Review

Review Date: 10-June-07
Spoiler Rating: Medium
Juju Judgment: Just OK

Ocean's Thirteen (2007)

For some reason I feel justified dinging "Ocean's Thirteen" for being frivolous while at the same time anticipating the sequel of "Fantastic Four." Maybe it's because "Ocean's Thirteen" is outwardly classier and its director, Steven Soderbergh, once won an Oscar. Or maybe it's because my non-interest in gambling and criminals often dampens my enthusiasm for American entertainment. In any case, while I appreciated parts of the flick and flirted with giving it a "Juicy," it seems too shallow to recommend for theatrical viewing.

I'll say this for it, though: "Ocean's Thirteen" does try to make you care. Instead of brazenly assuming that its cooler-than-thou stars are draw enough, the movie begins with two motivations towards sympathy. First, it offers a flashback showing how a familiar old pal (Elliott Gould) of smooth burglar Danny Ocean (George Clooney) was swindled by a hotel baron named Willie Bank (Al Pacino), which prompts all of Danny's pals to converge on Las Vegas and plot revenge. Second, it suggests that these merry men are becoming obsolete, "analog players in a digital world," which generates nostalgia for the good old days when even crooks were snazzy and Frank Sinatra was king.

Bank is an easy target in that he is (a) getting ready to open a luxury casino, and (b) an egomaniac who loves laurels and toys. The tricky part is that he's ruthless and prepared for any attack. Danny and first mate Rusty (Brad Pitt) leave no stone unturned in mounting the offensive, going so far as to purchase the giant auger that built the Chunnel and partnering with their former nemesis (Andy Garcia). The ins and outs of their plan are intricate and largely superfluous, for the real show lies in Soderbergh's groove and the sweet progression towards inevitable payback. In addition, the laughs come as two members of the team get sidetracked by the plight of Mexican labor, and as a poor hotel critic (David Paymer) is unwittingly enlisted into Danny's cause. (The part with Matt Damon preying on Ellen Barkin and her cleavage doesn't play as well.) In the end "Ocean's Thirteen" is slicker than most summer movies but equally simplistic. Unless you are susceptible to the nostalgia described above, consider it a future rental.

Copyright © 2007 The Jujube (M. I. Kim). All rights reserved.