The Barbeardian

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

In recent cinematic history, you would be hard-pressed to find a movie with more panache, character, and out-and-out slickness than Ocean's Eleven. In this 2001 Steven Soderbergh remake of the 1960 Rat Pack flick, we're given a motley crew that rivals even Frankie and the gang.

We find Danny Ocean, played here by George Clooney, recently released from prison, and on a mission to rob all three casinos owned by the man who stole his wife - Terry Benedict, played by Andy Garcia. Ocean knows how seemingly impossible it is to knock over one casino, much less three - all in one night. To make the impossible possible Ocean collaborates with his old partner in crime Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt), in assembling a crew for the job to end all jobs.

These eleven guys then construct a con-job comparable to a Rube Goldberg machine. There are so many places where the entire plan could go sideways in a flash, that as an audience member you are continually wondering what every next step is going to be and how it might go tits up.

All of the eleven in the crew have such a brilliant chemistry together, which sells the whole movie. Every man has their place and purpose, and no one seems unnecessary or extra filler. The comradery between these guys makes you feel like, as elaborate and crazy this machine is, all of them together are the grease that lets the whole thing work.

Grease is a great word to describe every single one of these gents. Because from hilt to tip, to the very last frame of film, they are fucking slick. Ocean and Rusty both ooze confidence in a way that lets everyone in the room know they have their shit under control. And even when it looked like it was out of control? They were the ones that made it look that way. Quick cuts and costume changes keep the pace and plot moving and constantly twisting, which is why by the end, when they do finally pull it all off, even though they stole it, you feel like they deserve every damn dime.

Ocean's Eleven has a perfect ambiance and rhythm, great dialog and an almost never-ending basket of memorable characters. It has become the modern standard for cool and can't even be compared in the same league with other heist movies, because baby, this one is the tops.