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All-Reviews.com Movie/Video Review
Ocean's Eleven
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  out of 4
Review by Susan Granger
3½ stars out of 4
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Oscar-winner Steven Soderberg's slick re-working of a legendary crime
caper is a clever gamble that's gonna pay off! The original version - made 41
years ago - was, essentially, a cinematic homage to the kitschy coolness of the
Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford). Now,
updated with a strong handful of box-office high rollers, it emerges as a
humorous heist scam. The saga begins as Danny Oceans (George Clooney), just
released from North Jersey State Prison, concocts an incredibly daring plan to
rob the vault of the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas. Located 200 feet below the
Strip, this maximum-security, high-tech vault holds more than $150 million in
cash from a big fight-night at the Bellagio, The Mirage and the MGM Grand. All
three hotels are owned by a smarmy, ruthless entrepreneur (Andy Garcia) who -
not coincidentally - is dating his ex-wife (Julia Roberts). Danny's 11-man crew
of oddball thieves consists of a card-shark (Brad Pitt), dealer/con man (Bernie
Mac), pickpocket (Matt Damon), explosives specialist (Don Cheadle, who was Sammy
Davis Jr. in TV's "The Rat Pack"), surveillance expert (Eddie Jemison), flimflam
pro (Carl Reiner), Chinese acrobat (Shaobo Qin) and two drivers (Casey Affleck,
Scott Caan) - all backed by a vengeful financier (Elliot Gould). Perfectly cast
and directed by Steven Soderbergh from a screenplay by Ted Griffin, who pens
sizzling, snappy banter for Clooney & Roberts and some ingeniously unexpected
plot twists, it begins slowly but the "Mission Impossible"-style break-in is
terrific. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, "Oceans Eleven" adds up to an
engaging, escapist 8. If you're looking for a cool caper, some hip,
light-hearted fun and a good time at the movies, this is definitely your best
bet.
Copyright © 2001 Susan Granger
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