Ocean's Twelve Review
by Bob Bloom (bob AT bloomink DOT com)December 14th, 2004
OCEAN'S TWELVE (2004): 2 1/2 stars out of 4. Starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Julia Roberts, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Vincent Cassel, Eddie Jemison, Carl Reiner and Elliott Gould. Screenplay by George Nolfi. Directed by Stephen Soderbergh. Rated PG-13. Running time: Approx. 120 mins.
You're going to enjoy Ocean's Twelve almost as much as the performers who made it.
This featherweight sequel to the successful Ocean's Eleven reunites all the principal players in front of and behind the camera.
The story takes place three years after the original heist, propelled by casino owner Terry Benedict (AndyGarcia) tracking down the members of Danny Ocean's little band and giving them two weeks to reimburse what they stole plus interest or face the consequences.
The gang, being too hot to work in the United States, sets out for Europe to pull a big enough caper to repay Benedict.
However, things get complicated when a famed European thief known as the Night Fox beats Ocean and his boys to their target, then hands down a challenge that cannot be refused.
The plot is mainly a hook to show off the scenic splendors of Amsterdam and Rome.
The actors, mainly George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle, work very comfortably together, while some of the others, most notably veterans Elliott Gould and Carl Reiner, also get their quick moments in the spotlight.
Joining the merry band is Catherine Zeta-Jones as Interpol detective Isabel Lahiri, who has a history with Pitt's Rusty Ryan that complicates matters — as these things usually do in movies.
If Ocean's has a drawback, it's that it tries to be too hip, too culturally aware.
For instance, a plot point involves bringing Danny Ocean's wife, Tess (Julia Roberts), to help with the heist, and in order to do so she must impersonate a famous actress to whom she has a striking resemblance.
Plus, for a touch of realism, she must stuff a pillow under her outfit to make herself look pregnant.
And when she bumps into Bruce Willis and he asks her about “Danny,” those who read People get the double meaning of the joke.
Adding a pit of continental flavor to the action is dashing Vincent Cassel as the stealthy Night Fox.
Ocean's Twelve keeps you engrossd and guessing how and will this merry band of thieves pull off their big heist. The solution is a bit of a a letdown, almost too simplistic for these ultra-cool crooks, but it does work within the skewered confines of Ocean's cinematic framework.
The movie is nothing more than a escapist diversion, a two-hour break from the frantic pace of holiday shopping, taking you to sunny climes, displaying pretty people having a blast doing what they do best — entertaining the rest of us.
Bob Bloom is the film critic at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, Ind. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or at [email protected].
Bloom's reviews also can be found at the Journal and Courier Web site: www.jconline.com
Other reviews by Bloom can be found at the Rottentomatoes Web site: www.rottentomatoes.com or at the Internet Movie Database Web site:
www.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Bob+Bloom
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