On the edge of my seat...READY TO LEAVE!!

Rating: 4/10 (13 December 2001)

OCEAN'S ELEVEN is Soderbergh's worst film. A huge disappointment. That said and out of the way, it was average.
This was your average "heist" film, and from anyone else might
have been forgivable. Well, with his track record of excellence, thus
far, I guess Soderbergh has been long overdue for something
mediocre. TRAFFIC almost filled that position, but this film has
definitely won out for the bottom of the heap. In other comparisons,
it does not even approach PAYBACK or THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR in script, direction, cinematography or acting...don't be
fooled by anyone that says it's close.
The cast had fun filming this, they say, and it shows. I don't know
what it is, but every time I hear a cast say what fun it was to make
the movie, it seems to be in direct opposition to how good the
movie turns out. I saw a blurb that said they worked an average of
six (6) hours a day on this thing...and it shows.
There was not a single surprise through the entire film. No, I have
not seen the original, but I have seen movies before. If you have
never seen a movie before, or have forgotten all those you have
already seen, you may find this one entertaining. If your idea of a
"good and complex" storyline is MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, then you
will probably like this.
If, however, you have liked all of Soderbergh's previous films, I will
be surprised if you don't find this disappointing. The film has only
one thing that stands out, and that is the soundtrack...which is a
rehash of the soundtrack used in OUT OF SIGHT. The writing is
uninspired, the directing is competent (but uninspired), the acting
is phoned in, the ... oh, who cares? They had fun making it!