Ocean's Thirteen

The third trip with this irresistible bunch should rather be the last. I'm not saying that I won't miss them occasionally, but there have been too many coincidences already and in the end, there aren't that many surprises. The Mexican revolution will be the most exciting, and of course, ambitious and unscrupulous Pacino. So, from relaxed entertainment, Danny and the gang have reached a easily digestible average. (08/08/2008)

The first film had heart, the second was empty, but its formal style was excellent and, with the help of the same ensemble, a quality musical score, and meticulously crafted details, it was still relatively watchable. The third one is the worst. It's not as big of a leap as between the first and second parts, but Danny Ocean's team is really struggling for the third time. The new face in the form of Al Pacino is definitely a plus, but this time the plot is even more convoluted and relatively unexciting and sterile, which is a big minus. Even the formal aspect is not as interesting as before. For fans of gentlemen in Armani suits, with gold rings on their fingers and big wads of banknotes in their wallets, it's a watchable and very average. For everyone else, it's already a quite worn out and exhausting rollercoaster ride that runs out of steam even while putting together the unbeatable heist plan. (31/01/2008)

These dice have been thrown so elegantly that, even though the same number appears on every side, it is still a pleasure to watch them fly to the end. Ocean’s Thirteen is an entertaining and charismatic flick that pleased me with Brad Pitt’s perfect suits, the sensually attractive MILF Ellen Barkin (doesn’t anyone have the recipe for that perfume?) and the skyscraper-hotel tycoon Al Pacino. Add in the perfect roles for Andy Garcia, Vincent Cassel and David Paymer, and of course Clooney’s smiling, cool-as-a-cucumber Danny Ocean. Steven Soderbergh did a great job with being in charge of a dozen stars, milking the potential of each one of them to the last drop, and even managed to chill while doing it. It’s not as amazing as the first installment (i.e. it’s easily forgettable and it’s enough to watch it once), but on the other hand, it’s easier to follow and more relaxed than the controversial second instalment. (30/06/2007)

Soderbergh hasn't done himself any favors. He went from schizophrenic to overstuffed, in which the audience had to look under a magnifying glass for jokes and good humor. So many robbery themes, and so many players on one field, and yet the film focuses more or less only on the characters of Danny and Rusty, and leaves the rest of the cast to drift by. Two hours of egotistical boredom, no balls, no perspective, and most importantly, no originality. Ocean's Thirteen gave me the impression the whole time that the characters were not stealing for fun, but to pay the rent. Sad. (29/09/2007)

A relaxing watch carried along again by the old customary crowd. Surprisingly, I didn’t much like Al Pacino (but maybe that was due to the badly chosen voice in the dubbed version I watched) and he even lost some of his wickedness that we know and love. On the other hand, I really enjoyed the end. I’m just pleased when a plan goes right. :) (08/05/2010)