Ocean's Eleven

Consider this: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon and Andy Garcia. In one movie. Need we say more?

Ocean's Eleven is a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack movie with the same name. Danny Ocean (Clooney), fresh out of prison, sets up a dream robbery: the vaults of three Las Vegas casinos, all in one night. To ensure his success, he enlists the help of no less than ten other criminals, including card magician Rusty Ryan (Pitt), infallible pickpocket Linus Caldwell (Damon) and ingenious pyrotechnician Basher Tarr (Don Cheadle). The rules: no blood, steal only from those who deserve it and act as if you have nothing to lose.

The casinos are far from randomly chosen. Not only do they hold large amounts of money just waiting to be stolen during a much-anticipated boxing match, but they are all run by the ruthless Terry Benedict (Garcia), who also happens to have taken an interest in Ocean's beautiful ex-wife Tess (Roberts).

The main actors need little introduction. Clooney delivers a performance just as charming and classy as always. Pitt demonstrates yet again that below his pretty-boy looks, he has some real acting talent, portraying Rusty Ryan with great style and precision. Roberts' role is fairly small, but that doesn't prevent her from playing Ocean's ex-wife to a tee.

Director Steven Soderbergh is behind box office hits such as Erin Brockovich and Traffic. Ocean's Eleven is perhaps not as serious as these, but is no less of a classic. Soderbergh has managed to avoid the usual pitfalls of sex, violence and dull dialogue. The film could easily have hinged on its headlining actors alone, but luckily it doesn't. Instead, it is filled with unexpected plot twists and plenty of humour and romance. Fast-paced and effortlessly cool, Ocean's Eleven is a movie that is both memorable and stylish, and most definitely worth watching.

Martin Aspeli