>>REVIEW
OCEAN’S THIRTEEN
STARRING George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Bernie Mac, Al Pacino and Brad Pitt
DIRECTED BY Steven Soderbergh
Opens Friday, June 8
Check listings
Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his criminal entourage resurface with a vengeance in a three-quel that will go down as one of the greatest heist films of all time. Just when we thought our favourite team of con-artists had cashed in enough winnings to live the American dream, the group’s mentor, Reuben Tishkoff (Elliot Gould), makes a deal with the devil, Willy Bank (Al Pacino). The action takes place in Las Vegas and the odds are double or nothing when Tishkoff’s business venture turns sour, sending him on a downward spiral and sparking a payback plan in the minds of his loyal colleagues. The intricate plot is laced with unexpected twists and turns, keeping the audience riveted right until the end.
Behind every successful man is a powerful woman, and for Willy Bank, his right-hand woman, Abigail Sponder (Ellen Barkin), would scare the cape off Cruella Deville. Surprisingly, she is the only woman in the film with a big role, but is well cast.
No modern day Robin Hood story would be complete without plenty of good deeds. Leave it to George Clooney and Brad Pitt to incorporate scenes that pay homage to humanitarian acts and their queen, Oprah Winfrey. Anyone with pop culture savvy will enjoy Clooney’s charitable sensitivity stemming from his trip to Darfur and Pitt’s comments on his life as a newlywed. The parallels between the characters in the film and the actors’ real selves give the film added depth.
Ocean’s Thirteen speaks to us on a human level about dignity, honour and trust. It is evident that the all-star cast had a blast shooting this film, and the audience will have just as much fun watching. |
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