It is not often that I find myself cheering for the liars and thieves of the world in the same way that I would a superhero. Nevertheless, director Steven Soderbergh’s hit film, “Ocean’s Eleven” accomplishes this feat in a 2001 remake of the original 1960's film which starred Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. The modern take stays true to suave Hollywood glamour in using today’s brightest stars; a list that includes George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts in the leading roles. The film follows a crew of expert thieves and their attempts to plan a robbery involving the three biggest Las Vegas casinos and their vaults. As a result, it succeeds in delivering all of the elements of a classic heist thriller while being so much more.
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Because Benedict is painted as the villain, I find myself cheering for Ocean in spite of that fact that he is the thief, wishing for him to win back the girl of his dreams. The movie succeeds in defying the “hero and villain” archetypes and pulls the viewer into the story in an unexpected way. While Ocean may be a thief, he is charismatic, caring for those he loves, and protective of the ones close to him. On the other hand, Terry Benedict is cold, close-minded, and seems cruel - even though he is the one being stolen from. With each character having a unique talent that they contribute to the heist, it gives them an individuality and a different reason to love each one. For example, Linus (Matt Damon), is a pickpocket with introverted tendencies, while Virgil (Casey Affleck) and Turk (Scott Caan) play mechanic brothers with a knack for special effects. When combined with the suave Hollywood glamour of the characters and the actors who portray them, what’s not to …show more content…
For example, the lights of Las Vegas pay homage to the original movie and set the scene for the thriller. Neon Signs, shots of the Bellagio Hotel, and jazzy music keep the heart of the movie alive. A candy-like color scheme succeeds in delivering the stereotypical Las Vegas image: glitz, glamor, and gambling. Altogether, the elements almost give a Gatsby-like image, along with the carefree and suave personality of the main character. My favorite element in the movie, however, is the dramatic irony in which these audience knows what the characters are planning to do, whereas the other characters in the film are oblivious to this. Often I find myself figuring out the next step even before the crew does, but at the end, everything you think you know is thrown out of the window. The characters end up in situations I never see coming, and the explanations of how they get out of them and how they pull off the heist prove that nothing is too hard for the Ocean’s Eleven. As one can see, “Ocean’s Eleven” is a classic heist thriller that ends up being so much more. Following the story of ex-convict, Danny Ocean, it dives into the past of each character and what makes them unique. In doing this, the film succeeds in making the viewer love those with whom they are usually disgusted. All in all, the movie is a tasteful remake of an old classic that
Because Benedict is painted as the villain, I find myself cheering for Ocean in spite of that fact that he is the thief, wishing for him to win back the girl of his dreams. The movie succeeds in defying the “hero and villain” archetypes and pulls the viewer into the story in an unexpected way. While Ocean may be a thief, he is charismatic, caring for those he loves, and protective of the ones close to him. On the other hand, Terry Benedict is cold, close-minded, and seems cruel - even though he is the one being stolen from. With each character having a unique talent that they contribute to the heist, it gives them an individuality and a different reason to love each one. For example, Linus (Matt Damon), is a pickpocket with introverted tendencies, while Virgil (Casey Affleck) and Turk (Scott Caan) play mechanic brothers with a knack for special effects. When combined with the suave Hollywood glamour of the characters and the actors who portray them, what’s not to …show more content…
For example, the lights of Las Vegas pay homage to the original movie and set the scene for the thriller. Neon Signs, shots of the Bellagio Hotel, and jazzy music keep the heart of the movie alive. A candy-like color scheme succeeds in delivering the stereotypical Las Vegas image: glitz, glamor, and gambling. Altogether, the elements almost give a Gatsby-like image, along with the carefree and suave personality of the main character. My favorite element in the movie, however, is the dramatic irony in which these audience knows what the characters are planning to do, whereas the other characters in the film are oblivious to this. Often I find myself figuring out the next step even before the crew does, but at the end, everything you think you know is thrown out of the window. The characters end up in situations I never see coming, and the explanations of how they get out of them and how they pull off the heist prove that nothing is too hard for the Ocean’s Eleven. As one can see, “Ocean’s Eleven” is a classic heist thriller that ends up being so much more. Following the story of ex-convict, Danny Ocean, it dives into the past of each character and what makes them unique. In doing this, the film succeeds in making the viewer love those with whom they are usually disgusted. All in all, the movie is a tasteful remake of an old classic that