You're Either In or You're Out
This movie is of course the remake of what is considered the best Rat Pack movie, Ocean's Eleven. However instead of using on again off again actors such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Peter Lawford, new director Steven Soderbergh made a wise choice in casting some people who call acting their only job. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Bernie Mac, Elliot Gould, Carl Reiner, and yes, Julia Roberts star in the remake. Needless to say this is one of the most star-studded movies ever.

Get In the Godd*** House
The story goes along the lines of the main character Daniel Ocean (Clooney) getting released from prison after serving a lengthy term for theft. Immediately after being released he heads straight for a casino in Atlantic City where he meets his old friend Frank (Bernie Mac), now under the name Ramon. Ramon and Danny used to do heists together before Danny got sent away, and so naturally Frank/Ramon is ready to roll again with Danny being out. After talking to his parole officer and assuring him that he will not leave the state, Danny heads off to LA to meet up with his best buddy in crime Rusty Ryan (Pitt). Danny and Rusty immediately cook up a plan to do their biggest heist ever. The only problem is that they are going to need about ten or eleven guys, and a lot of cash. But for them, this is not a problem as they know just the right eleven guys for the job including one that has more then enough money and motive to back their adventure. The job? To enter and the shared vault of the Bellagio, the Mirage, and the MGM Grand Casinos in Las Vegas, and steal the 150 million dollars inside. Most likely impossible, but hey, these guys seem cool enough to pull it off.

The House Takes You
This movie is definitely one of the most fun and playful movies to come out of hollywood in years. Credit this to Soderbergh who with his new found fame and credibility since being nominated for best director twice in the same year and walking away with an Oscar, has the clout to make just about any movie he wants. Also the fact that he seems to be friends with just about every major actor in Hollywood now, and the ones who aren't his pals are killing themselves (taking paycuts) to be in his movies. Normally a movie like Ocean's Eleven would probably cost like 200 million dollars to make; 20 million for Clooney, 20 million for Roberts, 15-20 million for Pitt, 10 million for Damon....that's 70 million for 4 actors right there! The others would probably cost another 20-30 million between them, so that's about 100 million, and we haven't even begun to talk about production costs yet! Rumor has it that Soderbergh got this movie made for around 70 million....a miracle!

Play that One Pefect Hand
This movie is pure fun. I left the theater smiling and wanting to watch it again and again. That is why it is perfect on DVD, which I just bought. The movie seems to bring back a bit of the old school Vegas style unlike today's theme-park, oldfolks Vegas. Clooney and Pitt gush with coolness and the others radiate around them. Roberts, who doesn't have a very big role, compliments the cast very nicely, and if nothing else, is certainly nice to look at. My one complaint with the DVD is that Universal really needs to look into making better DVD cases, the snap latch cases they have always seem to break, and just aren't nearly as sturdy as every other studio's DVD cases. That is my complaint with Ocean's Eleven, if you call that a complaint. Sure, the movie isn't flawless, the script could use a little more work, but the movie is so fun, and a major improvement over the original Ocean's Eleven, I've got nothing to complain about.


"Ted Nugent just called. He wants his shirt back."


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening