Ocean's Thirteen

[cinemabon]

Ocean’s Thirteen – a film by Steven Soderbergh

In a season of tri-quels, my new name for the third film in a series and the fourth such offering in the last five weeks, I finally get to see one that works. Not only is “Ocean’s Thirteen” fun to watch, but director Steven Soderbergh even pokes fun at the series’ characters during one sequence when Rusty (Brad Pitt) and Danny (George Clooney) second guess each other’s comments and responses, neither one gets a line out. I paraphrase:

R: “Do you remember…” D: “But of course…” R: “Well, I always thought…” D: “Who wouldn’t…” R: “Yes, but do you think…” D: “Why wouldn’t I…” and so on.

The timing is perfect and the entire sequence is hysterical, with both men pulling off the double entendres. During this sequence we learn Gould’s character is the one that gave them all a first break, hence their loyalty and motivation in helping him later.

While Clooney seems as fresh as ever, it is the younger Pitt that time has not been kind to, as evidenced in his close ups. I don’t imagine he had much sleep last year during the time this was shot, shuttling across the globe with Angelina and shooting two other films. He kids Clooney at one point, saying: “If we ever do this again, try to keep the weight off in between.” However, the rest of the original cast shows up refreshed, minus Tess (the script tosses her character off due to an argument in the opening). Also included in the cast is the first film’s villain, Terry Benedict, deftly played by Andy Garcia, showing up in a surprising scene. Comedian Eddie Izzard is thrown in for good measure, though he actually plays a somewhat dramatic part, then pounces on a visual laugh later.

Thank goodness, Soderbergh returned the film’s location to colorful Las Vegas, where the stakes are enormously high once more for Danny’s crew to pull off another casino caper. Oddly enough, Soderbergh keeps throwing in little tributes here and there to this film or that icon. The deal between Gould and Pacino that goes sour is based on a Frank Sinatra handshake (“When you shake Sinatra’s hand, it makes you part of the brotherhood of Vegas.”). Elliot Gould first reminisces about the good old days with Danny, and then against advice, enters a partnership with villain Al Pacino, who then stabs him in the back. Al definitely does not look too good; but then he hasn’t for many years. He did not age gracefully, as they say. He and Ellen Barkin, his evil sidekick, open a casino in the heart of the strip intent to put others out of business (Don’t they all?). Each cast member performs a short choice, usually humorous scene. This film gets a huge laugh during the worker’s strike in Mexico (the payoff punch line is even funnier).

Most of “Ocean’s” cast is long overdue for the actor’s home except for Matt Damon, Clooney, and Don Cheadle. Damon must have held his collective breath when he had to do the lovemaking scenes with Barkin, unfortunately too old for her part. One could say, “She looks good for her age!” So does the constitution. I kept thinking Carl Reiner would expire any moment! Of all the cast members, he is the only one that really remembers the so-called ‘golden’ years with the pack rat.

Director Soderbergh pulls out all the tricks, using split screen, snappy dialogue filled with great gag lines, lots of color, pretty girls, and a track that sounds distinctly like Vegas during the 1950’s. The editing is fast paced. The camera is everywhere, from soaring over the current strip with Pacino’s new ‘Bank’ casino carefully painted into the sepia-toned aerial scenes to the vigorous use of hand held in the huge sets that create the casino’s interior. Yes, “Ocean’s Thirteen” is predictable in one sense that we know Danny will come out all right in the end. However, the producers have thrown enough laughs and adventure along the way to make the ride enjoyable for one evening. Recommended.

[tabuno]

I found this third outing long and at times boring. There were too many narrative explanations for the set-up, too many characters this time. The beginning plot outline seemed forced, artificial...as if the scriptwriter had to come up with some excuse to make a third movie, interspersed with a few actually good bits of humor to make the movie move faster. We've all seen this before...but with more emotional drama, tension, and suspense. There are only a few suprises and without the female counterweight in this movie, it loses its nice balance of feminine charm that Ellen Barkin can't handle on her own.

[mouton]

OCEAN’S 13
Written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien
Directed by Steven Soderbergh

Turk Malloy: Is it in yet?
Virgil Malloy: I hate that question.


I am a member of minority group. This group is made up of a small number of people who actually enjoyed OCEAN’S 12. Sure it was somewhat unbelievable and occasionally ridiculous but it kept a good groove on while filling the screen with some slick style. The boys all looked like they were having a good time, perhaps too good a time. Maybe audiences felt like they had taken it all too far; that the Ocean gang was having fun without them. And so, a director and a cast who generally don’t seem to pay much heed to appeasing the masses, have returned to the original scene of the crime, Las Vegas, for their third and final caper in OCEAN’S 13. The main goal for this reunion is to make up for their supposed misfire last time out and every possible effort to do so is made diligently. With the exception of Julia Roberts, the original players have all returned. From Clooney to Pitt to Damon to Affleck (no, not that one, the younger one), the stars are all out. Even Al Pacino has come on board to lend more weight to this already heavy load. And with Mr. Style himself, Steven Soderbergh, at the helm, the dream is kept alive. So why then, with every element so perfectly placed, has the fun disappeared almost entirely?

Perhaps perfection is part of the problem. The Ocean gang is a smart bunch, crafty fellas. They are also often prone to making mistakes. The situations they find themselves in stem from their own decisions and almost always lead them to the brink of unraveling. The cracks they need to squeeze through get tighter and tighter, creating both intrigue and urgency for the viewer. OCEAN’S 13 finds Danny Ocean et al plotting sweet revenge against Willie Bank (Pacino) for putting Ocean member, Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould), in the hospital after screwing him out of a huge hotel/casino deal. The plan is to ruin his prestigious grand opening and milk him for hundreds of thousands of dollars all in one night. The execution is vast, ranging from rigging the dice at the source of manufacturing in Mexico to orchestrating an earthquake to disarm the stronghold security system that stands between them and the prize. Clearly, the good guys are going to win but never does it feel that there is a chance this might not happen. The urgency and intrigue were bet and lost.

Pacino is a welcome addition to the mix. His portrayal of hotel mogul, Willie Banks, is so sinister and egotistical that you can’t wait for the Ocean boys to bring him down. However, while Pacino is stepping it up, Clooney and Pitt might as well have had their stand-ins play their parts. The camaraderie that brought such joy and laughs to the Ocean film experience in the past has grown tired. When the boys laugh now, it almost seems like the joke is on us; that getting us into the theatre with their pretty faces was all they were obliged to do. Once there, entertaining us was not part of their contract. These two haven’t left it to just showing up for work in a while and the effect weighs you down. Luckily, Damon, Affleck, Scott Caan and Don Cheadle are still working for their paychecks, bringing wit, charm and humility to an often-lifeless script. Sadly, the sporadic laughs are not enough to call this film funny, or even fun for that matter.

So if OCEAN’S 13 isn’t fun, what is it? Well, it’s neatly packaged and pristinely presented. Soderbergh has a fantastic eye. He has a knack for crafting colorful films that are visual worlds unto themselves, which draw the viewer in to a point where the real world can look somewhat drab in comparison once you leave them. Only this time out, he spent too much time setting everything up that no room was left for error or chance. It’s like a perfectly dealt hand that just isn’t played with any finesse. It’s ironic really how a film set against the gambling capital of the world takes so few risks. Soderbergh sets out to distract the audience with OCEAN’S 13, like any good casino would. With all the flashing lights, pretty colours and fireworks, you might not realize that you’ve been playing the slots for longer than you should.

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