The Latter Day Rat Pack is Back

Rating: 7/10 (17 September 2007)

Java Man Reviews "Ocean's Thirteen" (2007, PG-13) Directed by Steven Soderbergh. Written by Brian Koppelman and David Levine. Starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Ellen Barkin, Al Pacino, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Carl Reiner, Elliott Gould & David Paymer. Running Time: 122 minutes. Originally appeared in LakewoodBuzz.com.
OVERVIEW:
Danny Ocean (Clooney) and his latter day rat pack are back in Vegas for another high-stakes caper, this time with a new mark, Willy Bank (Pacino). Bank has swindled Reuben Tishkoff (Gould) out of his partnership share in a new casino and the resulting shock has put Reuben into the ICU. Danny and Rusty (Pitt) gather the gang together to avenge their old pal, and even hope a successful score may bring Reuben back from death's door. The idea is to sabotage the casino's opening night, filch Bank's fortune, ruin his reputation and get to the hospital in time to give Reuben the good news. Of course Bank's empire and all of its sophisticated systems are impregnable, but that's just one more challenge for Danny and his team (and for the screenwriters). Dice are magnetized in Mexico, shufflers and slot machines are rigged, a camera is hidden in Bank's office--but these are just routine tasks for the Thirteen. To make it all work, they must get Bank's computers to shut down for three minutes--and that would take an earthquake.
REVIEW: 3 JAVA MUGS OUT OF 4
When Reuben learns of Bank's treachery,he tells him that "You and I both shook Sinatra's hand, and there's a code among the guys who shook Sinatra's hand." The image of "Ol' Blue Eyes" (who also starred in the 1960 original) still looms large in Las Vegas. Whether it was his classy song stylings or his purported mob connections, the man owned that town. So when the swindler rudely replies "Screw Sinatra's hand," you know that Willy Bank will not long rule in the kingdom of cool.
Pacino and Barkin, who burned up the screen in 1989's Sea of Love, make impressive villains and are welcome additions to the company. With a cast this stellar and a master filmmaker at the helm, there's no need to worry too much about the story. Just enjoy some of today's biggest stars in their best Armani duds as they swagger through the streets of Sin City.
One or two of the subplots add interest, especially Bank's obsessive desire to gain a Five Diamond Award for his new operation. Sal Bloom (Reiner) poses as the evaluator, while the real rater (Paymer) is hilariously mistreated by some of the Ocean crew masquerading as hotel staff.
One quibble: A few more women in the cast wouldn't hurt, though I certainly have no complaints about Barkin; it's just that last time out we had Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Next time, how about a prequel? Say Ocean's Five or Six, so I won't have to keep track of so many characters.