strutting across the screen as though he can hear the near perfect David Holmes soundtrack. Andy Garcia is effortlessly cool as the all-powerful casino owner, exuding raw power and unpleasantness as he dines with the furniture-like Julia Roberts.

The element of Ocean’s Eleven that makes it so intense is the intertwined structure that it employs to show the simultaneous planning and execution of their plan. Although similar techniques have been used in other films, such as Bryan Singer’s The Usual Suspects, here it is expertly executed, keeping you absolutely entranced for the full duration of the movie.

As Steven Soderbergh’s first film since the award winning Traffic, Ocean’s Eleven has a lot to live up to. Upon hearing that it’s a remake of a Frank Sinatra vehicle from 1960 you might groan out loud; however this movie is one to be savoured, a rare breed, a blockbuster movie that is complex and engaging whilst remaining unbelievably cool - a crown that even David Mamet’s Heist cannot steal.

Review by George Williamson
Written for EUFS Programme Autumn 2002