(Also, keep your eyes peeled for a few familiar faces from the 2001 movie.) It's a delicate formula that director Gary Ross and his collaborators attempt to replicate with care.īut how was that balance between sly mockery and wink-ey nonchalance first achieved? Going back and re-watching Ocean's Eleven, which was Soderbergh's follow-up to 2000's double-Oscar nominated one-two punch of Erin Brockovich and Traffic, you'll notice a scene early in the movie that establishes the knowing, arch tone. This week's spin-off Ocean's 8, which stars Sandra Bullock as Danny Ocean's sister and introduces an all-women team of thieves attempting to steal diamonds during the Met Ball, continues the first trilogy's knack for inter-weaving playful, slightly meta cameos into a heist movie narrative.
In his review of director Steven Soderbergh's first entry, Roger Ebert described it as 'not a movie about suspense but about suavity.' The scenes glide by on old-school, floppy-collar movie star charm - the camaraderie between Clooney's ex-con Danny Ocean and Pitt's right-hand man Rusty Ryan is essential - but they also understand how to poke fun at celebrity in a way that doesn't come off as self-congratulatory. The Ocean's series, which kicked off with 2001's George Clooney-starring remake of the Rat Pack original from 1960 and continues with this week's Ocean's 8, makes you feel like you're part of the club.
