Hold Up, They Don’t Love You Like I Love You
March 30, 2018 1:43 PM Subscribe
How does the Ocean's Trilogy hold up? (Fran Hoepfner, Bright Wall/Dark Room).
This Trilogy is my go to "need a movie on in the background" . Not because they are bad, I unabashedly love ALL of them*, but because you can not pay attention, catch a joke or event, and still get it. I am stoked for Ocean's 8.
*Yes, even 2. I think I'm the only one on the planet that genuinely likes 2. The music, the plot(absurd though it may be), the crushing of hubris. It's like a Greek tragedy.
posted by Twain Device at 2:02 PM on March 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
*Yes, even 2. I think I'm the only one on the planet that genuinely likes 2. The music, the plot(absurd though it may be), the crushing of hubris. It's like a Greek tragedy.
posted by Twain Device at 2:02 PM on March 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
My archnemesis is Matt Damon for many reasons, so I really like how much they played him as the rookie in the movie.
posted by yueliang at 2:03 PM on March 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by yueliang at 2:03 PM on March 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
All three showed up on Netflix recently. The first one is a joy to behold. The rest are pretty meh. If you want more of Ocean's 11 Soderbergh, try Out of Sight and The Limey. For Ocean's 12 Soderbergh, try Logan Lucky.
posted by gwint at 2:13 PM on March 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by gwint at 2:13 PM on March 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
Loved 11, hated the contrived plot of 12 (which came across as some screenwriter's attempt to be overly clever) and never saw 13 because of 12. It might be worth a rewatch of 12 and a first viewing of 13 because who knows, tastes change and I could get over the eye rolling I originally did.
Looking forward to 8 though I'll probably wait for streaming.
posted by mikesch at 2:14 PM on March 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Looking forward to 8 though I'll probably wait for streaming.
posted by mikesch at 2:14 PM on March 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
The use of [Claire de Lune] over the ending of Ocean’s Eleven is bar-none the most beautiful execution of it in its 132-year history.
Hoepfner used to write the classical music column at the Awl, so she knows whereof she speaks! I'm glad she picked up a new gig so quickly.
posted by Iridic at 2:17 PM on March 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Hoepfner used to write the classical music column at the Awl, so she knows whereof she speaks! I'm glad she picked up a new gig so quickly.
posted by Iridic at 2:17 PM on March 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Logan Lucky is Soderbergh's Redneck Ocean's 11, and it's actually a really lovely epitaph to the series that kind of redeems the sequel-itis of 12 and 13 for me. It's funny and has a surprising amount of subtlety and grace. I'm mentioning this only because I didn't even realize it was Soderbergh until reading up on it afterwards, and it deserves to be listed in any discussion of the Oceans movies.
posted by fatbird at 2:22 PM on March 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by fatbird at 2:22 PM on March 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
Would second any recommendations of Logan Lucky.
posted by Artw at 2:22 PM on March 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Artw at 2:22 PM on March 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
I'm a sucker for heist films and this trilogy has a soft spot in my heart. The first is quite the work of art and a film I like to just have on in the background sometimes when I'm cooking or doing something mindless. Ocean's 13 felt like a return after Ocean's 12 sort of went in a direction that for the longest while I've not been a fan of.
That being said, the last few times I've rewatched Ocean's 12, I've started to soften on some of my initial criticism. I feel that it is still the weakest out of the trilogy but there are some shiny diamonds scattered throughout. I too will also recommend Logan Lucky, definitely worth seeking out.
posted by Fizz at 2:43 PM on March 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
That being said, the last few times I've rewatched Ocean's 12, I've started to soften on some of my initial criticism. I feel that it is still the weakest out of the trilogy but there are some shiny diamonds scattered throughout. I too will also recommend Logan Lucky, definitely worth seeking out.
posted by Fizz at 2:43 PM on March 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
The use of [Claire de Lune] over the ending of Ocean’s Eleven is bar-none the most beautiful execution of it in its 132-year history.
I was so,so disappointed when I saw the fountain at the Bellagio for the first time and they didnt play Claire de Lune (or even anything pretty, I think it was George Strait, which is fine, but not want I wanted or the fountain deserved)
posted by Dr. Twist at 2:44 PM on March 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
I was so,so disappointed when I saw the fountain at the Bellagio for the first time and they didnt play Claire de Lune (or even anything pretty, I think it was George Strait, which is fine, but not want I wanted or the fountain deserved)
posted by Dr. Twist at 2:44 PM on March 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
I think I'm the only one on the planet that genuinely likes 2.
You are not. I didn't like it the first time I saw it (when it was still new) because it diverted too much from what made the first one such a joy. It's better than most people give it credit for, but it leans more on the heist part than it does the team part (especially with the team shrinking throughout the movie). Some of the weirdness with it is because the script wasn't originally conceived as the sequel to Ocean's 11 (it was a standalone heist called "Honor Among Thieves"), so if you watch it knowing they've retrofit the script to fit the characters from another movie, you can see where they did a good job … and where they didn't. As a heist movie, though, it's pretty good. I fast forward through the laser field thing every time, though.
posted by fedward at 2:50 PM on March 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
You are not. I didn't like it the first time I saw it (when it was still new) because it diverted too much from what made the first one such a joy. It's better than most people give it credit for, but it leans more on the heist part than it does the team part (especially with the team shrinking throughout the movie). Some of the weirdness with it is because the script wasn't originally conceived as the sequel to Ocean's 11 (it was a standalone heist called "Honor Among Thieves"), so if you watch it knowing they've retrofit the script to fit the characters from another movie, you can see where they did a good job … and where they didn't. As a heist movie, though, it's pretty good. I fast forward through the laser field thing every time, though.
posted by fedward at 2:50 PM on March 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
I was so,so disappointed when I saw the fountain at the Bellagio for the first time and they didnt play Claire de Lune (or even anything pretty, I think it was George Strait, which is fine, but not want I wanted or the fountain deserved)
I think the worst thing I've heard was "God Bless the U.S.A." I have to admit they did a really good job with the design on "Uptown Funk" though.
posted by fedward at 2:51 PM on March 30, 2018
I think the worst thing I've heard was "God Bless the U.S.A." I have to admit they did a really good job with the design on "Uptown Funk" though.
posted by fedward at 2:51 PM on March 30, 2018
The use of [Claire de Lune] over the ending of Ocean’s Eleven is bar-none the most beautiful execution of it in its 132-year history.
That fountain scene was an homage to the ending of The Right Stuff.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 3:44 PM on March 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
That fountain scene was an homage to the ending of The Right Stuff.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 3:44 PM on March 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
I think the worst thing I've heard was "God Bless the U.S.A."
The two times I've seen it it's been the theme to "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" and "The Star-Spangled Banner". The latter made me actually want to find a flag just so i could salute it.
posted by asterix at 3:46 PM on March 30, 2018
The two times I've seen it it's been the theme to "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" and "The Star-Spangled Banner". The latter made me actually want to find a flag just so i could salute it.
posted by asterix at 3:46 PM on March 30, 2018
O11 is infinitely rewatchable. You can just pop it in any time, at really any point, and still enjoy it.
Tess remains the weak point. Tess, did you really go looking for an honest, above-the-board boyfriend in a casino owner??????????
posted by praemunire at 4:04 PM on March 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
Tess remains the weak point. Tess, did you really go looking for an honest, above-the-board boyfriend in a casino owner??????????
posted by praemunire at 4:04 PM on March 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
Liked 11, hated 12, not even sure that I knew that there was a 13 until now. Logan Lucky was a fun watch but it seemed like a retread for Soderbergh.
posted by octothorpe at 4:18 PM on March 30, 2018
posted by octothorpe at 4:18 PM on March 30, 2018
My wife and I saw the first film in the theater when we were dating and it has become top ten favorite for both of us. We sling the quotes around liberally: "I'd never been to Belize", "Hey, you could ask him", "I find that interferes with my social agenda".
And I have to make a confession: I'd never heard Claire De Lune before this film. At least, I don't remember hearing it before. As a consequence, for years after, I was convinced that that music was lifted from some classic Hollywood film. The sweeping violins seemed to ripped from a 40's or 50's melodrama with Deborah Kerr. Regardless of its origin, the music is utter perfection for the scene.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 5:09 PM on March 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
And I have to make a confession: I'd never heard Claire De Lune before this film. At least, I don't remember hearing it before. As a consequence, for years after, I was convinced that that music was lifted from some classic Hollywood film. The sweeping violins seemed to ripped from a 40's or 50's melodrama with Deborah Kerr. Regardless of its origin, the music is utter perfection for the scene.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 5:09 PM on March 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
We sling the quotes around liberally: "I'd never been to Belize", "Hey, you could ask him", "I find that interferes with my social agenda".
Hard same. 11 is one of my comfort movies. I own it in every format possible mostly because I was sick one day and couldn't get to the DVD so I bought a digital copy. I play 11 and 13 in the background while I'm working because I know the dialogue so well, I don't have to think about it.
posted by mmmPurple at 6:01 PM on March 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Hard same. 11 is one of my comfort movies. I own it in every format possible mostly because I was sick one day and couldn't get to the DVD so I bought a digital copy. I play 11 and 13 in the background while I'm working because I know the dialogue so well, I don't have to think about it.
posted by mmmPurple at 6:01 PM on March 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
I think I'm the only one on the planet that genuinely likes 2.
I've rewatched it for the charm of the male leads, and because I like to look at Catherine Zeta Jones in it. She's so beautiful, and styled so well. I should print out some photos of her in that movie to look at every time I'm tempted to buy another unflattering, fast-fashion thing to plug a hole in my wardrobe.
posted by mrmurbles at 6:59 PM on March 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
I've rewatched it for the charm of the male leads, and because I like to look at Catherine Zeta Jones in it. She's so beautiful, and styled so well. I should print out some photos of her in that movie to look at every time I'm tempted to buy another unflattering, fast-fashion thing to plug a hole in my wardrobe.
posted by mrmurbles at 6:59 PM on March 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
2 does have its problems. But CZJ is not one of them as mrmurbles points out. Also, Damon's character quoting "Kashmir" was a hoot. I blew Diet Coke out of my nose when I saw that in the theater.
posted by Ber at 7:20 PM on March 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Ber at 7:20 PM on March 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
I think I'm the only one on the planet that genuinely likes 2.
I'll never dislike stupid gimmicky meta plot lines, so while 12 overall is not great and just way too 2000s-ish, The Thing With Tess1 redeems it.
1Look, it's not in my nature to be mysterious, but I can't talk about it and I can't talk about why.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 8:56 PM on March 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
I'll never dislike stupid gimmicky meta plot lines, so while 12 overall is not great and just way too 2000s-ish, The Thing With Tess1 redeems it.
1Look, it's not in my nature to be mysterious, but I can't talk about it and I can't talk about why.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 8:56 PM on March 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
[In 2001] George Clooney was two years into his movie career, having successfully moved on from ER
Is the article's author living in an alternate timeline or am I? Or was this some kind of joke that I didn't get?
posted by Hal Mumkin at 5:52 AM on March 31, 2018
Is the article's author living in an alternate timeline or am I? Or was this some kind of joke that I didn't get?
posted by Hal Mumkin at 5:52 AM on March 31, 2018
Is the article's author living in an alternate timeline
So I guess it is an alternate world where Clooney begins his post ER career with Three Kings and O Brother Where Art Thou? Ignoring Thin Red Line (1998), Out of Sight (1998), Peacemaker (1997), Batman & Robin (1997), One Fine Day (1996), From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) [and Return of the Killer Tomatoes].
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:26 AM on March 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
So I guess it is an alternate world where Clooney begins his post ER career with Three Kings and O Brother Where Art Thou? Ignoring Thin Red Line (1998), Out of Sight (1998), Peacemaker (1997), Batman & Robin (1997), One Fine Day (1996), From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) [and Return of the Killer Tomatoes].
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:26 AM on March 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
11 remains thoroughly enjoyable, I'm not interested in trying to make myself love (or even mildly enjoy) 12, and 13 is stupid as fuck in a way that frees the viewer up to sit back and just enjoy the ridiculous goddamn spectacle that it is.
posted by duffell at 7:29 AM on March 31, 2018
posted by duffell at 7:29 AM on March 31, 2018
This is the one thing that makes Ocean's 12 worth it.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 12:43 PM on March 31, 2018
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 12:43 PM on March 31, 2018
I've watched O11 more times than I can count. 12 and 13, once each.
posted by doctor_negative at 2:20 PM on March 31, 2018
posted by doctor_negative at 2:20 PM on March 31, 2018
The Oceans movies are like a big, warm cinematic hug. "Effortless" is exactly they way I'd describe 'em. Although I hadn't really liked 12 initially, rewatching it more recently was a joy. I gotta say -- 13 is maybe my favorite of the bunch now, just because of the way the whole thing unravels in the end...
posted by ph00dz at 7:49 PM on March 31, 2018
posted by ph00dz at 7:49 PM on March 31, 2018
This yt is the one thing that makes Ocean's 12 worth it
Especially the little Charlie Chaplin heel click and walk at the end.
I really don't understand the disdain for 12 or 13. The follow ups build and embellish the original. They don't eclipse the first one, but they don't do any harm to it either. The only thing to notice is Matt Damon's supernova career boost between 11 and the other two. Bourne-again, as it were.
posted by Chitownfats at 12:54 AM on April 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Especially the little Charlie Chaplin heel click and walk at the end.
I really don't understand the disdain for 12 or 13. The follow ups build and embellish the original. They don't eclipse the first one, but they don't do any harm to it either. The only thing to notice is Matt Damon's supernova career boost between 11 and the other two. Bourne-again, as it were.
posted by Chitownfats at 12:54 AM on April 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
13 always seemed like the over the top one, bringing everyone back, expanding, flipping roles around, and just too much of everything. I like 12 (not as much as 11, but still), and I absolutely loved the soundtrack, which came very close to getting me out of a musical rut to explore weird sixties europop.
Then again, I'm someone who argues that Temple of Doom is, underneath a metric ton of cringe inducing stereotyping, still better than Last Crusade in terms of exploring who Indiana Jones is.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:29 AM on April 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Then again, I'm someone who argues that Temple of Doom is, underneath a metric ton of cringe inducing stereotyping, still better than Last Crusade in terms of exploring who Indiana Jones is.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:29 AM on April 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
I saw Ocean's 11 on cable a few months ago and it really does hold up very well. But, one little tidbit that dates it is at the very end, when Julia Roberts and Andy Garcia are walking together, a phone that George Clooney planted in Roberts' pocket earlier starts ringing. Garcia says "Is that your phone?" and Roberts says something like "No, I don't have a cell phone." When I saw this, I flinched and thought "Wait. Didn't this movie come out not that long ago?" Well, reader, it did in fact come out quite long ago, more than a decade and a half ago, six years before the first iPhone, three years before the Motorola Razr.
posted by mhum at 1:19 PM on April 2, 2018
posted by mhum at 1:19 PM on April 2, 2018
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Anyway I look forward to further building on the O11/MMXXL Nonthreatening Cinematic Universe.
posted by griphus at 1:55 PM on March 30, 2018 [10 favorites]