Review of Ocean's Eleven (2001) by David M — 24 May 2015

Veteran director Steven Soderbergh seems to approach this big budget remake with a sort of "piece-of-cake" confidence-and it just works. With a repertoire of well-received experimental and independent films, Soderbergh succeeds in converting his elegant style into this adaptation of the 1960 Rat Pack film. Instead of Sinatra, Soderbergh has Clooney, and a whole ensemble of big-wig actors who perform with precision. Though not likely to champion the awards circuit, Ocean's Eleven is a well-executed crowd pleaser with enough individuality to stand the test of time.

As the film opens, Danny Ocean (George Clooney) is being addressed by a panel of social workers to decide whether or not he should be released after four years in prison. The camera doesn't stray from Clooney's face as he lies through his teeth that he will no longer be involved in criminal activity. As David Holmes' score fades in, the bouncy heist-flick mood is created almost instantly and already I am wondering where the next two hours will take me.

Though some points in this film feel forced (Ocean orchestrating a 150,000,000 dollar heist to win back his ex-wife from a Las Vegas casino tycoon?), these are merely staples of the heist genre. High stakes, impossible odds, and a determined team of eleven eccentric masterminds are all typical elements of a Hollywood heist-flick, but ones necessary to the success of this film. Soderbergh's success is visible in the unique nuances that only an experienced filmmaker would be able to provide. Sophisticated shots and humor in all the right places make it easy to sit back and watch the slew of montages that are unavoidable in this type of film. The details of the heist are complicated yet very accessible, lending for a very intriguing narrative.

Just as each member of Danny Ocean's team plays a specific role in the operation, each actor in the film is present for their own specific reason. Serious scenes are left to dramatic heavy weights. George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Andy Garcia take on the more dramatic themes of the film such as romance and revenge. Veteran comedy actors Bernie Mac, Elliot Gould, and Carl Reiner act out the comedic counterparts to Danny Ocean's tale of high stakes betrayal. Mac's fake argument with Matt Damon's character about being black is hysterical. Elliot Gould is perfect as the ostentatious metrosexual and Carl Reiner kills it as the retired conman who uses his health aliments to his benefit during the heist. Though the top-billed actors in the film act at the top of their ability, some of the best performances in the film come from the supporting members of the ensemble. Scott Caan (son of James Caan) and Casey Affleck (brother of Ben Affleck) are hilarious as competitive twin brother mechanics and Eddie Jemison fits the "nervous nerdy hacker" archetype perfectly. Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Don Cheadle complete the cast, bringing brilliant performances, during both the comedic and dramatic moments of the film.

Of course, this film has its flaws. Because of its formulaic structure, the film fails to develop nearly all of its characters. Danny Ocean is funny, charming, and daring, but only as the archetype that he was written to fill. With the exception of Julia Roberts' Tess, no other character has a definitive arch-not even the title character. Roberts probably gives the most traditional dramatic performance. In response to Ocean asking Tess if her new boyfriend can make her laugh, Roberts coldly replies with the most memorable line of the film: "He doesn't make me cry." With that being said, the character of Tess is unjustly forced into the "wife-of-a-con" archetype, severely limiting Roberts' range in the role.

Viewing this film in context, it is easy to overlook these shortcomings. As a blockbuster action-comedy, there is not much room for serious development of characters. Clooney and company give dynamite performances as their respective characters, though none push the boundaries of what would be expected. The real charm of Soderbergh's film is his ability to use the Hollywood clichés to his advantage, giving them his own breath of air and leaving the audience with a humorous, less predictable interpolation of the traditional heist. Ocean's Eleven is pure enjoyment.