Ocean's Thirteen

I don't dare to give this a star rating because I gave up on the movie after a while. The whole Ocean's series didn't sit well with me, and I didn't rate the first one because it quickly evaporated from my mind. I gave the second one 2 stars, and if I found the determination to endure, the third one would probably receive the same rating. The Ocean's series looks up to legends like The Sting from a respectable distance. It may be because with Ocean's Thirteen, it's clear from the beginning who will win, and the movie doesn't have any significant twists or shocking revelations. Considering the multitude of stars, the budget, and the advertising, it's a very average movie for my taste. (09/05/2010)

Soderbergh hasn't done himself any favors. He went from schizophrenic to overstuffed, in which the audience had to look under a magnifying glass for jokes and good humor. So many robbery themes, and so many players on one field, and yet the film focuses more or less only on the characters of Danny and Rusty, and leaves the rest of the cast to drift by. Two hours of egotistical boredom, no balls, no perspective, and most importantly, no originality. Ocean's Thirteen gave me the impression the whole time that the characters were not stealing for fun, but to pay the rent. Sad. (29/09/2007)

Steven Soderbergh ventured into the same waters for the third time and after a quite dull second installment, he decided to push the envelope a little more and add a touch of emotion. Of course, there are also new characters, with Al Pacino standing out from the beginning. This installment is the funniest of all three, even though it is due to a relatively simple character of a hotel evaluator. The most satisfying part is the return to a properly thought-out plan. It unfolds in the second half and it's great. If the second film didn't exist, it wouldn't be so disappointing. (28/02/2015)

These dice have been thrown so elegantly that, even though the same number appears on every side, it is still a pleasure to watch them fly to the end. Ocean’s Thirteen is an entertaining and charismatic flick that pleased me with Brad Pitt’s perfect suits, the sensually attractive MILF Ellen Barkin (doesn’t anyone have the recipe for that perfume?) and the skyscraper-hotel tycoon Al Pacino. Add in the perfect roles for Andy Garcia, Vincent Cassel and David Paymer, and of course Clooney’s smiling, cool-as-a-cucumber Danny Ocean. Steven Soderbergh did a great job with being in charge of a dozen stars, milking the potential of each one of them to the last drop, and even managed to chill while doing it. It’s not as amazing as the first installment (i.e. it’s easily forgettable and it’s enough to watch it once), but on the other hand, it’s easier to follow and more relaxed than the controversial second instalment. (30/06/2007)

The third trip with this irresistible bunch should rather be the last. I'm not saying that I won't miss them occasionally, but there have been too many coincidences already and in the end, there aren't that many surprises. The Mexican revolution will be the most exciting, and of course, ambitious and unscrupulous Pacino. So, from relaxed entertainment, Danny and the gang have reached a easily digestible average. (08/08/2008)