*****REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*****
Oceans 11 is, of course, directed by Steven Soderbergh and contains a star-studded cast consisting of Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon and Casey Affleck, to name just a few. The story follows a group of 11 elaborate characters, led by George Clooney, as they plan to rob three Las-Vegas casinos simultaneously. An intriguing premise with the potential to produce an intriguing story to match, in twined with some thrilling scenes of audacious escapism, and for the most part this film lives up to my initial hopes. Delving immediately into the story, introduced to the main character as he assembles his team of criminals, each trained in a specific field of expertise, all a little to eager to be part of the team. You would think that as the ringleader, Danny Ocean (Clooney) asked the various characters to be part of the team that some may decline and say, No...that's illegal. Yet no apparently, 'everyones a criminal' as they are more than willing to take part in this scheme. As we are introduced to each character through an inevitable montage, our excitement increasingly builds and builds, as our minds excavate all the possible routes this film could take. Then almost too realistically, the film grinds to a halt, as they think and re-think the plan. With the film beginning so suddenly and personally, rushing through character development with a speedy montage, this sudden change in pacing is very prominent and leaves you in a state of disinterest, until the plan kicks into action.
Spurred by the desire to 'steal' his wife back from the grips of a greedy casino owner, and of course in the hope of stealing billions of dollars ,Danny Ocean and 'co.' set off to perform the criminal deed. However although we know the motives behind this selfish attack, we never really fully believe them. If you actually think about the motives their really quite petty. Clooney wants his wife back, OK, just settle it with a civilised conversation with Mr Garcia! A full-scale extraction of the entire earnings of Clooneys enemy, is really quite nonsensical. Despite this the team carry out the ambitious robbery, which actually becomes very exciting to watch, the intriguing design behind their plan becomes very complex yet thrilling, as an explanation of the previous part of the scheme is explained, I felt my face light up with enjoyment as my brain took a rest for a minute or two. Yes, sections of the plan are totally ridiculous and silly, but it fits in with the tone of the film, set in stone by the previous 45 minutes.As this looming sense of superior achievement becomes prominent towards the end of the film, I couldn't help but think of an underlying twist in tale, that I thought would inevitably come and foil there plans...but it didn't. Everything turns out to be just a little to contrived for my liking everything goes too well, in fact nothing goes wrong, this however is only a minor irritation (for now!). As the eleven 'heroes' bathe in their success, you can't help but feel just a little bit sorry for Andy Garcia's character (Terry Benedict), after all in our eyes he's simply an innocent man who's created a respectable business empire for himself. He's not actually made out to be a bad guy at all, more a pleasant gentleman...that were supposed to despise?
Overall I liked Oceans 11 it's ridiculous and elaborate plans had me smiling throughout, it's a heist film with dose of realism splashed on.
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Oceans twelve however, is just a completely different ball game, directed by the one and only, and sees the original cast returning, with the new addition of Julia Roberts to the 'gang'. This installment continues soon after the occurrences of the previous film, Mr Benedict wants revenge, but the gang have spent all their 'winnings'.
After my liking for Oceans 11, I was hoping that I was on course for the one of the best trilogies of our time, the story was fresh, the plans were exciting, the characters were interesting, but I had forgotten the story (at times) was also preposterous. Oceans 12 is not only the worst film in the trilogy, but also one of the worst films of all time.
Beginning the film in the eyes of Terry Benedict as he hunts down his bitter enemy Danny Ocean and his team. Somehow he is able to track each character down in a matter of hours (or so it seems), knowing where each of them works, sleeps and goes for a social gathering. Following in the same pattern of the first, this opening rushes along in a matter of minutes due to a snazzy yet horribly unnecessary montage. Due to it's fast pace, before we know it, the gang are back together after years apart, about to embark on an ambitious heist in order to retrieve back the money they stole from that very nice gentleman in the first film...joy. So off they set for Europe, planning to steal from a further 3 casinos. However as the plan starts to unfold, so does a coinciding sub-plot, following the 'Night Fox' (aka Vincent Cassel) a master criminal, one step ahead of the 12 protagonist's. Hunting him down is Catherine Zita-Jones an oddly desperate police officer, who throws an unlikely spanner in the works. Initially I was thrilled to see a twist in the tale, something that was solemnly missed from the previous film. As the plot progressed however I was disappointed to see that this 'twist' was almost pointless, as of course the 'heros' come out on top, without a worry in the world.
It is however how they came to succeeding in there plans that the film simply falls apart. Due to certain spontaneous set-backs, half the team find themselves 'out of the game' with only a handful still available. For a moment I was racking my brain searching for a possible outcome for this film, but of course they find a way. By calling up a previously unavailable Julia Roberts, a truly awful plan unravels itself, which includes the unexpected feature of Bruce Willis. The plan involves, using Julia Roberts to infiltrate the building in order for the team to steal their required item, OK seems believe able enough. However to walk through the front door of the building, Julia Roberts must be disguised, as who? I hear you ask...as none other than.......Julia Roberts! Sorry, what. Yes that was my reaction also, Julia Roberts infiltrates the building as Julia Roberts as what can only be described as one of the most whimsical, bizarre and pointless scenes of film-making that I have ever seen. As for Bruce Willis, don't even get me started. He's totally necessary, and is simply added into the film, so that his fans of his can express their love for him by saying 'OMG it's Bruce Willis'. Still, however awful this may be, this still doesn't explain how the plan comes to a conclusion. Instead of completing their goals simply, or even failing in their attempts, there HAS to be an elaborate escape, which in this film involves the use of Damon's characters parents...duh!
The Night Fox sub-plot was a fantastic idea, executed poorly, and ultimately ends in what only can be described as the worst heist, dance number ever performed on screen, and by no fault of his, It's performed by Vincent Cassel.
This is a boring, absurd and totally contrived piece of film making that I hoped would be corrected by it's predecessor Oceans 13.
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Directed by, Yep you guessed it, Steven Soderbergh and starring the old gang in there entirety, with one new addition. Oceans 13 follows our favourite robbers, and after one of them is double-crossed, there all out for revenge.
After the despicable Oceans 12, my expectations were rock bottom, I was simply hoping for a thrilling,fun film, after my hopes of a brilliant trilogy were obliterated. Thankfully, although this film may not be as good, it still shows glimpses of the original hit, being snappy, clever, funny yet oh so absurd.
Contrary to the previous films, in Oceans 13 the gang set to (in a sense) in-directly bring down a corporate mastermind, by simply rigging machines and committing crimes of a similar nature. This change is fitting and very refreshing after two films that followed the same path. This film also presents a more comedic approach with the teams twin drivers taking the helm with the humour. Throughout the two films the twins (Cassey, Caan) have been my favourite characters, witty, charming, yet willing to do the job .I was disappointed to see that after hours of screen time, we remain to know as little about them as we did in the original. This is actually a prominent annoyance among the entire cast from the right hand man Rusty Ryan (Pitt) to the mechanical expert 'Basher Tarr' (Cheadle). We only know the bare minimum about every character, maybe if more focus was given on character development, I would have been a lot more engaged with the characters, and would coincidentally enjoy the film more.
Acting throughout each film in the series is standard, with standout performances appearing from Cassey Afleck, Matt Damon and Al Pacino. The remaining cast simply glide along each film, with standard acting representing the same character every time, with identical emotions and aesthetic properties. Al Pacino performs how Andy Garcia should have in Oceans 11, portraying an evil, selfish businessman, who you really want to see failing, and of course you do in terrific, satisfying style.
An unfortunate similarity however is the ultimate conclusion of success at the end of every installment, including this one. As the last in the trilogy, you may expect even a slight 'hiccup' in their plan, but no, everything runs all too smoothly, which was foreseeable from the very beginning. Every film is laid out the same way and follows exactly the same road, in a sense once you've seen one, you've seen them all. Oceans 13 tries to change the films course with the return of Vincent Cassel. Although I admire there intentions, the return of this character is totally unnecessary, and actually laughable after he only receives a screen time of a matter of minutes.
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Overall the Oceans series is certainly not one to be ashamed of, however it is neither one to be magnificently proud of. Displaying the same story across the course of the three films, and receiving the same outcome each time. The elaborate and fun heist scenes should leave you satisfied, but the absence of so much, will leave you wanting more.
60%- Enjoy the thrilling, excitement of 11, skip the atrocious comedic value of 12, then conclude your viewing with the complex, yet humorous value of 13.
Calum Russell
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