Film Review: Ocean's 13

Let me begin by giving this film its rating first. Ocean's 13 gets a 7.5 on entertainment value alone. Probably the best aspect of this film lies with the interplay between the main characters. This film succeeds thanks to its star-power. George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon are captivating together on-screen. It adds to the charm if you've ever watched an interview with them before. It's almost as if they're playing themselves in the film. These guys are really friends, and they really banter back-and-forth with one another.

Like all trilogies, this film has the benefit of capitalizing on what the audience already knows this crew is capable of. There is little to no character development necessary. They can even by-pass the necessary time and elements of setting up the big score.

O 13's only failure is that it plays out very predictably from the beginning, and despite another seemingly 'impossible job,' everything comes off flawlessly. Even when they try to misdirect with the occasional snag, it barely seems to interrupt their progress at all. Consider the need for a $30 million piece of equipment that resides in France. You blink, and they have it. And they still appear to be right on schedule. Some of their ploys even seem rudimentary: Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia) enters a faux-bidding war with head bad guy, Willie Bank (Al Pacino), over a new casino game and Bank bites hard; Basher (Don Cheadle) impersonates a motorcycle stunt-man to distract Willie Bank when the only real threat to their scheme arises; and the ol' diamond switch-a-roo... well, let's just say that was as predictable as the sunrise.

Everyone knows what's going to happen and that's okay. No one expects a Sixth Sense ending. They expect to see a cool crew of dapper lads do what they do best, and that's where Ocean's 13 delivers.

Steven Soderbergh (director) is well on form, creating as cool an atmosphere as he's done since Out of Sight or Traffic.

McRating: 7.5

(I've also seen Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, but I'm not going to rate or review films that gross $400 million and everyone goes to see twice)