Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
An iconic cast leads this future heist classic.
Presentation:
Since the iconic film Heat, heist films are generally serious and stylish. Snatch was very light hearted and also deserves praise, but I personally found this film to be more noteworthy. Cinematography is great, dialogue is witty, the heist is sharp, great plot and most importantly the eclectic cast. Soderbergh has rounded up one of the most charismatic combination of talent you could ask for a movie. Everyone is super likable, which separates this one from the chaff. It has the same band of brotherhood of Dazed and Confused making this film infinitely re-watchable as if you are meeting up with old friends. But the cast is bigger and although it mostly follows Clooney and Pitt’s arcs, each character still manages to have enough weight and contributes with meaningful screen time. And what an ode to cinema the ending is with the iconic Claire De Lune track, not to mention the slick soundtrack throughout.
Conclusion:
In an age of sleek heist films, this is really one of the most fun and entertaining ones that balances enough style and gravitas to keep you engaged without feeling too much like a cliché TV flick. The sequels are a bit of a desperate cash grab and we certainly don’t talk about the most recent one, but there’s a reason they made so many sequels, this heist film will do down in time as one of the most iconic heist films thanks to its rare ensemble of personable talent.
Recommendations
Heist meets circus sideshow.