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Back Shelf Beauties
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Ocean's Twelve It's the coolest, hippest caper movie since Ocean's 11, which makes me very excited! Not excited like when I think of Natalie Portman or a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, but happy/excited to see a good, funny movie. George Clooney is back as Danny Ocean - master thief and leader of eleven conmen who pulled off the impossible Bellagio Hotel and Casino heist in 2001. While it appeared Danny and his pals made off with over $160 million, and became legends in their field, they couldn't stay hidden forever. Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), owner and manager of the Bellagio, wants his money back, with interest, and he has tracked down every member of Ocean's 11 with a very believable threat to their safety if they don't come through. Short on money and too hot to pull a job of this size in America, Danny, Rusty (Brad Pitt), Linus (Matt Damon), Frank (Bernie Mac) and the rest of the crew head to Europe, which poses a whole new set of problems. Can Ocean's 11 pull off another amazing and lucrative heist? Who is #12? The identity of #12 is a topic of much speculation, and director Steven Soderbergh doesn't make it easy for you to figure out as the movie rolls along. I'm not telling, so buy a ticket if the curiosity is killing you. However, Ocean's Twelve is one of the best movies I have seen all year, and a truly entertaining film in every sense of the word. Ocean's Twelve has everything you loved in the preceding remake (for you younger folks, Ocean's 11 was originally made in 1960 and starred Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack). Writer George Nolfi has provided a sharp script full of wicked one-liners, hilarious dialogue and a caper with plenty of twists and turns that keeps your mind engaged while your belly is laughing. Best of all, Nolfi puts us right in the middle of the caper, spinning our heads with every fake, double cross and bluff. Some of it might not be fair, but, if you watch very closely, little clues are dropped throughout the movie so the end is a surprise, but set up for those who caught on. And, you have to laugh as these career criminals start planning the heists and toss around hilariously named, tried and true scams in a language all of their own. Soderbergh energizes the film with great editing, and awesome music. He captures the exotic locales with a caring eye that adds to the ambiance and feel of the film. Ocean's Twelve feels like a luxurious 60's movie, but he also gives it a gritty look complete with the shaky camera work that is so en vogue over the past few years. The only slow scenes are the ones between Pitt and Catherine Zeta-Jones - a Europol agent who is the love of his life. The romance doesn't feel necessary, and leads to a predictable payoff. I guess they tries a little too hard to make Jones feel like part of the gang. Fabulous acting is the highlight of Ocean's Twelve. Every actor has a nonchalance and natural approach that brings you into the story like a fly on the wall, while they display some of the best comedic timing you will see in any movie, especially Pitt, Clooney and Damon. Thanks to Soderbergh and Nolfi, Ocean's Twelve is much more of an ensemble piece than Ocean's 11, with each character getting multiple opportunities to capture the spotlight. Supporting actors like Don Cheadle, Scott Caan, Elliott Gould, Julia Roberts and others get several opportunities to play on equal ground with Clooney/Pitt/Damon, and the cameo appearances are some of the funniest bits in the movie as some well known actors get to mock their earlier and current work. Ocean's Twelve is well worth the price of admission. 3 ¾ Waffles (Out Of 4) Copyright 2004 - WaffleMovies.com
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