Ocean’s 8 ****
Much like Ghostbusters going all-female, some have grumbled at an Ocean’s cast headed by Sandra Bullock. Can it work and keep the magic? Like the latter franchise, this addition to the heist one has its own merits – once you can get past the obvious plastic surgery to some of the cast in the first 20 minutes.
Bullock’s Debbie Ocean has all the family skills her late brother Danny (George Clooney) had, plus lots of cool-as-a-cucumber savvy to pull this off with her ladies. It is a fun caper, full of diamonds and glamour to boot. It doesn’t necessarily have the complex twist and turns of the latter films, but it has its own ‘how to’ videos post raid and complexity does not equal a better film. There is a final twist too.
Bullock is used to deadpan delivery – be that in comedic or serious roles, so she is believable as a poker-faced Ocean. In fact, each of the cast big hitters – Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Rhianna, Sarah Paulson etc – all play to their screen strengths in a good casting of characters that gel and bounce of each other.
The wildcard is Anna Hathaway as ditzy, narcissistic actress Daphne Kluger who seems to revel in playing plain dumb then pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes. Her character has the most fun time, complete with unflattering toilet scene. Hathaway is a versatile actress and this sort of part plays to her obvious strengths.
The action is less than the other films but the strategy and technology is still abundant. Writer-director Gary Ross’s slick production does not stray from the latter films either. Although the odd visual explanation could do with a trim to keep the pace, the glitz and devious nature of the ladies more than keeps the interest. Indeed, there appears to be more individual personality this time with those involved that adds the proceedings rather than swamps the heist.
Ocean’s 8 adds another dimension to the energetic franchise and needs a strong protagonist in Bullock to drive it forward. There is also the ever-present spectre of Danny looming over proceedings, cashed in on more in downtime with Debbie, especially at the end, when you wonder whether one of the greatest thieves of all time has tricked all – even his sister.
