‘Ocean’s Trilogy’ 4K Blu-ray (review)

Warner Bros.

“That is the sexiest thing I have ever seen”
-Saul Bloom to Robert “Rusty” Ryan in Ocean’s Eleven

To say that this is one of the most watched film trilogy in our household would be an understatement.

Only surpassed by the original Star Wars trilogy, Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Trilogy of Ocean’s Eleven, Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen, is not only watched all the time by Lexx and I but it is probably one of the most quoted series in our vernacular.

“You could ask him.”
“Hey, I could ask him.”
-Danny Ocean to “Rusty” Ryan in Ocean’s Eleven

When I first saw Ocean’s Eleven 23 years ago I instantly fell in love with it.

Having just developed my man crush on George Clooney after his tour de force performance in the Coen Bros’ O’ Brother, Where Art Thou?” and Pitt in Guy Ritchie’s Snatch I was sold on this remake, not to mention the entire ensemble of amazing character actors and of course Soderbergh, who’s filmography, up to then, had been all but perfection.

“I’d never been to Belize”
-“Rusty” Ryan in Ocean’s Eleven

Loosely based on the 1960’s film starring the original Rat Pack of Sinatra, Martin, Davis Jr, Lawford and Angie Dickenson from a story by Logan’s Run co-author, George Clayton Johnson and Jack Golden Russell, Soderbergh crafted one of the best heist films I had ever seen.

“Mr. Ocean, what do you think you would do, if released?”
-Parole Board Member #1 in Ocean’s Eleven

Ocean’s Eleven opens as the logos play with solely audio of a prisoner being released from his cell and walking to what ends up being his parole board hearing. The picture fades up and we see an unshaven Danny Ocean (Clooney) sitting in a prison jumpsuit, slightly disheveled answering questions to an unseen board. The final question is asked and we hold on Danny’s face as both he and we are left to contemplate this.

“What? Did you guys get a group rate or something?”
-Ruben Tishkoff in Ocean’s Eleven

Along with Soderbergh’s beautiful cinematography (He shot it all himself under a pseudonym) the incredibly smart dialog by screenwriter Ted Griffin is witty and never lets up. As we are slowly introduced to each of the crew Danny and his partner Rusty acquire, not only is each of their particular skill sets shown, but the dialogue in these first introductions to the audience gives you everything you need to know about them as well. Bernie Mac, the aforementioned Brad Pitt, Don Cheadle, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Shaobo Qin, Carl Reiner, Eddie Jmison, Matt Damon and Elliot Gould makeup Ocean’s Eleven. Along with stellar performances by Julia Roberts, and Andy Garcia. This is another film where I wish there was a “Best Ensemble” Oscar.

“There’s a ninety-five pound Chinese man with a hundred sixty million dollars behind this door.”
“Let’s get him out.”
“Yeah.”
– Danny and Linus in Ocean’s Eleven

The visual jokes are as funny as the spoken ones. Every member of the main crew in this impeccable con game is perfectly cast. The entire film is like a long con. The very slick stylistic filmmaking I had come to know Soderbergh in on display from the onset and never lets up. It is a visual smorgasbord of treats for the eyes. It not only requires you to pay attention to every detail but to actually become involved in the story to get even more out of the story. It draws the viewer in and makes you care about the outcome. You want them to succeed.

Ocean’s Eleven is a perfect homage to the past great heist films of the 50’s. It has its own brand of charm, humor, sophistication, with nods and winks to the history it liberally borrowed from. It honors the past by bringing it seamlessly into the present without marring the lineage it stems from.

That Brings me to Ocean’s Twelve.

“Do I look 50 to you?”
“Yeah.”
“Really?”
“Well, I mean, you know, only from the neck up.”
-Danny and Basher in Ocean’s Twelve

I love this film. I know it isn’t most people’s favorite, but I think it is brilliant.

Like its predecessor, this film is an homage to an earlier decade’s style. This time Soderbergh and crew dipped into the looser freestyle handheld film making of the 60’s European new wave film. Where Ocean’s Eleven is slick with smooth camera movement and polished look, Twelve has a much grittier patina.

This really adds to the premise that The Ocean’s Eleven crew have to deal with the fallout of their actions of the first film. They flee to Europe when a famous master thief named the Nightfox takes offense to the idea that these brash American’s could possibly be considered better than him by his mentor, the greatest thief of all time Gaspar LeMarque. The Nightfox tips off Terry Benedict, owner of The Bellagio, of the whereabouts of Danny and his crew. They are given two weeks to return the money they stole.

Joining them are an incredible ensemble of actors. Robbie Coltraine and Eddie Izzard are along for the assist. Vincent Cassel is brilliant as François Toulour AKA The Nightfox and Catherine Zeta-Jones as Europol agent Isabel Lahiri the officer tasked with capturing them all.

“Come on, he’s one guy, and he’s French.”
-Turk Malloy in Ocean’s Twelve

Danny and his crew find their confidence waning when they are beaten to the punch on every job they try to pull by The Nightfox. The Nightfox then challenges the Ocean’s crew to a test of skill. See who can steal the famous Fabergé Egg first and not get caught. If Ocean and his men win he will pay off their entire debt to Benedict.

“You’re all aces in my book, but I want the last check I write to bounce.”
-Saul Bloom in Ocean’s Twelve

What ensues is one of the most entertaining long cons filmed. I was invested from the beginning, having fallen in love with every character in the first film and even though I knew it would all probably turn out just fine for them, all because these films are all about fun and entertainment where no one really gets “hurt”. I was along for the ride and willing to just let the story happen. I don’t want to go into it anymore so as not to ruin the ride for you.

“Whoa-whoa-whoa, Linus Caldwell junior varsity you are not following any of the procedures that
Danny and I talked about if Terry Benedict shows up, so something is wrong, what is wrong?”
-Tess Ocean in Ocean’s Twelve

One of the things I really love about Twelve is that they really play with the genre. They are willing to subvert both the genre and poke fun at the first film. This film squarely straddles the “self-aware” fence but never fully jumps over it. It knows exactly what it is and what it wants the audience to experience. As the film unfolds the audience is let in on the joke that this is supposed to be fun as well as it pokes fun at itself. The penultimate joke and “con” is so ridiculous as to not be believable. Not only will the characters not get away with it, they aren’t expecting the audience to buy it either. The con was partially on us.

In the grandest of finale’s to this perfect trilogy is Ocean’s Thirteen, the homage to the homage to the homage.

“We’ve shaken all the trees, we’ve looked under every rock, we’ve talked to everybody we can trust.
I know it’s not a great idea but it is an idea and as long as we have one idea we shouldn’t give up.”
– Linus Caldwell in Ocean’s Thirteen

Let’s talk about how Ocean’s Thirteen is just 100% unadulterated fun. You really get the sense that by this point in everyone’s career they all just wanted to have fun and fun is what this movie is.

The premise is simply this. Ruben, brilliantly embodied by Elliot Gould again, has been rooked by the new “big man on the block” Willie Banks (Al Pacino), a man who “shook Sinatra’s hand”. Banks is a rich, narcissistic real estate mogul who has built a gaudy hotel and screwed Reuben out of his share of the profits. When Reuben is forced to hand over his fair shares to Banks he goes into a cardiac episode sending him to the hospital. When Danny and Rusty find this out they assemble the crew for one more job. To get Reuben his money and sink Banks’ Casino.

“You’re analog players in a digital world. You’re done.”
-Roman Nagel in Ocean’s Thirteen

Everything about this film is fantastic. I actually love how self indulgent this film is. It is basically about a bunch of friends reuniting to just laugh at themselves, the films they were in (not just the Oceans ones either) and paying respect to those which came before them.

The addition of Al Pacino as the “heavy” Willie Banks in this film only adds to the joy. The unabashed use of Godfather quotes and references throughout this film without ever actually acknowledging them as such is pure genius. I also relish the return of Eddie Izzard as the tech genius, Roman Nagel. The late wonderful actor, Julian Sands, as Greco Montgomery, the creator of Banks state of the art supercomputer The Greco Player Tracker is at his subtle best as well. Sadly Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones did not return.

“You think this is funny?”
“Well, Terry, it sure as shit ain’t sad.”
-Terry Benedict and Danny Ocean in Ocean’s Thirteen

This film takes its visual cues this time from the richly colored oversaturated reds and oranges and greens of the 70’s and early 80’s in films like Killing of a Chinese Bookie, Taxi Driver, Serpico, and Scarface. I truly love that these films are so steeped in their respective eras of films and not only has Soderbergh really captured the look and feel but the screenwriters for each film really understood the homework assignment and nailed it as well. The staccato dialogue is expertly and effortlessly delivered by all the talented artists.

“The moment you become embarrassed of who you are, you lose yourself. I changed my
house, the way I dressed, the way I ate – for what? For nothing.
-Reuben Tishkoff in Ocean’s Thirteen

Look. I understand this is not high cinema. This is that other thing. Fun entertainment. The creators and performers completely approached these films with a love of the genre and to say that these films are a love letter to something past is an understatement, no doubt.

As you can probably tell, I love all these movies. I could have gone on even longer and in more depth but I want you to experience them for yourself and see what it is that I see and love.

“​​Hey, next time? Try keeping the weight off in between.”
“Hey. Settle down. Have a couple of kids.”
-Rusty Ryan and Danny Ocean in Ocean’s Thirteen

This collection is brilliant and the films have never looked or sounded better. Although there aren’t any new special features, all of the previous extras are ported over including commentaries, featurettes, and deleted scenes.

If you are looking for a great series of films that are just a really great time then I highly recommend the Ocean’s Trilogy.