Better than the disastrous sequel.
Ocean's Thirteen (2007)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:192
Fresh:133
Rotten:59
Average Rating:6.3/10
Consensus: Ocean's Thirteen reverts to the formula of the first installment, and the result is another slick and entertaining heist film.
Theatrical Release:08-06-2007
Synopsis: The third installment of Steven Soderbergh's slick, star-studded heist series just might be the best, as Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and company pull off another elaborate caper, this time in the... The third installment of Steven Soderbergh's slick, star-studded heist series just might be the best, as Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and company pull off another elaborate caper, this time in the name of revenge. Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould), one of Ocean's original eleven, lies nearly comatose after a myocardial infarction brought on by shock. His dreams of regaining his former glory on the Vegas strip have been dashed by the dastardly Willie Bank (Al Pacino), with whom Reuben foolishly went into business to build the biggest and flashiest casino the the world has ever seen. Bank took Reuben for all he was worth, and now, the famously loyal thirteen won't rest until Bank has been brought down. They execute this noble cause through complex, daring, and brilliant machinations that make the most of everyone's talents, including Yen's (Shaobo Qin) acrobatics, Linus's (Matt Damon) acting abilities, and Basher's (Don Cheadle) heavy machinery. Virgil and Turk Malloy (Casey Affleck and Scott Caan) get a few hilarious moments as they brew up a revolution in a Mexican plastics plant, while Rusty (Brad Pitt) and Danny coolly preside over the action like omniscient, infallible deities, always about three steps ahead of the game. The villain's downfall is utterly satisfying due to the pure capitalist evil channelled by Pacino, while Ellen Barkin vamps it up as Bank's "cougar" of an assistant. The camaraderie of the thirteen lends heart to these cool criminals, best captured by the sappy letters Basher sends Reuben, which ultimately bring him back to life. Vegas is effectively captured through seamless editing and beautiful photography, with the trappings of uber-wealth making the fantasy even more fantastical. [More]
Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Casey Affleck
Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, Bernie Mac, Ellen Barkin, Scott Caan, Elliott Gould, Don Cheadle, Al Pacino
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Screenwriter: David Levien, Brian Koppelman
Producer: Jerry Weintraub
Composer: David Holmes
Studio: Warner Bros.
Reviews for Ocean's Thirteen
Fantastically smug, empty picture, which comes complete with a nasty-tasting dab of misogyny.
There is one small bit of good news about Ocean's Thirteen: it's not as bad as Ocean's Twelve. But when you consider just how dismal the latter was, this nugget will hardly be cause for rejoicing.
Returning to Las Vegas but losing its winning streak, Ocean's Thirteen lets Soderbergh and the boys take a final bow while proving it is possible to have too much of a good thing.
Funny, finely-tuned and flashier than an Essex boy on a night out in Romford . . . GO SEE!
But while it’s an improvement on the last movie, Ocean’s 12, it’s not quite in the same league as the first film, Ocean’s 11, principally because the storyline is the same and the sheer buzz of seeing so many megastars sharing the same screen has worn off
Thematically, though, this is an improvement on its forebears, mainly due to the way it deals – much like Scorsese’s best work – with the archaic nature of the criminal set.
Trapped by the very conventions it created, Ocean's Thirteen is a disappointing fake. One last job? Sure… but it's a hack job.
You can beat the house and you can break the bank, but sequels always get long odds on defeating the law of diminishing returns -- yet Ocean’s Thirteen just about pulls it off.
As ever the chemistry between the lads -- especially Clooney and Pitt -- keeps the rhythm snappy, and this time, the emphasis on friendship and loyalty makes them easy to root for.
Sure, it couldn't be much more self-indulgent, but the fun is infectious.
Marks a return to form after the self-indulgent tomfoolery of its globe-hopping predecessor, even if the revenge heist scenario now feels very tired.
This is Soderbergh’s point: that fiendishly clever new gadgets can work with old-fashioned morals to brilliant effect. We forget that at our peril. This point alone is reason enough why Ocean’s Thirteen is the best of Soderbergh’s heists.
Now there's just self-fondling fizz -- no, not even that, just a kind of quasi-Zen petulance palmed off as 'cool'
A pastry of a movie, airy, insubstantial, and meant to fill in the gaps between heartier meals.
These actors have the characters they play down pat, and as long as they come up with some reason to pull off a heist, I'll be watching.
Ocean's Thirteen is one long set-up for a wholly unsatisfying and impotent climax.
While it in no critical area improves upon the magic of its deliriously watchable original installment, it's flashier and funnier than expected.
Like a few dirty martinis, you won't remember much of it the next day, but it was pretty fun while it lasted.
Basically, what you get with Ocean's Thirteen is more of the same, but less.
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