OCEAN'S ELEVEN
Released: December 7, 2001
It's not the greatest heist movie ever. It's not even the greatest heist movie of 2001. But still, one (and by "one" I mean me) can't help but be entertained by Steven Soderbergh's "reimagining" of the original 1960's ratpack flick with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Angie Dickinson. Loosely based around the concept of the original, Soderbergh assembled his own ratpack of stars, all who took pay cuts to help the budget from exploding. Along for the ride are George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia and Julia Roberts. Eleven criminal associates, led by Clooney's Danny Ocean, plot to rob three high profile casinos in Las Vegas. Clooney and Roberts are Soderbergh vets, in "Out Of Sight" and "Erin Brockovich" respectively and they have good reason for collaborating all together once again. This is a movie Soderbergh could bang out in his sleep but because it's a director of his stature and skill then the end results are going to be entertaining. Don Cheadle and Topher Grace of TV's "That 70s Show" also star, along with Scott Caan and Casey Affleck - but it's the interaction of the five principles that makes this such a fun movie to watch. The dialogue is well written and smart. There is lots of great Las Vegas scenery and the film gain extra points for having gained full cooperation of the casinos the fictional story selects to be robbed.
126 Minutes
Warner Bros.