SNMR 3.24: "Ocean's Eleven"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "Ocean's Eleven" (2001, PG-13, 116 minutes), starring Brad Pitt. George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bernie Mac, Andy Garcia, Julia Roberts, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Elliott Gould and Carl Reiner. The film was directed by Steven Soderbergh.

The first time that I saw this movie was sometime in 2004, when I rented the DVD. I've seen it a few times since.

From the DVD's dust case:

The plan is set. The rules are clear: Danny Ocean's grifters will hurt no one and will play the game like they have nothing to lose. If all goes right, the payoff is $150 million. Divided by 11. You do the math.

The skill of Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh combines with enough star power to light up the Las Vegas strip in this classy caper. George Clooney plays Danny, defying the odds in a split-second heist of three Vegas casinos - all owned by a magnate (Andy Garcia) who is dating Danny's ex-wife (Julia Roberts). A fixer (Brad Pitt), a pickpocket (Matt Damon), a blackjack dealer (Bernie Mac), a flimflammer (Carl Reiner) and others in well defined roles are with Danny. Are you in or out?

From Martin and Porter's DVD & Video Guide 2007, p. 819:

Upon his release from prison, career thief Danny Ocean begins planning the caper of a lifetime: the robbing of three casinos in Las Vegas. Unbeknownst to the team of ten specialists he assembles to do the job, he has a personal reason for pulling the heist, one that has more to do with matters of the heart than a desire for money. This stylish, thoroughly involving souffle of pure entertainment more than eclipses the 1960 original. Expert use is made of the big name cast, with adept touches of character added to what easily could have been caricatures.

This is a thoroughly engrossing film. I really wasn't sure if I would like it when I first rented it because usually great casts like this don't get enough individual screen time and get lost in the shuffle of characters. Not so here, mainly because the script is excellently written and has a crisp pace to it, thanks to the direction of Soderbergh. Chances are you'll like this movie very much. It's a good way to spend a few hours. I'll give this film four and a half out of five stars.