Customer Reviews

Ocean's Eleven (Widescreen Edition)

5 star:		(257)
4 star:		(182)
3 star:		(61)
2 star:		(32)
1 star:		(42)

 

 

"Ocean's Eleven" is a Ferrari of a movie: cool, stylish, and classy. And if, like a Ferrari, it doesn't always work, that's OK - who will complain when it's so stylish?

The premise is lifted right out of the 1960 Rat Pack original: Danny Ocean (George Clooney, suave as hell) is released from prison, and plots to steal over $163 million from the vault of a Las Vegas casino during a heavyweight fight. He recruits his old buddy Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt), and they put together a dream team of crooks, each of whom has a specialty. There's a computer geek, a demolition expert, a con man, a pickpocket, and so on.

And, of course, there's Danny's ex-wife, Tess (Julia Roberts), who's now involved with the manager (Andy Garcia) of the casino Danny intends to rob. So, Danny's not only after money - he wants his girl back as well. But she's having nothing of it, as evidenced by this neat dialogue piece:

Danny: "I've paid my debt to society."

Tess: "Funny, I haven't gotten my check yet."

Dialogue like that is one of the great pleasures of this movie; watching it delivered by the likes of Clooney, Roberts, Pitt and the stellar supporting cast (Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Carl Reiner, Elliott Gould, et al) is the other.

And, in fairness, it's a good thing that the dialogue and acting is so good, because as a pure caper flick, "Ocean's Eleven" is, to be charitable, a little thin. In the best caper movies ("The Heist" comes to mind), the theft itself is the star of the movie - the intracicies, the backup plans, the intrigue. In "Ocean's Eleven," we're expected to believe that a casino with over $150 million in its vault wouldn't have a backup power generator, or that the vault's security system wouldn't have a motion sensor.

But criticisms like that are akin to nitpicking that red Ferrari 575 because it has a small trunk - the point isn't realism, it's style, and like a Ferrari, "Ocean's Eleven" has it in droves.

OCEAN'S ELEVEN is one of the five best films of 2001. I mostly wanted to see it because some of my favorite actors- Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon- star. I was disappointed that Julia Roberts didn't even show up until 45 minutes into the movie, and didn't even speak until several scenes later. She has a pretty small part, but when she is on screen, she steals the spotlight.

Here's the basic plot of the movie. Danny Ocean (George Clooney) is a thief just getting out of jail. He meets up with Rusty (Brad Pitt) and comes up with a scheme to rob the Bellagio casino in Las Vegas. The vault in this casino contains more than $150 million (including money from the MGM Grand and Mirage casinos). The catch is that Danny's ex-wife Tess (Julia Roberts) is dating the owner of all three casinos, Terry (Andy Garcia). So Danny hopes to win her back while robbing her boyfriend. To help him pull off the elaborate heist, he seeks the help of eleven men, all with different expertises. Two are great with explosives or electronics, another is a pickpocket,two are drivers, one is a casino security expert, another is a former casino dealer, another is a acrobat, and two others are professional theives. The men are introduced, and after training the men (some of which have no skill in stealing whatsoever) the robbery comes into action. The plan to rob the casino is so detailed it's a little difficult to keep up with. There are a few surprises, including the fact that they actually call Terry and tell him they are robbing him (don't worry, that doesn't give away anything). I'll let you see the rest when you go see this great movie. Most kids could probably see this. The reason this film was rated PG-13 was mostly language (a certain four-letter word is heard once or twice, and the finger was shown) but also for a little sexual content. Most kids over 11 are probably mature enough to see this.

I don't quite know what category this movie fits into. Drama, I guess, although there is some comedy and romance, and certainly action. I would recomend it to anyone. I have yet to meet someone who didn't like this. It's great entertainment that Hollywood could use more.

THE BEST THING: The twists in the plot that
even fool the audience.

THE WORST THING: Julia Roberts is not on
screen nearly enough, but she does do a good job with the acting, as usual.

I hope you see this movie, and I also hope this movie gets nominated for the Oscars' Picture of the Year. It certainly deserves it.

I've got to admit, half the fun of this movie is the star-gazing. George Clooney is great as a convict recently released from jail, Brad Pitt is Mr. Suave as his right-hand man, and Julia Roberts plays the icy ex-wife beautifully. Throw in Matt Damon as a pick-pocket and Andy Garcia as a casino mogul and you've got the gist of this movie's star power.
The plot is pretty simple: Danny Ocean (Clooney) organizes a group of eleven highly skilled criminals to simultaneously rob three of Vegas' biggest casinos. Their plans are over the top and outrageous-and you can't help but smile watching them put into action. There are also some really memorable touches in the movie: including Brad Pitt teaching Shane West and Topher Grace how to play poker. This movie kind of serves as a who's-who in Hollywood. "Oceans" probably won't spark any deep conversations or teach you any life lessons, but it's fun watching the celebrities interact onscreen. If you want something deep and thought-provoking, this probably isn't your movie. But if you want to watch something purely for entertainment, this is a great and fun film.

I have trouble calling this a remake, because it doesn't share much in common with the "rat pack" original except the name of the lead character and that it is a casino heist. Actually, this is a better film than its namesake, apart from the fact that the cast of the original was filled with entertainment legends.

Director Steven Soderbergh (Erin Brockovich, Traffic) takes a vacation from serious filmmaking with this film, which on his resume is something of a lark. Everyone seems to be having a good time and it is clear that the actors enjoyed making this film. The overhauled screenplay pops with snappy dialogue, riddled with deadpan humor and a decent, though somewhat far fetched plot. It has a little of the whimsical feel of "The Sting", though the screenplay isn't as strong. A crew of professional thieves plans to knock over three casinos on a fight night by raiding the impregnable vault that serves all three. The plan is elaborate, full of high tech wizardry, daring deceptions and acrobatic stunts. The caper runs into more than the normal amount of foul ups, but our devious team of burglars is always up to the task of working around the glitches.

The cast is very solid. George Clooney is perfectly cast as the brainchild of the scheme. He is dapper, macho and smooth with a sardonic wit that keeps the film's tone serious yet light. Brad Pitt plays the always eating Rusty, who is really the brains behind the operation, coordinating it flawlessly. Except for "The Mexican", this is much lighter material than Pitt usually tackles, yet he gives a suave performance seeming very comfortable with his character. Despite the fact that this is an ensemble cast, Pitt carries a lot of the weight and makes the story as close to believable as could be possible given its improbable nature.

Don Cheadle continues to impress, rendering a terrific demolitions expert. His cockney accent is great and with this part Cheadle shows once again what a terrific character actor he is. In a little twist of irony, Cheadle plays an analogous part in this film to that played by Sammy Davis, Jr. in the original, and he also played Sammy in the TV movie entitled "The Rat Pack". Poor Andy Garcia has the thankless task of playing the heavy in a tongue-in-cheek film, but he does a marvelous job. Matt Damon plays the rookie, giving the character a charming naiveté and a mischievous bent. Julie Roberts is nothing more than a throw in, with a minor role as Ocean's ex-wife.

If you don't take this film too seriously, you are in for an entertaining evening. It is smartly done without too much melodrama, and provides just enough suspense and realism to keep it from being a farce. I rated it an 8/10.

This lighthearted romp of a caper movie is a remake of the successful 1960s film staring Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Las Vegas Rat Pack. The title refers to the name of the lead character, Danny Ocean, played by George Clooney, who assembles a team of 11 men to steal $180 million from a casino. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the film is a slick spoof all the way, the high profile cast being the glue that holds this film together. There's Brad Pitt and Matt Damon and Julia Roberts and Andy Garcia and Elliott Gould and Carl Reiner. And there was no expense spared on the wardrobe or the glittery sets or the use of modern high tech special effects. Forget about the story; it's not supposed to be real. But yet there's fast paced action and tension throughout as the cast deals with setbacks and complications leading up to and including the caper. It's fun all the way. Just relax and don't take it seriously.

Yeah, it's impossible, it's ridiculous, it's contrived, but you gotta love the acting and the chemistry between the actors. Only Julia Roberts' role was maybe a mismatch, and that's difficult for me to say as she's one of my favorites.
The 1960's original version with Frank Sinatra and the infamous Rat Pack was fun, too, but this contemporary one makes full use of all the modern cinema techniques that make action/adventure films such fun to watch.
The whole setup (a plan to rob several Las Vegan casinos owned by a guy who has `taken possession' of Danny Ocean's ex-wife) is convoluted and sometimes difficult to follow - and frankly, rather than hit replay and try to figure it all out, I'd just advise suspending disbelief and going with the flow.
It's a hoot.

With enough star power to light Las Vegas (as long as no one's around with a pinch), Ocean's Eleven comes packed with all the action, suspense, comedy, and George Clooney a girl could want (guys, substitute 'Julia Roberts' for 'George Clooney'). George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Julia Roberts, and Elliot Gould, among others, make the picture sparkle with superb acting, while excellent directing from Steven Soderbergh keeps the picture down-to-earth, funny, and interesting without losing the element of suspense.

The plot, based on the 1960 Rat Pack film of the same title, is equally good; the characters especially are well written and casted. The Ocean's Eleven, as well as other main characters are unique and realistic, and very well interpreted by the cast. Even the costumes used help to make the film unforgettable.

Definitely a firm recommendation for anyone who likes a good movie--this one's got it all, supense, humor, and action. Just be careful while laughing on the edge of your seat; it tends to be dangerous.

Intriguing movie quote: "Ted Nugent called. He wants his shirt back."

Ocean's 11 is one of those rare "ensemble" or "team" films where the distinguished supporting cast turns in outstanding and unforgettable performances, but yet still do not steal the show from the big stars. That means (1) almost every scene is important and memorable, providing non-stop entertainment and (2) if you're a fan (or even if you're not) of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Andy Garcia, or Julia Roberts, you will be even more impressed than you were before. Throw in excellent filming (Soderberg continues to raise the bar) and an unpredictible story, and you have a near-perfect action movie. Make no mistake, Ocean's 11 is not "edgy" - this is not a "stealth" theft version of the eye-popping "strong" heist of "Heat". But it is irresistible fun, and a movie you can enjoy over and over again. The DVD also has special features - including a documentary, director's commentary (frankly, I think this is one of the weakest commentaries I've heard, but its better than nothing), and a full-length commentary with Andy Garcia, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon (thoroughly entertaining ... thanks guys!) - that make this a five-star, must-have DVD.

Director: Stephen Soderbergh
Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Andy Garcia, Don Cheedle, Elliot Gould, Eddie Jemison, Casey Affleck, Scott Cann, Bernie Mac, Shaobo Qin, Carl Reiner.
Release Date: 7/12/2001
Rated: PG-13 some language and sexual content
Running time: 1hr 58mins
Genre: Drama

While being incarcerated in a New Jersey jail, parolee Danny Ocean formulates a plan to win back his ex-wife and take down three of the largest casinos in Las Vegas, all within twenty- four hours of his release.
Ocean's Eleven, remake of the 1960 film, staring the Rat Pack, proved it needed no introduction as actor George Clooney and director Stephen Soderbergh worked together in creating this stylish action packed drama. This remake is definitely worth the wait.

Danny Ocean (George Clooney) devises plans amongst prison walls to bring together eleven men to perform a casino heist and win back his ex-wife Tess (Julia Roberts). The success of this movie comes from a thrill seeking adventurous storyline, and from casting some of the finest actors on set to create a movie that is only to be applauded. With the likes of a young pickpocket Linus Caldwell (Matt Damon); Ocean's main man, the smart and stylish Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt); casino owner Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia); with Ocean's ex-wife Tess, played by the stunning Julia Roberts; and Danny Ocean portrayed by none other than George Clooney himself, where could the acting go wrong? The cast took the film to another level, one of class and excitement.

Ocean's Eleven is a film with no dead spots. As Clooney and his carefully selected crew continue to make adjustments to their plans, so continues the action and suspense for the audience. The movie allows the audience to have fun and be part of the action, as well as being able to witness a well thought-out (yet non-realistic) plan. The stakes? Win more than $150 million dollars or loose eleven people's freedom.

The team of eleven all have their individual moment or two in the limelight throughout the film. The bigger names in the entertainment industry such as the Clooneys and Roberts didn't exactly have to be the center of focus to make this movie work. This allowed a different perspective on character input into the film to arise, and those less highly profiled actors such as explosives expert Bashar Tarr (Don Cheedle) and electronics expert Livingston Dell (Eddie Jemison) get to show off their talent and love for performance. These techniques made Ocean's Eleven different from other movies while maintaining at high level what I see as an insightful and interesting drama film.

With an experienced director such as Stephen Soderbergh, Best Film Academy Award last year for two of his previous films, Erin Brockovich and Traffic, I didn't expect anything less than an outstanding movie, and that's what I got. I felt that Soderbergh set out to do no more than create a quick and fun film, and Ocean's Eleven matched up to, if not improved upon, my expectations.

After walking away from this smart, clever, and stylish film, I would highly recommend Ocean's Eleven to all those who are prepared to play along with adventure and drama. Ocean's Eleven will show you a good time, as it doesn't pretend to be anything it's not.

...The movie is ten times better than the mediocre original. Danny Ocean(George Clooney), is released from prison. It doesn't take long for him to get back to his old ways. He devises a plan to steal $163 million dollars from the tightly guarded vault of the Las Vegas casino The Bellagio. To do so, he needs to round up a crew of men to pull this very tough heist off. Enter the rest of the 'Star Power' cast. Brad Pitt plays Clooney's right hand man, Rusty Ryan. Matt Damon plays a talented pocket picker named Linus. Don Cheadle really has a nothing role, but makes up for it with his lively and entertaining accent. Comedy legend Carl Reiner is also on hand as an aging thief. Comedian Bernie Mac(one of the stars of "The Kings Of Comedy" film)is one of the gang as well. Andy Garcia plays Terry Benedict, the owner of the casino they are going to hit. Terry is now with Danny's ex Tess, played by Julia Roberts. There isn't anything new with the film really, but who cares?. It was designed to be a fun crowd pleaser from beginning to end. It delivers on all sides. There are numerous one liners that come fast and sharp. The actors deliver them with full force. The funniest gag is Pitt's character teaching young T.V. stars how to play poker. Those stars being Joshua Jackson from "Dawson's Creek", Topher Grace from "That 70's Show", Holly Marie Combs from "Charmed", Barry Watson from "7th Heaven", and Shane West from "Once And Again". The "Chewing Scenery" award goes to Elliot Gould, who plays a casino owner equipped with big glasses, cigar, and lots of jewelry sprawled out in dark chest hair. It's a comical highlight. Good for him. Reiner gives a wonderful performance. It's nice to see the legend has still got it. Our stars are wonderful too. Clooney brings new meaning to the word "charming". If there was anyone to have that cool, calm charm like Sinatra, it's Clooney. Pitt is enjoyable as well. The only fault this film has is the horrendous underuse of Damon and Roberts. People will be surprised to learn how small this Oscar winning mega star has. Could've been used so much better. Garcia balances his villain role just right. He stays on line and doesn't whoop it up and make it seem like some cheesy caricature of characters gone by. A nice, rather subdued, performance. I can't stress enough how much of a good time the film is. Director Steven Soderbergh is on fire. He films the town nicely, and, of course, the stars. It's almost hard to imagine this was the same guy who did "Traffic". Ocean's 11 might not be Oscar material, but it is most definitley the nicest, most insanely entertaining film so far this year. Hands down. No if's, and's, or but's about it. It would definitley not be a bad thing to have an Ocean's 12, or 13, 14, 15, 16. This is a movie for people who like movies. If, like the one star negative reviews are any indication, you hate movies, then you will probably hate this one too. Ignore those reviews. Those are grouches who don't enjoy good, quality films.