When Reuben Tishkoff (Elliot Gould) takes it up the aorta, so to speak, from fellow casino owner Willie Bank (Al Pacino), Danny Ocean and the famous baker's dozen cook up a scheme to get revenge on the mean mogul.

What follows is a kaleidoscopic thrill ride of numbers, colors, ideas and technology. With impeccable performances by all the actor's in the film, namely Al Pacino and George Clooney, and incredible cinematography and directing, 13 is by far the best in Soderbergh's trio.

Casey Affleck and Scott Caan find themselves falling just barely into the category of supporting in this film, but are a successful comedic team nonetheless, with the slapstick flavor of Laurel and Hardy and the oddball dynamic of Lemon and Mathau's Odd Couple, the two goofballs are still a memorable part of the plot-heavy plot...ing.

Ellen Barkin is a versatile and refreshing addition to the ensemble. She appears as Banks' right hand (wo)man and brings both the career hungry proffesional and the sexually starved "older" woman to the table with winning credibility.

For those of you curious about the patterns and traditions of past Ocean's (insert number here) films, don't worry...Brad Pitt (Rusty Ryan) still sports a bangin' wardrobe and is constantly eating and drinking.

But this film is BY FAR the most intricately plotted and clearly challenging for it's never-villanous criminals. The "impossible impossible impossible" obstacles presented in their 'crime' really do seem to be impossible, and even Danny Ocean seems stymied at some points, making the film only that much more thrilling. But best of all, this masterful premise doesn't include crime for indulgent or selfish reasons, it's for friendship! And so if we ever questioned the morality of the bandits before, we certainly don't this time around...not that that ever bothered me any.


All in all, the film is funny, fast-paced and suspenseful. I left the theatre sure that I'd been struck by...I'd been hit by...a smooth criminal.

** look for a brief homage to Steve Martin's 1987 comedy "Roxanne"

Recommended: Yes

Movie Mood: Guy Movie
Viewing Method: Other