To George and Brad: yes, you are starring in a remake of the 60s rat pack classic but Sinatra and Dino you ain’t. Okay Ocean’s 13 isn’t that bad, in fact marginally better than 12, but these actors do not have the class or history to be going for nostalgic yearning and displacement in the technical age (why can’t things be the way they were, back in the golden years of E.R. and Legends of the Fall? Sorry doesn’t work). Also, I know you guys are friends in real life and all, but the extra-textual references (George to Brad “why don’t you go have a few kids”) only add to the ever amassing smug cloud (those South Park guys are smarter than you think).
Other than that, a decent mindless time at the movies. Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin waddling around and barking like orange prunes is high humour. The plot is all caper no character, a wise decision considering the gigantic cast. The whole film is like watching a dozens turds fly towards a fan in slow motion, the fun is in guessing how much shit will get on the wall. Sadly, the final payoff is too tidy and predictable, so all we’re left with is Soderbergh’s twinkling Casino decor.
5.5/10
1 Response to “Ocean's 13”