Better than 12, that's for sure!

Rating: 8/10 (18 June 2007)

In all fairness, Ocean's Twelve wasn't that bad: it was slick, well acted and fun, although it was evident that the script had been put together as an excuse for Clooney et al to have fun in Europe for a couple of months, the result being a bit of a mess. Thankfully, Ocean's Thirteen is better: there's only one job, we're back in Vegas and there are no ridiculous contrivances (well, maybe one or two, but the movie is too damn enjoyable for the audience to start questioning the logic).
Most importantly, though, the premise is much more interesting: whereas in Twelve the gang pulled off a series of heists in order to survive, this time round they are driven by revenge. The victim is Willy Bank (Al Pacino), a sleazy hotel owner who has put Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould), one of the original eleven, out of business, causing him a heart attack. Because of this, Danny (George Clooney), Rusty (Brad Pitt), Linus (Matt Damon) and the others (minus Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones, who are left out since "it's not their fight") decide to get back at Bank by ruining the opening of his newest hotel/casino, only given the target (there's a virtually invincible security system, called Greco) they are going to need some extra help in the shape of Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), whose loyalty is questionable to say the least. But with the clock ticking and a dozen of things that could go wrong, he is probably the last person to worry about.
Being back in Vegas really ensures director Steven Soderbergh and his cast are able to feel at home: the camera movements, the editing and the performances are more confident and less smug (in a good way, of course) than they were in the previous film, which however does not mean there isn't time for an in-joke or two (Damon's fake nose being the standout). The plotting is as ingenious as in Ocean's Eleven, although the writers make a huge mistake explaining every single step of the procedure in the first thirty minutes: after a while, it just becomes too much for any viewer to pay attention to. It is all compensated by the following hour and a half: the wit is as sharp as ever, the set-pieces are brilliant and visually delightful, and all thirteen cast members get their moment in the spotlight (among the "minor" players, Casey Affleck and Scott Caan are the most memorable), Damon in particular completing the transformation he went through in the first two movies, turning Linus from a nervous learner to a con-man worthy of the name. And what about Pacino? Most of the pre-release hype focused on him, and it has to be said that it was fully justified: the former Michael Corleone is one hell of a villain. Sure, he does get excellent support from Ellen Barkin, but if it weren't for the combined effort of Clooney, Pitt and Damon he would walk away with the entire movie, fearless, proud and merciless (the scene where he squares off with the leading man has to be his best moment in years).
So, to sum it all up: Eleven - near flawless; Twelve - amusing but a bit uneven; Thirteen - not exactly on par with the first one, but worth your money nonetheless.