Ocean's Thirteen

Release date: June 8, 2007
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Al Pacino, Ellen Barkin

This year will be remembered as the year of the threequel. While so far they've all been a little average, Ocean's Thirteen is more than that. It's fresh and as intelligent as the two prior versions. Many probably assumed that a film with this many A-listers would be sour by now, but their chemistry keeps getting better film after film.

Once again, Danny Ocean (Clooney) and the gang are caught up in a thievery scheme centered on revenge. After beloved friend and fellow scammer Reuben (Elliott Gould) is double crossed on a big hotel deal by heartless casino owner Willie Bank (Pacino), he becomes ill and is hospitalized.

Determined to avenge Reuben's misfortune, the crew reunites and an elaborate plan is put in place to foil the opening night of Bank's new casino. Their old tricks of breaking into a casino's vault by cutting a few wires and walking out with the cash won't cut it this time. Bank's hotel is built with a thought-to-be impenetrable security system equipped without wires. The only way to crack this machine is to create enough of a shock to the system that will give them three minutes to do what they do best — rob the bad guy blind without him knowing what happened. The question is, as always, how are they going to pull it off?

You're Telling ME To Take It Eaaasy!?
Perhaps the greatest strength in the series is that everyone plays their part well. Ryan (Pitt) is Danny's right-hand man and the co-brains behind the operation; Linus (Damon) is still a little odd and aloof, but an obvious genius; Basher (Don Cheadle) is the Brit with the technical expertise; Frank (Bernie Mac) once again steps up to the plate as the seasoned table dealer; Virgil and Turk (Casey Affleck and Scott Caan, respectively) are just as inseparable and mischievous as ever; and Saul (Carl Reiner) is the brilliant chameleon.

With the addition of a few other characters, such as Abigail Sponder (Barkin) as Bank's right-hand woman in charge of hotel operations and Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), a familiar nemesis, Ocean's Thirteen is a whirlwind ride from start to finish that keeps you guessing at every step. Though the build-up to the heist is essentially the entire film, the follow-through itself is worth the wait.

The split screen visuals during these scenes demonstrate why Steven Soderbergh is such an amazing director. Also, some unexpected plot twists and cameos later on add complexity to the plot. One knock against Ocean's Thirteen is that the impetus for the elaborate revenge ploy is a little weak. Second, if you think there's no way this heist could be pulled off in real life, you're probably right. But, the Ocean's series isn't about realism, it's about entertainment. On that basis, it serves its purpose.