Ocean’s Eleven is a 2001 heist thriller and remake of a 1960s film that kicked off a series that is soon to get an all-female reboot.
THE STORY: Fresh out of prison, confidence man Danny Ocean (George Clooney) jumps right back into the game, violating parole and heading to Las Vegas with his former partner in crime Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt). The plan? Rob three casinos, the Bellagio, The Mirage, and the MGM Grand, who all happen to be owned by the same man, Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia). The two assemble nine others, each specializing in specific skills (from pickpocketing to acrobatics) that will be vital for the team’s success, though halfway through planning they discover the very reason why Danny plotted his scheme, and it isn’t just for the hundred sixty million dollars sitting in the vault.
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writers: George Clayton Johnson, Jack Golden Russell
Stars: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Scott Caan, Casey Affleck, Carl Reiner, Elliott Gould
THE RUNDOWN: Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Ocean’s Eleven is a light comedy that has little to do with story – since its outcome is a given – so packs its runtime with all chemistry, loading the cast with plenty of punch. With so many to keep track of, it’d seem too much to juggle but Soderbergh’s greatest achievement is how easy it all is in following, the audiences falling safely into the whole caper without any fear of worrying about the details. That said, while it’s jazzy and hip, it still has a few clever misdirections to keep us on our toes and wins the day with pure cinema fun.
The cast may have you seeing stars, but the real reason to watch is Soderbergh’s superb direction, able to keep all the plates spinning so well, waiting to see how it all comes together is the best part.
It’s not exactly deep and every single character is so broadly defined, especially the villain, it’s swimming in shallow waters.
THAT MOMENT: In it to win it, Danny surely wants to get that money, but we soon learn, thanks to a little mistrust on Rusty’s part, that his pal has ulterior motives. You see, Benedict not only has a vice grip on the Las Vegas casino racket, pushing out others and having a hand in ruthlessly closing down others, he’s also got a beautiful girlfriend, which would seem inconsequential, however she’s not just any woman off the strip. No. She’s Danny’s ex-wife Tess (Julia Roberts) and that’s make all the difference.
First, why Tess, whom we come to find out is not only lovely, but intelligent and talented, would want anything to do with a jerk like Terry is never really explained to matter, but that’s not important, only that Danny woos her back. To get that started, he decides to let her know that he’s in town and does so by walking right into the casino hotel he’s soon to rob and announce he’s here for her.
Tess and Terry are about to have diner in the hotel restaurant, though he’s late, something that seems to be fairly typical. Either way, Danny walks right and before saying a word, puts his hand on her shoulder, which she thinks is Terry’s … and it’s right here I want to just pause and freeze frame the film:
Look at that face. This is the only moment in the entire film where we see a hint of something in Tess that shows she genuinely has affections for Terry and honestly, it looks authentic. Throughout the movie, Terry is generally a very bad guy, abrasive, cold, outright avoiding any public recognition of their relationship. He even refuses her a gentle kiss in the hotel art gallery by noting the cameras and reminding her that someone is always watching. I like this image because of all the characters in this movie it is Tess who reveals the greatest depth, starting right here. And then, when she sees that it is in fact Danny who has come to the table, we get this:
Again, look at that face. She asks, “What are you doing here?” and it’s not hostile but rather jarring, and you can see right in her eyes the sudden torrent of emotional unrest that sweeps over her, weakening her … but not for long.
Danny sits and the two have a little back and forth banter that hints at the kind of relationship they once had, and even as it’s a little testy, you can definitely feel the spark that brought them together in the first place. This is a great acting. Danny doesn’t mince words, telling her straight out that he’s here for her, that he wants to move on with his life and have her with him. She’s not willing to agree though, calling him a thief and a liar (she’s right), and that’s she’s with Benedict now (also right), though that last part doesn’t quite strike with the impact she probably hoped it would.
Then we get one of the best lines in the movie. Danny asks her if Terry makes her laugh. She pauses with a bitter eye before saying:
He doesn’t make me cry.
I love that line. It’s right here where we finally get a larger picture of who Tess is and what she’s been through, and for the first (and only) time in the film, the smooth and dapper Danny gets a chink in that shiny armor. For those paying attention, which admittedly might be hard since this is a comedy and Danny has been nothing but charming and even funny. While he is obviously a very good thief, we realize that he hasn’t been the best person, at least to the woman he married.
WHY IT MATTERS: Certainly, the point is that Danny wants to make up for this, and may even recognize why she has run into the security of Terry, even if she might not have deeper feelings for him. This moment is the entire reason the film exists, the purpose behind the heist and the motivation for everything that follows. What I like about this is how easily we get pulled into the hijinks of these eleven men and their schemes but never lose sight of Tess, even if she is mostly left in the peripheral. It’s remarkable how one woman dominates a story so centered on the titular eleven men. Ocean’s Eleven is a fun and lighthearted adventure, but pay attention to this moment in the restaurant where it’s all about Tess. It means everything.