Ocean's Twelve
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Movie Reviews of Ocean's Twelve
Movie Review: BEST MOVIE EVER
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great movie no matter what anyone says, if you dont like this movie you suck.Movie Review: The Moose Hole - The House Wins Again!
Summary: 4 Stars
After grossing nearly one-hundred and eighty-five million dollars domestically and well over four-hundred and fifty million dollars world-wide, Warner Brother executives were eager to jump on the bandwagon while the property was still hot and pump out a sequel as quickly, and cheaply, as possible. Steven Soderbergh insisted that the production budget be kept around the same as that of the original film - eight-five million dollars respectively - and asked all his actors, specifically George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts, to take significant pay cuts from their usual twenty-million dollar-per-picture salary. And with the WB studio in a tight market race, currently tied for second place with The Walt Disney Company, they need a hit more then ever, especially if they want to come close to recovering profits lost on the multi-million dollar disaster, Alexander. Perhaps the executives of the studio could learn a thing or two from these con-artists.
The story picks up some time after the original film ended and takes audiences across such glamorous European locations as Amsterdam, Paris and Rome in another crime-capping adventure. It has been three years since Danny Ocean and the rest of the gang of thieves and con artists broke into the "impenetrable" vault of Terry Benedict's Las Vegas casino and ripped a cool one-hundred and sixty million dollars right under his nose. After splitting the money amongst the eleven members of the Ocean's team, each went their separate ways, with the exception for Danny and Tess of course, and attempted to lie low and live an easy going life with their newly acquired fortune. Unfortunately for them, a fellow con-artist with a grudge against the group breaks Rule Number One by ratting them out to Terry Benedict, thus causing the ruthless casino owner to pay a visit to each and every one of the team members demanding a return of his one-hundred and ninety-eight million dollars - that's the amount of money they stole plus interest over three years - within two weeks. Considering they are too hot to find suitable work in the United States after their last stunt, they travel to Europe to steal an antique item only to run into complications with their criminal rival, "The Night Fox", who just happened to be the man who broke Rule Number One. On top of that, the gang has to deal with Isabel Lahiri, an intrepid female Europol agent with extensive links with Rusty Ryan, who is vividly determined to catch them in the act. When it comes to the story treatment for Ocean's Twelve, one must learn not to take these sorts of genres, specifically the caper-comedy, seriously. They are for mere entertainment purposes only and not to be destined, or taken as such, for Oscar-caliber quality or serious thought. On another note, the script is not as original as it may seem. In fact, it was originally designed as John Woo action-flick vehicle but when it came to developing the highly-anticipated sequel to Ocean's Eleven, Warner Brothers decided to rewrite the script to specifically fit with each of the characters of the series. Though some may feel cheated by this piece of trivia, this turns out ten times better then anything John Woo could have slapped together, so look on the bright side of things here.
The complication Ocean's Twelve faces, the exact same predicament the original feature ran into three years ago, is that with so many cast members, specifically ones with marquee names, increases the likelihood of each person receiving limited screen time which inevitably causes complaints of certain characters being underused. Quite surprisingly, the whole Brad Pitt/Catherine Zeta-Jones romance angle worked amazingly well and added yet another intriguing twist to the already complicated storyline. Unfortunately, what does not work out quite as well as it should have was the "family" element to Catherine Zeta-Jones' Isabel Lahiri, if it can be properly described as such. There is hardly any mention of her family other then in limited moments of the film and the scene near the end where she reunites with her father seemed senselessly tacked onto the end without a second thought as to what it should have meant but was not. Perhaps it is due to all these separate story elements - the romance between Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta-Jones and the wager with "The Night Fox" - that George Clooney's Danny Ocean seems quite left out of the picture compared to the last go-around where it was completely and entirely his film. Not that this was a significant problem but this is just yet another demonstration of the sometimes unequal shifting of story involvement amongst the numerous characters of the film series. Without giving too much information away, let us simply say that the way Tess is used in order to help the Ocean's gang pilfer a specific item from an Italian art museum was hilarious. Sure, it does wear a little thin as more time is spent on but, in the end, it works invariably. The only one that can truly be said as being underused in this picture is Andy Garcia reprising his role as the menacing Terry Benedict, the victim of Ocean's Eleven's casino heist from the first film. His appearance in the film, in the beginning and near the end, is really nothing more then a mere cameo, possibly to fulfill the contractual obligation he signed to appear in the sequel with the rest of the cast. This, on the other hand, can not be said of Matt Damon's Linus Caldwell who seems to have had a significant increase in the amount of screen time from the last film, playing a more central role in the story, specifically near the end.
Overall, Ocean's Twelve, in spite of its failure to surpass the magnificence of the original which essentially set the precedent for all modern crime capers to follow, does indeed match it based on pure entertainment value and would certainly be a feature Frank Sinatra and the rest of the crooning Rat Pack would be proud of. All in all, the film itself has very few problems to raise complaint about - A drawback that was apparent with Ocean's Eleven as well was that the first thirty minutes of the picture start off quite laboriously and nothing exactly interesting happens or no real action occurs. Granted, this is to set up the situation and the characters but considering this is a sequel and most audience members are aware of the original film, this should not have taken as long as it did. And was it absolutely necessary to bring back every single member of the original Ocean's Eleven cast for this film? Bernie Mac, Don Cheadle, and Carl Reiner barely appear at all - you could count on both hands, possibly only one, the number of lines each one of them has in this feature - and should have been written out entirely based on what they contribute - nothing. Middling complaints aside, Steven Soderbergh's skillful editing, mixing and cinematography style works wonders, except for the occasional still-picture shots, near the beginning and the end of the film, but are not so off-putting as to be entirely noticeable or discomforting. Though not holding quite the level of prestige as some notable sequels that have managed to surpass the expectations set upon by the first film might have, the series still able to maintain its suave composure, intricate white, and stylized flare to make more then worthwhile viewing over the holiday season this year.
Movie Review: This isn't your daddy's "Ocean's Eleven" baby
Summary: 4 Stars
On one hand you could say that "Ocean's Twelve" isn't trying to be like it's very cool, very well done predecessor "Ocean's Eleven," and just be its own film on its own terms while advancing the story of Danny, Rusty, Tess, Virgil, Turk, Yen, Frank, Basher, Linus, Saul, Reuben, Terry Benedict, and now bringing in a few others such as Isabel played by Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Francois Toulour played by Vincent Cassel.
On the other hand, you could say that this is like a case of "Kill Bill 1" and "Kill Bill 2" where the idea is the same, the characters are the same, but you have two films that are quite different from one to the next. Tarantino, however, more than succeeded in his Kill Bill vision because no one can deny the seamlessness from the first film to the second film. Between "Ocean's Eleven" to "Twelve" however is a certain span of time where certain things transpire. And while the film takes a good run at bringing us all up to speed, we can sense in the opening minutes that the group has kind of lost its initial magic.
However, this is nitpicking in my opinion. What I think happened here is that director Soderbergh wanted to make his own original "Ocean's Eleven" movie (remember the first was based off an old rat-pack flick starring Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis jr, and Peter Lawford). The plot makes sense; Terry Benedict, the hammerhead shark who owns everything that Danny and his bunch robbed in the last flick, recovers from his losses and goes practically door-to-door to all the members of the eleven and demands his money back, with interest. Of course, the fact that they pulled a fast one on him doesn't make him less intimidating, in fact he's scary as hell now. They regroup and decide that America is totally red-flagged for them right now, so they move their entire operation to Europe to pull off one huge job to pay back everything Benedict wants. The only problem is that Rusty's old girlfriend happens to be a detective now, and she's right on their trail. Soderbergh does a great job of bringing us up to speed, and reigniting the spark between the members of Danny's elite group.
When they pull the heist though, things don't exactly go as planned. Someone called the "Night Fox" (if I remember correctly) has beaten them to the punch. This is Europe's version of the ultimate cat-burglar, played by Vincent Cassel, who taunts Danny at first, and then decides to go head-to-head with him to see who is the ultimate thief. The only thing greater than Toulour's chances of winning is Danny's unflinching confidence, and Soderbergh goes through the script with his man always at #1.
His script, though, is a bit more worldly than his first, and incorporates a few scenes that would have no place in the first film. Take for example the scene where Vincent Cassel, as Toulour, does a Capoeira dance in the patio of his mansion situated on a beautiful European landscape. It's very intersting to watch, and Cassel does a wonderful job, but it's not "Cool, baby" like the first film. I'd imagine a scene like this would have hit the cutting room floor in editing on the first film. Also, what about the scene at the end where (spoiler coming) Rusty takes Isabel to see her long-lost father at the end, and we have this touching, quiet moment in a old Mediterranean setting, where the ocean waves (Ocean, get it?) lap gently against the beach. Yeah fine, touching, but why? It doesn't belong if you're trying to make a cool film. Ah ha! Maybe Soderbergh wanted to take this film franchise a step further, into what he thinks might be more sophisticated cinema, and incorporated scenes like this, that are a bit more dramatic?
I'm going to have to disagree with you on that... They may be dramatic and perhaps more "arthouse" to a certain extent, but I'm not convinced they belong in a film about a bunch of cats who pull off heists, steal expensive stuff, and get away clean, which in the history of cool may well be one of the coolest things to ever exist, besides rock n' roll.
Granted, there are some great moments in this film, like how about when Linus (who has spent the greater portion of the film trying to prove he's ready to work on his own terms) discovers that the person who bailed he and his friends out of jail was his mother? Classic. Damon is actually quite crucial to the proceedings here. He tries, he stumbles, he acts ambitious and confident, but seething below is an unprepared, very green young kid, who is still a bit bleary eyed at the big, bright world around him. There's another scene in a cafe where Rusty, Danny and Matsui (Robby Coltrane) are speaking in "code" about a heist they plan to pull. Of course the stuff is ludicrous, it's just a ruse to throw off Linus who tries like crazy to decipher what they're saying. When it comes time for him to talk; he looks at Danny and Rusty hopefully, then turns to Matsui and recites lyrics from "Stairway to Heaven."
By the way, Bruce Willis shows up, and can you believe nobody asks him when he is going to retire? What a wasted opportunity.
It leaves the franchise in a strange place. The ending indicates that they all went back to Vegas, scot free this time, and have the time of their lives. Maybe if there's an "Ocean's Thirteen" it'll be in Vegas, maybe this time with a bit less dram-uh, and a bit more of that sweet, swingin' stuff baby.
Movie Review: A Star-Studded Crime Caper Sequel....
Summary: 4 Stars
2001's Ocean's Eleven was a witty and clever remake of the 1960s Frank Sinatra classic. It featured a classy and glamorous cast of popular Hollywood icons including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon and the lovely Julia Roberts. Directed by the talented Steven Soderbergh(Out of Sight, Erin Brockovich), it became a worldwide hit crime caper movie recognized for its sharp dialogue and flairing style. Three years later, in 2004, nearly the entire wonderful cast of the first installment return along with exuberant director Steven Soderbergh, who this time travel all through Europe in search of riches. Professional thief Danny Ocean(Clooney), and his filthy-rich team of brilliant experts, which includes Rusty Ryan played by a cool Brad Pitt, and Tess Ocean, Danny's wife who would rather stay in the shadows about the con business, here played by the gorgeous megastar Julia Roberts. This time,though, they' re not stealing for their own sake, as the slick thieves have been threatened by casino master Terry Benedict, who gives them a limited amount of time to recooperate the money they originally stole from him in the first film or he promises to take care of the team in a grisly and unpleasing manner. The stakes are set higher this time around, as the gang travels through Amsterdam, Rome, and Paris looking for a way to steal millions of dollars so they can live, and also encounter a rival and increasingly jealous sly con artist(Vincent Cassel) who is making their alreday skillful jobs a little more difficult. The backdrops and scenery are lush, fresh, and vibrant bringing life to an already colorful film. The performances are magnificent, thanks to undeniable star power that blends flavorful character opera with rich and detailed situations their characters are placed in, and there are some intriguing cameos to spice things up. There are some brisk although tense chase and action scenes to keep the pace lively. Overall a worthy sequel to a savvy and thrilling predecessor. An entertaining and juicy heist dramedy that features Catherine Zeta-Jones who is absolutely fabulous in her role as a cunning and beautiful international detective hot on the criminal mastermind's trail. Steven Soderbergh has a keen eye for kinetic direction, with eye-catching shots of European city streets, pitch-perfect editing, and an outrageously interesting screenplay that will keep you experiencing loads of fun. All these elements are combined to create a glorious caper movie that will satisfy artistic moviegoers, and has sheer quality and entertainment value that is utterly enjoyable. The only bonus feature on the DVD version will be the film's original theatrical trailer that sparked anticipation for a movie that deserved attention. The DVD edition will be available in seperate Fullscreen and Anamorpic Widescreen formats. Rated PG-13 for language and running approximately 125 minutes in length.Movie Review: 12 not quite the new 11, but close
Summary: 4 Stars
Ocean's 12 starts where Ocean's 11 leaves off, 3 years earlier. Brad Pitt introduces us to the new character, Isabel (Catherine Zeta Jones), who just happens to be federal agent with a great lead on the heist pulled by the 11. Pitt's character, Rusty, flees the scene and we fast forward to the present.
We now catch up with the various members and current situations. Danny (George Clooney) and Tess (Julia Roberts) are now married and doing well. That is, until Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia) tracks them down. From here, he confronts every person that was involved in the heist and tells them he wants all of it back including interest over three years. So, the gang has to come up with a plan. Since they are too hot to work in the states, they head overseas to Amsterdam.
Here, they take a small job just to get started and learn that Benedict had help from another thief known as the Night Fox (Vincent Cassell). Danny and the Night Fox meet and make a bet as to who can steal an egg first. That will prove who the better thief is. Thus, the scheme begins.
Like Ocean'11, the movie takes us on a ride that keeps the audience guessing what is going to happen next, as well as racking the brain to try to pick up clues and hints along the way. Steven Soderbergh does another fantastic job directing the great looking cast.
Matt Damon's character, Linus, gets to use his wits a little bit more in this film. Yet, he still gets a little mixed up. This just continues the training that he received from Danny and Rusty in the first film. The film also includes a few cameos by people like Bruce Willis and...Julia Roberts???
Other members of the crew that gets laughs includes the Chinese "grease man" played by Shaobo Qin, Basher (Don Cheadle), and Frank (Bernie Mac). Like the trailers show, they are all back. This includes classic comedy actor Elliott Gould, Scott Caan, Casey Afleck, Carl Reiner, and Livingston Dell. Zeta Jones is a great addition to the already stunning looking cast. We later learn that she plays a crucial part in the film, even if she may not know it.
Even though the film is not as good or clever as the first, it still manages to entertain on its own. The star power only helps give it the slick look that it needs to keep the audience interested and satisfied.