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Ocean's Eleven (2001)

Director:
Steven Soderbergh
COUNTRY
USA/Australia
GENRE
Crime/Comedy/Action
NORWEGIAN TITLE
Ocean's Eleven
RUNNING TIME
116 minutes
Producer:
Jerry Weintraub
Screenwriter (based on the 1960 film):
Ted Griffin


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Danny Ocean George Clooney ½
Rusty Ryan Brad Pitt ½
Terry Benedict Andy Garcia
Tess Ocean Julia Roberts ½
Linus Caldwell Matt Damon
Frank Catton Bernie Mac ½
Reuben Tishkoff Elliott Gould
Virgil Malloy Casey Affleck ½
Turk Malloy Scott Caan ½
Livingston Dell Eddie Jemison ½
Yen Shaobo Qin
Saul Bloom Carl Reiner
Basher Tarr Don Cheadle
Billy Tim Denham Joe La Due
Casino Manager Michael Delano
Bulldog, the Bruiser Scott L. Schwartz
Cameos Angie Dickinson
Topher Grace
Joshua Jackson
Barry Watson
Shane West

 

Review

In effect, Steven Soderbergh's joyride Ocean's Eleven is more modelled after The Sting than after the original Rat Pack film from which it has lent its title. And if you're aiming to make a classic and clever heist movie, the said George Roy Hill film is definitely the right model. Ocean's Eleven is a cleverly plotted event-fest in a carelessly loose atmosphere – and it is good fun from start to finish, with the star ensemble revelling in each other's presence, delivering more charm than actual acting, which is all to great effect. Soderbergh has got style and 1970s homage on his mind, but in essence his achievement here is how he manages to keep his crowded picture so neat and simple, despite the film's constant movement. There's exhilarating pace and action, all without structural or narrative mess, and with the typical overblown effects replaced by good-old technological inventions (of more or less scientific accuracy). To say these characters are multi-layered would be pushing it, but they all have their purposed distinction which adds attraction and comedy without making them caricatured.

Copyright © 13.8.2008 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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