Warner Bros. Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Al Pacino
Directed By: Steven Soderbergh
Rated: PG-13
Warner Bros.
I keep harping on the fact that there are a lot of sequels out this summer--but I just realized that of the four reviews I wrote today, three of them are for the third film in a series. It's the summer of three-quels!
I absolutely love the remake of Ocean's Eleven, and I'm sure I mentioned that when I reviewed Ocean's Twelve--which I really didn't like so much. Apparently, I wasn't alone in that opinion, although the first sequel was apparently popular enough with audiences that a third film was warranted. That's a good thing for all of us, because Ocean's Thirteen was definitely worth sticking around for.
This time around, Reuben Tishkoff (Elliot Gould), becomes business partners with casino mogul Willie Bank (Pacino) against the advice of everyone he knows. True to form, Bank pulls a fast one on Reuben and muscles him out of the new casino they are building on the Las Vegas Strip. Reuben has a heart attack, and his weakened condition brings Danny Ocean (Clooney), Rusty Ryan (Pitt), and the whole gang out to Vegas. Danny decides that they are going to work together to get back Reuben's share of the casino back from Bank--one way or another. And, of course, the plan is an elaborate, over-the-top caper.
The reason that this film works so well is that it goes back to the formula of the original: show the gang planning and pulling off a cool caper. Ocean's Twelve strayed from that, and ended up being quite dull. Thirteen wastes very little time getting right down to business--we see just enough back story to understand why the gang is doing what they are doing, and then we get right into the action. Like all of the films in the series, there are some elements that require a very firm resolve in the suspension of disbelief department--you don't want to think too hard about how the gang would accomplish some of the things that they do because they simply couldn't do them.
But that doesn't really matter. The thing that makes these movies--or at least the first and third one--so much fun to watch is the chemistry between the cast members. There is a LOT of star power in the Ocean's series, but all of these big names (most of whom are leading men in their own right) manage to come together in an ensemble where everyone has their share of great moments and great lines. It's just a blast to watch, and I for one am glad that Soderbergh and company figured out what went wrong the last time and made it right.
If they can mange to continue in this vein, I can't wait for Ocean's Fourteen.
Bottom line: A fun and funny caper film that goes back to the elements that made the first film in the series so much fun.