I expected more from 'the cast to die for'.

Rating: 8/10 (22 February 2002)

Having seen the original from 1960 with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr (and knowing that to be okay, but easy to improve on), I expected this updated version to be, well, better!
In my opinion 'the cast to die for', just died! George Clooney plays himself, much the same as his character in Out Of Sight. Brad Pitt puts in a very mediocre performance by Brad Pitt standards (but this could never be as good as his 'Fight Club' or 'Twelve Monkeys' or even his 'Se7en'). Julia Roberts is just there for eye-candy (enough said). Matt Damon just looked like he was strolling though this, not a patch on his performances in Good Will Hunting or Dogma (then again both had better screenplays). Andy Garcia is probably the best of the top-billed actors, but playing a character with a reputation for being evil I wished he could have shown more of an evil side. The supporting actors were better. Scott Caan and Casey Affleck were probably the best and funniest characters and Elliott Gould put in a memorable and amusing performance. Worst of the supporting actors was Don Cheadle (but not for his acting abilities), for some unknown reason they took an American and decided to put a Cockney accent on him! Why ? What was the point ? No wonder he decided to appear 'uncredited'.
Saying all that the film kept going at the same pace throughout and never died at all. When I saw this at least 75% of the audience were women (no shocks there!)and I'm sure they loved the film.
I just expected more from 'the cast to die for'. Or maybe 'the cast to die for' needed 'a screenplay to die for'.