Totally engrossing, entertaining, classy movie entertainment.

Rating: Null/10 (29 December 2001)

The original Oceans 11 wasn't really a very good movie. It had the cache of the Rat Pack, those entertainers who, led by Sinatra's star power, embodied for America a blend of 30's and 40's show biz and star system glitz, with a new elite 50's cool, hip, carefree. They were recognizably powerful and influential both culturally and politically. Those guys seemed to be behaving at their public personas while they were supposed to be acting.
In the 2001 Oceans 11, we get hot Hollywood stars who are also really fine actors and whose crafted performances embody all the easygoing bravado of the original rat packers. It's a skillful accommodation of the tone first film and it works magnificently. Under the sophisticated and sure hand of one of the best and most versatile modern directors, Steven Soderburg the millennial star power of Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Carl Riener, Elloit Gould, Don Cheadle, and Andy Garcia is under control. The script is clever and compact. You don't ever question the verisimilitude of what's going on because the movie creates such a convincing world for itself. The audience can forget the improbabilities and go for the ride. The soundtrack creates hints of cool 50's movie music. The look is snazzy and electric. Soderburg keeps the camera alive while avoiding the headache inducing jump cuts, fast motion zooms, and other such tricks that are too often used by other less assured modern directors. I think the real joy is the satisfaction of seeing that these million dollar actors really are good at what they do and seem to have a great time doing it. They allow the audience in on the fun. The old veterans are especially good. Elliot Gould's Jewish gangster sets a witty standard for that type. Carl Reiner is wonderfully convincing as a seasoned but weary pro. And Julia Roberts, in true 50's fashion, is credited as '..and introducing Julia Roberts' .Cool.