[RobertWood]

Another in a series of what is becoming a new genre of caper films (Payback, The Score, Heist, etc.) Thoroughly lowbrow. Thoroughly implausible. And thoroughly entertaining.


Much is distinctive about these films. The finely honed dialogue which pushes the envelope of urban cool and street hip. Really memorable lines (magician/actor Ricky Jay's great line in Heist: "My man is so cool that when the sheep go to sleep they count him"). The pervasive use of both superstar actors and skilled character players.

Ocean's Eleven steps pleasingly out of the box and casts Elliot Gould and Carl Reiner in character roles played to perfection. I confess. I like these flicks.


But the one really remarkable element in all these films is the music. Who can forget the haunting soundtrack in Payback. Create a great lick and make it the film's trademark. It permeates throughout the movie. From beginning to end. And what was used so effectively in Payback was very successfuly used again in Score and Heist. Sheer ear candy.

Ocean's Eleven takes that staccato and peremptory soundtrack music to even another level. It never never lets up. Funky, hip and fully orchestrated to perfection. Movie music which continuously punctuates the action on the screen. I love it.


Bob Wood

 

[Karnis]

I totally agree. Good fun movie, and it was nice to see Soderburg "loosen his tie" a bit an make an enjoyable, audience accessible caper flick.

 

[uncle eric]

Bob,

Great review and I entirely agree. Thouroughly entertaining throughout.


Eric

 

[Glenn_L]

And the commentary with Pitt, Damon, and Garcia is a lot of fun too!

 

[jdb]

I was scratching my head last night trying to remember the first time I really noticed a strong theme track sparkling through-out most of the scenes.

Gotta be American Beauty.


As for the remake of "Eleven" I was tickled after hearing a Terri Gross, (NPR Fresh air) interview stating an intended difference I noticed while watching the "new" movie.


The re-characters are not over- glamorous, bigger then life, icons that the most I, as a viewer, could ever hope for is to be their tax accountants, no that's stupid, strike that, then I could handle their dry cleaning.


In the orig. I could no more pretend I was one of those guys up on the screen, then I can now sit here and speak French. But in this version, heck, I could be just about anyone of these goof balls - if I had a singular talent, some nerve, or a big pool with gobs of money.


"You made me touch you." Gotta be one of the most idiotic lines ...but one that causes the sudden "cover mouth with hand" motion in an attempt to stifle a burst of laughter when it flitters back to lit on my frontal lobe.


Or what's left of it, jdb

 

[RobertWood]

I much prefer the remake to the original (even though I'm in the old fart generation which usually always wants to stay stuck in the "good old days").

In hindsight, Sinatra and Company were not much better than a pack of surly alcoholics acting like high school fraternity boys. That whole rat pack thing now turns me off cold. Rats was a good label for them.

Sinatra always gave off vibes that he thought he was better than everybody else. In actuality he was little more than the court jester for a bunch of mindless thugs. Big deal.


Bob

 

[Striider]

Was an OK movie...I wasn't thoroughly impressed though. In fact, after watching this I pulled out my copy of HEAT. No comparison, really, including soundtracks. Did Oceans 11 even use the rear channels? I noticed very little in the background on my Pro Logic system....I even double checked the sound mode at one point on the DVD player.

 

[RobertWood]

I liked Heat too. Michael Mann also directed and co-wrote "Thief" (1981) which is another great caper flick about a big-time professional safecracker with James Caan in the lead. If you haven't seen it be sure and do so.


Bob

 

[Striider]

I will look that up, Robert, thanks

 

[silvermaxd]

I liked "3000 Miles To Graceland" better as far as trying to rob a casino goes. If you have'nt seen the movie above then you need to cause it was good. cya

 

[mdaire]

Quote:

Originally posted by silvermaxd I liked "3000 Miles To Graceland" better as far as trying to rob a casino goes. If you have'nt seen the movie above then you need to cause it was good. cya

I agree, that was a very good funny/dramatic movie! I particularly liked Kurt Russel who's always very convincing in Elvis!

 

[rfuji]

I have to say I liked the original compared to this newest version. Frank Sinatra is in a league of his own.

 

[Ron AZ]

We actually watched it last night on pay-per-view...and we found it to be very entertaining.. great cast of stars. Ron AZ