Directed by Gary Ross
Where & When: AMC Sunset 5, West Hollywood, CA. June 8, 2018 5:15 PM
"Ocean's 8" is a glossy, all-star adventure that showcases female empowerment and inventive teamwork through high-tech crime. Gary Ross replaces Steven Soderbergh, the director of the "Ocean's" trilogy, and delivers a stylishly entertaining romp that sticks to the tradition of savvy criminals being the heroes yet it's now a crew made up entirely of women. While the gender-flip concept is modern and enlightened, the execution is safe and predictable.
After convincing a parole board that she’s a completely changed woman since spending the last five years in prison, Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) is released from guarded confinement. However, with grifting running deeply through her bloodline, she wastes no time scamming several high-end department stores and the Plaza Hotel in New York as soon as her heels hit the pavement. Although skeptical of his actual passing, Debbie still pays her respects to her estranged brother, Danny (played in the trilogy by George Clooney) by visiting his grave before setting her sights on tracking down her old partner-in-crime.
When Debbie finds Lou (Cate Blanchett), a no-nonsense, butch femme, she lays out the elaborate heist she‘s been plotting during her time behind bars. The idea centers around stealing a diamond necklace worth over one hundred million dollars and doing this during the annual gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While she initially balks at getting involved in this crazy scheme, Lou is eventually persuaded to participate. And in order to pull this heist off, they will require some professional help and begin to assemble a crew.
The first on board is Rose Weil (Helena Bonham Carter), an unhip, financially-strapped Irish fashion designer whose job will be to trick their unwitting accomplice, Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway), one of the hottest celebrities of the day, in allowing her to design her dress for the gala. Then Rose has to get the vain and frivolous actress to persuade the Met to allow her wear this vintage Cartier necklace to the event.
Next is Debbie's old friend, Amita (Mindy Kaling), an unmarried jewelry designer who gets involved to order to escape from her overbearing mother. Tammy (Sarah Paulson), a former racketeer turned suburban wife and mother, takes little convincing to get her out of the house to join them. And a street con-artist, Constance (Awkwafina) along with a brilliant computer hacker named "Nine-Ball" (played by pop superstar, Rihanna) rounds out the crew.
With all the players now in place, it is time to put the plan in motion. But Lou discovers that Debbie is planning another job within this already complicated job. A definite "no-no" in her book. It involves Debbie's art dealer, former boyfriend (Richard Armitage) who is responsible for her landing in jail. Debbie assures her that the plan will easily settle the score from her past while allowing them all to set-up for a very comfortable future.
"Ocean’s 8" is one of those densely plotted capers (with a serviceable script by Ross and Olivia Milch) that requires every single step of this intricate con to go off without a hitch otherwise the whole plan will crumble apart. And of course it all does go relatively smoothly, no matter how far-fetched or improbable the situation. That leaves the film with no real suspense or surprises and the audience simply waiting for the routine, inevitable conclusion.
But the story is hardly the reason to watch "Ocean's 8". It's all about the delicious treat of seeing all these amazing actresses together in one film and the thrilling camaraderie of these female characters which is rarely shown these days on the big screen. Bullock, Blanchett and the gang seem to be having a grand time and enjoy each other's company while looking absolutely flawless.
The ultimate message of "Ocean's 8" is that men and women are truly created equal. This breezy comedy displays that the ladies are just as capable of lying, cheating and stealing with delightful skill and charm just like the fellas.
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