Another Soderbergh Stroke of Genius

Rating: Null/10 (8 December 2001)

What's there not to love about Steven Soderbergh's remake of the 1960's heist flick "Ocean's 11"? As soon as word got out about the project (and cast) I was waiting impatiently to see this one. And it didn't disappoint.
Yes, the cast is fantastic, though Roberts' role is surpringly limited. Clooney plays the same type of slick charmer role he did in "Out of Sight," perhaps with the idea that those who (mistakenly) passed on that film will see this one. Not a bad idea when you think about it. Damon is very Ripley-like. The surprises come from Pitt, Cheadle, and Carl Reiner. This is one of Pitt's best performances; this is no action role for him. Instead, he too has to put on the charm, in slick shirts and suits, to keep up with Clooney, and he pulls it off. Don Cheadle is also great--one of the most underrated actors around--putting on an Irish/Brit accent as a demolition expert. And then there's Carl Reiner, playing Saul (the name's a bit of irony), the most "unreliable" of the 11 robbers. One never knows what he's going to do, or not do, in the process of the robbery. Elliot Gould is also good.
One bit of comic genius in the film (and why was I the only one laughing in the theater?): Brad Pitt trying to teach a bunch of young actors (Joshua Jackson, Holly Marie Combs, Topher Grace, et al PLAYING THEMSELVES!!!!) how to play poker. A great touch.