Oceans Twelve

Rating: 8/10 (4 May 2002)

I really really really enjoyed this film. Ok, its not profoundly moving....not even profoundly well made. It is, however, brilliantly paced. Forget all that Mission Impossible split second precision. Forget the high tech hullaballo of the James Bond films. This film nods graciously in those directions ...and takes on a direction entirely of its own. I'd love to say the pace is "gentlemanly" ...but that may point the way of ...yuk ...Evelyn Waugh novels and scones with clotted cream. George Clooney is slick ..yet not super slick. The odd wart manages to come up above the surface. Brad Pitt finally manages to look vaguely his 37 years ...which may not be such a bad thing. Clearly, casino lighting is to be avoided after 35. The music is brilliant. Predominantly kitsch lounge music. Good enough for me to go out and buy the CD. The inspiration is clearly the brat pack ...plenty of Frank, Sammy and Dino ..and ..err whoever else was there at the time. But slickly packaged. The Low Tech era is here . Maybe MI3 can learn a few lessons here.