Movie review “Ocean’s Eleven”
By Stephen Kirkley
Staff Writer
If you like movies jam-packed with the biggest and brightest stars that Hollywood could possibly place into one movie, combined with the biggest casino heist ever conceived, plus a little humor here and there, then “Ocean’s Eleven” is absolutely the movie for you.
Danny Ocean, played by giant star George Clooney, has just been released from jail on parole. Less than 24 hours later, he begins orchestrating the most elaborate and gutsy heist in the history of Las Vegas: to steal over $160 million from the three biggest casinos on the Vegas Strip.all at once.in one single hold-up. The three lucky casinos are the Bellagio, the Mirage, and the MGM Grand. The lucky owner of the three targets is Terry Benedict, played by another giant star, Andy Garcia. Ocean has a fourth target in mind as well: a surprise that will you will have to see the movie to find out.
Ocean begins putting his plan together by incorporating the cr?me de la cr?me of con men, eleven of the most talented thieves that can be put together. Here is the line up for “Ocean’s Eleven.” Danny Ocean, played by George Clooney, is the unannounced leader of the heist. “The reason George Clooney is perfect as Danny Ocean is that George is a born leader,” producer Jerry Weintraub said in an interview on the film’s website.
Rusty Ryan, played by Brad Pitt, is Ocean’s confidant and right-hand man. “Brad Pitt is perfect as Rusty,” Weintraub added. “He’s not only a cool guy, he has that devil-may-care attitude that Rusty has.”
Matt Damon plays the newcomer Linus Caldwell. Linus earns a living by picking the pockets of rich brokers. He agrees to do the heist to earn a name for himself. Don Cheadle plays Basher Tarr, a very colorful and humorous explosives expert. Livingston Dell is an anxiety-ridden surveillance specialist played by Eddie Jemison. Comedy king Bernie Mac plays Frank Catton and is Ocean’s first recruit. Elliot Gould plays Reuben Tishkoff, the man who funds the entire heist operation.
“Reuben is from another era in Las Vegas,” Gould explained in an interview on the website. “At one time he had been the king of Vegas, but Terry Benedict effectively put him out of business.” This is the one and only motive Tishkoff needs to give Ocean the money. Carl Reiner plays Saul Bloom, a retired old pro with ulcers. Bloom is brought out of retirement to play a very crucial role in the scheme. Scott Caan and Casey Affleck play twin brothers, Turk and Virgil Malloy, experts with cars and transportation.
“The Malloys just want to drive cars around and argue,” director Steven Soderbergh said in the film’s publicity release. “That’s what they live for. Being paid to do that is a fantasy for them.”
Yen, the crew’s grease man, is played by the unbelievably agile and talented Shaobo Qin, who is making his silver-screen debut in the film.
Last but not least is the man with all the ideas, the director Soderbergh. Soderbergh is the only director to have two films, “Traffic” and “Erin Brockovich,” nominated for Best Picture and Best Director in the same year.
“Ocean’s Eleven” is full of action, humor and smarts. For the women who think they are going to see another Clooney/Pitt action movie with the boyfriend, don’t worry, there is a little hidden romance. Twists and turns are made throughout the entire picture. For the women who have to have the good-looking guys in their movies, this is your movie.
For the movie veterans who want a lot of action, with a little cleverness thrown in, along with a little nostalgia for the old Rat Pack clan, this is your movie. For those of you who just want a plain-out-right, old-fashioned, good acting, “I want to smile for once when I leave the theater” movie, then this is your movie.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Jan 25 2002. Filed under Features.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
