“If you’re gonna steal from Terry Benedict, you’d better goddamn know. This sorta thing used to be civilized, you’d hit a guy, he’d whack you, done.”
– Rueben Tishkoff
SYNOPSIS: Danny Ocean and his eleven accomplices plan to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously. – via IMDB
This movie is just a load of fun; there are no two ways about it. It is smart, witty, well shot, excellently cast and so well written. You are captivated by the story from the get go, and it does not disappoint. It also has an exceptionally awesome cast, and they all bring the goods to the table here. It’s really rewarding to see something that could have bombed come together so well.
Brad Pitt never ceased to entertain me with the amounts of food that he consumed throughout the film, having had to work it into his character. Don Cheadle was just a bag of laughs (crazy Brit that he portrayed, accent and all). I particularly enjoyed Casey Affleck and Scott Caan together. Every actor contributed to this film perfectly (and the ensemble cast is just too big to discuss each and every contributor), and Andy Garcia really gave forth that scary don’t-mess-with-me Mafia vibe. Also, watching Clooney and Pitt together was very rewarding, they just work together.
Steven Soderbergh carried this film with zest and flair, and it was very clever and fresh. For a film that was a remake, this just goes to show that they are not always destined to bomb out and fail! The pacing is fantastic and I cannot recall a single dull moment in it. Everything is set out as you need it, and it is smart and funny while doing it. The movie looked really good, the soundtrack was smooth and suited exactly for what this was – a bag of fun heist flick! Ocean’s Eleven is sharp, and worth the watch every single time.
Good review Zoe. It was pretty much a blast from beginning-to-end, that doesn’t stay too long in your head afterwards, but still shows you what happens when you get a great cast and crew together, and just let them do what they want to do.
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Thanks Dan! Definitely. It doesn’t need to be awfully memorable, but it does have that super fun aspect down, with an absolutely awesome cast!
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Zoe, my dearest! Haven’t talked to you in such a long time. Terrific article, Ocean’s Eleven is one of my all time favourites. Love the quotes you chose, but my favourite still has to be when Damon says “you suicidal?” Then Rusty answers, “only in the morning.”
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JOSEPH! You live! Thank goodness! Ah, thank you ever son kindly. I have inordinate amounts of fun with this, it is so great and entertaining. Oh, it really was a good one haha!
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Love this film! The sequels…ehhh not so much. Lol. But this one is a ton of fun with a stellar cast. Very nice review, Zoe! 🙂
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Thanks Cara! I agree, this was the best of the trio. The others were okay, just lacked the wow of this!
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Nice review. I liked the actors too but I’m one of the few people who think Ocean’s 11 is overated. 😦
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Awwww, pity! I understand why you would think so, it is a hyped film.
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Can’t say I was that keen on this Zoe. The cast were superb and it looked great but it was a bit of and empty affair for me.
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Awww! It is definitely nothing memorable (as Dan says), but I must say it was mindless fun. It was clever and all that but nothing really serious or commanding to stay with you, I just enjoyed the trip with the cast and the directing!
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Hey Zoe,
Great review.
I recall enjoying this when I saw it in the theater, but as was mentioned before, don’t remember much about it besides the amazing cast.
I do recall that the next two weren’t as good. I think I even stared to doze during 12. 🙂
Guess I’ll add these to my list of movies to re-watch soon.
Thanks for reminding me.
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Hi Rob! Thanks for dropping by! Yeah this certainly was a fun flick, though nothing groundbreaking. The next two certainly lacked the flair of the original one!
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I had a load of fun with this one. Some really great performances and a good script.
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Thanks Chris! I thought it was a blast!
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Well written review, and a good score. The cast of this film was fantastic, and where a lot of these guys got their starts. Damn, now I feel like re-watching it…
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Thank you very much! Do it, totally worth your while!
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This is one of my all-time favorite heist movies, and Brad Pitt and George Clooney were at their gorgeous best. Add in Matt Damon, and I can see this movie innumerable number of times 😀
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It was a fantastic heist film! The cast was just great!
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There’s a real energy to Soderbergh’s films and I think this one, his most mainstream effort, is equally his most entertaining. He’s backed, of course, by an exceptional cast but there’s such a kinetic energy about the director’s camerawork and staging, it’s always a thrill to watch. That said, compliments to the script too as having a great cast and stylish photography isn’t everything – I think we can agree it’s all there in Ocean’s 12 and 13 but the films aren’t half as good.
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I agree, fast-paced and fun, they just worked. The cast just carried the film and it all looked beautiful and was shot well. The next two may have looked stylish, too, but they just missed the essence and energy Ocean’s Eleven had!
Thanks so much for dropping in again!
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Completely agreed. Everything about this one is so well executed, so entertaining. A very good movie, indeed.
We just won’t talk about the sequels.
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It was just a great big bag of laughter and fun.
Oh so true, but the next two Fridays I am going to be doing just that 😉
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Oh.
Should have known. 😦
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😛 It is Friday, after all! Teehee!
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Great fun by anyone’s standards! Nicely done Zoe.
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Thanks a lot!
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Great cast except for Julia Roberts. And there’s also one of the biggest plot holes in movie history: how did the fake money bags get into the vault? But otherwise, lots of fun.
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Lol! Agreed, some holes but entertaining!
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This is my favorite heist movie. It has so much energy and is always moving, there isn’t one part that feels slow or unnecessary. Plus the entire cast is fantastic. Great review!
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Thanks a lot!
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You know that I like you very much but I have to disagree with you here – not on your opinion mind you – great stuff – I just hated this thing. Everyone was just way too fucking smug in this for me.
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Lol I suppose that was part of the point 😉
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Such a great movie. I love how Rusty is eating something in every single scene. I really need to watch this again.
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Haha it cracked me up endlessly, eating every minute he could! Go for it!
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Good review of an amazing movie. I just had to share my little secret that it took me a few times to finally understand how they pulled the heist off. A friend had to explain it to me while we were watching it and I was like OH I get it now! The good ol’ days ha ha.
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Thanks! That’s pretty funny, love how some movies have that where you get to the end and you’re like “whaaaaa?!”!
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Nice review Zoe, it’s been a long time since I last watched these movies.
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Thanks Vinnieh! I find them highly enjoyable!
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Same here, might give them a watch sometime soon.
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