"Ocean's" series finds its swagger with third installment

Rating: 7/10 (26 January 2008)

There aren't really any shocking twists or deceptive mind games in "Ocean's Thirteen," but it's cool, it's clever, it's fun and it's way better than "Ocean's Twelve."
The all-star cast needs no mentioning other than the loss of Julia Roberts and the addition of another Italian casino bigwig in Al Pacino. I suppose we can look forward to Robert DeNiro in "Ocean's Fourteen."
This time, the gang is motivated by revenge for Pacino's character William Bank screwing over Elliot Gould's character (one of the thirteen) and causing him a near-death experience. The idea is simply to get even with Bank by making his casino a huge loser. The plot has no extra meat and it's swift and to the point. From the very beginning it's all about the plan, which it seems the new writers realized is the heart and soul of this "franchise." You get your money's worth in conning, hacking and machine rigging to say the least.
Outside of the solid, interesting but otherwise simple plot, director Steven Soderbergh decides to really seize more creative freedom in this film. There are a variety of interesting techniques used and the montage-style scenes have a very 1970s Las Vegas feel, which of course hinges more on the success of the original remake. You feel like you're watching an "Ocean's" film just because of the distinct style. It's a fun, cool feel and the cast looks like it's having a blast on set.
Bottom line is "Ocean's Thirteen" is quality entertainment that really rights the ship with the series by bringing its groove back. It solidifies the unique stamp that the series has on Hollywood that will scarcely be touched.