#11: Ocean’s Thirteen (2007) February 22, 2008
Posted by badblokebob in : Comedy, Thriller, Steven Soderbergh, Crime, 2000s, 3 stars, 2008 , add a comment2007 | Steven Soderbergh | 117 mins | DVD | PG / PG-13
Last year I reviewed Ocean’s Twelve, and came to the conclusion that it had been slightly harshly treated by critics — while not a patch on the first film, it was a decent enough heist romp. Now it’s the turn of last year’s threequel and, by contrast, I found it to be distinctly overrated.
In fact, I’d personally put Thirteen at about the same level as Twelve. The return to both a Las Vegas setting and the first’s glossy cinematography seem to have fooled many into thinking it’s more like Eleven, but the convoluted and over-long plot (needlessly complicated by some chronologically variable storytelling), relative lack of humour, over-abundance of under-used characters, and lacklustre finale bely the truth. Thirteen is Twelve with Eleven’s sheen. Its critical success relative to its immediate predecessor is, I think, another of the gang’s expertly executed cons.
#62: Ocean’s Twelve (2004) July 16, 2007
Posted by badblokebob in : Comedy, Thriller, Steven Soderbergh, Crime, 2000s, 3 stars, 2007 , add a comment2004 | Steven Soderbergh | 120 mins | DVD | 12 / PG-13
This all-star sequel to the 2001 Rat Pack re-make received a thorough slating from critics on release, mainly thanks to its New Wave influences (which are only clear if you’re familiar with said cinematic trend), grittier approach (it’s less shiny-glossy more grainy-film-stock — hardly Bourne-compared-to-Bond gritty) and the feeling that the cast are having more fun than the audience (this one I’ll allow). Aside from a few steps too far in the final act (such as Julia Roberts playing Tess playing Julia Roberts (funnier if it hadn’t been so specified) and the frankly irritating twist denouement) it’s still a pretty enjoyable film. But it’s true that the first is better.