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Entertainment

17th Feb 2014

Her.ie Classic Movie Pick Of The Week… Ocean’s Eleven

3 Casinos. 11 Guys. 150 Million Bucks. Ready To Win Big?

Rebecca McKnight

The cast unites George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Julia Roberts – what more do you need to know? 

Paving the way for a spate of modern movies with ensemble casts, Ocean’s Eleven is a slick remake of a 1960s flick starring members of the Rat Pack, but Clooney and co live up to their predecessors in the roles with aplomb.

One of the highest grossing films of 2001, Ocean’s Eleven found favour with the critics as well as at the box-office. Steven Soberbergh’s take on the story spawned two sequels; the Ocean’s Trilogy continued with Ocean’s Twelve in 2004 and Ocean’s Thirteen in 2007.

Clooney excels in the title role of Danny Ocean, who breaks parole for a jaunt to LA to hook up with his partner-in-crime Rusty Ryan, played by Clooney’s real-life BFF Brad Pitt.

The pair make their way to Vegas to enlist the help of former casino owner Reuben Tishkoff in a masterplan to simultaneously rob three of the biggest casinos in the City of Sin.

Andy Garcia as Terry Benedict plays a double-villain role, as owner of the casinos and Reuben’s former rival, who just happens to be seeing Danny’s ex-wife Tess (Julia Roberts).

And so the scene is set for Ocean and Ryan to assemble a crack team and attempt the greatest heists Vegas has ever seen.

Ocean’s Eleven may not be Soderbergh’s finest film, nor Danny Ocean Clooney’s finest role, but this film is a perfect example of a movie that is more than the sum of its parts. With star power in spades, smooth dialogue, a fast pace and a great story – you’ll be hard pressed to find a better use for your popcorn this week.

Ocean’s Eleven will air this Saturday night on ITV2 at 8.00pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7VTkceSsEw