Ocean's 12

© 2004 Warner Bros.
directed by: Steven Soderbergh
written by: George Nolfi
starring: George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Don Cheadle, Vincent Cassel, Andy Garcia, Carl Reiner, Elliott Gould, Scott Caan, Bernie Mac, Casey Affleck, Cherry Jones, etc
U.S. Theatrical B.O.: $125,402,117
cumulative critic score on Rotten Tomatoes: 56% positive (out of 163 reviews)

J.R. Jones of Chicago Reader: "George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and director Steven Soderbergh went to Amsterdam and Rome, and all I got was this lousy movie." That’s how I felt about the first one even though everybody went to Vegas. But in the sequel they go to the Celebrity Self-Critique room off the Postmodern Hall of Mirrors, and it was pretty all right. Plus I don't equate 'movie' with 'plot' so I also don't equate a movie's disregard for its own story with cinemasturbation. Tangent scenes (such as the bored bickering at the train depot, awaiting word on lost luggage (Shaobo Qin)) are the main attraction as Soderbergh loosens up and flexes his Altman (i.e. interpersonal) muscles, heightening my personal enjoyment by transposing corporate workplace dynamic onto irreverent criminals. Other improvements from the original remake include a transfer of romance from Clooney/Roberts (stuffy ex-hubby stuff) to Pitt/Zeta-Jones (playful game-playing) and a transformation of Matt Damon from insolent upstart to eager beaver kiss ass. Instances of joint-CEOs Clooney & Pitt fucking with underling Damon’s attempts at upward mobility are especially entertaining. Ocean’s 12 also ups the ante on cameos and Hollywood self-referentiality without falling on its face, w/ Topher Grace gracing us again and Julia Roberts in an indeterminate state of star/fan/actress/character as she orbits around celebrity prop Bruce Willis. In addition to French new wave editing and camerawork, Soderbergh also employs Vermeer’s lighting techniques throughout. This was pointed out to me later by absent movie companion Stacey B., since I apparently slept through the Dutch Masters portion of art history class back in the day. Meanwhile friend Alex text messaged me while I was in the theater: "Im [sic] In the back seat of my Moms [sic] car. were [sic] in a snow storm but still we persevere to see oceans [sic] 12." I thumbtyped back "I am in oceans [sic] 12 as we speak its [sic] way good." Alex: "Your [sic] lying. How can you be in the movie and text message at the same time? It cant [sic] be that good if your [sic] text messaging during it." Me: "Dude bruce willis just cameod [sic]." Alex: "You are such a liar. You saw it yesterday." Dan: "Whatever if you cant [sic] suspend your disbelief you wont [sic] enjoy it." Alex: "So what exactly makes this picture so good other than cameo appearances by oddly attractive republicans." Dan: "Shh not during the movie." After the movie I told my sister she should date Matt Damon, but she thought maybe he was too short for her.

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© 2005-06 Sinlechuga / Dan Hoy