Main Cast: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Andy Garcia, Julia Roberts
Release Year: 2001
Country: US
Run Time: 120 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
A rag-tag group of con artists and ex-cons team up for the heist to end all heists in this high-profile remake of the 1960 Rat Pack favorite. As with its predecessor, Ocean's Eleven opens with its titular hero Danny Ocean (George Clooney stepping into the Frank Sinatra role) eager for a new challenge. The similarities to the original end there, as Ocean conspires with his old pal Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt) to rob 150 million dollars from an underground vault that serves three of Las Vegas' biggest casinos. Between the two of them, they recruit nine other men, each with his own criminal specialty, to assist in the mission: moneyman Reuben Tishkoff (Elliot Gould), card dealer Frank (Bernie Mac), pickpocket Linus (Matt Damon), aging con artist Saul (Carl Reiner), British explosives pro Basher (Don Cheadle), techie Dell (Eddie Jemison), rude-boy brothers Virgil (Casey Affleck) and Turk (Scott Caan), and professional acrobat Yen (Shaobo Qin). What Ocean doesn't tell the group is that there's another reason he's coordinating the heist: the three casinos they're robbing are all owned by ruthless gambling mogul Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), who just happens to be married to Ocean's former love Tess (Julia Roberts). Ocean's Eleven was updated by scribe Ted Griffin and marked the third feature shot by director Steven Soderbergh under the alias Peter Andrews. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
Review
Cool, calm, collected, and low-key -- almost to a fault -- director Steven Soderbergh's starry remake of 1960's plodding Rat Pack vehicle may be little more than a muscle-stretching exercise for the newly minted Oscar-winner, but at least it's an audience-pleasing one. Ocean's Eleven is a hodgepodge of some of the director's pet influences: the deft multi-character juggling of Robert Altman, the just-the-facts policier technique of Jules Dassin or Francois Truffaut, and even some of the high-gloss pyrotechnics of David Fincher or John McTiernan. In many ways, it's Soderbergh's least distinctive film: the casual explosions, rag-tag rapport, and only-in-the-movies plot conveniences are just a notch away from the territory of the director's one-time nemesis Jerry Bruckheimer. Where he makes the material his own is in the casting -- this motley crew is more geek than chic, and they all play off each other incredibly well -- and in the zippy dissection of the complex heist. So while Ocean's Eleven isn't as funny or as involving as it could be -- in other words, it's not Out of SightPart II -- watching Soderbergh spin his wheels is still more enjoyable than just about anything out there. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
Casey Affleck - Virgil Malloy; Carl Reiner - Saul Bloom; Scott Caan - Turk Malloy; Elliott Gould - Reuben Tishkoff; Edward Jemison - Livingston Dell; Bernie Mac - Frank Catton; Shaobo Qin - Yen; Holly Marie Combs - Holly; Michael de Lano - Casino Manager ("Walsh"); Angie Dickinson - Herself; John Fiore - Hotel Security; Eydie Gorme - Herself; Joshua Jackson - Josh; Dave Jensen - Eye-in-the-Sky Technician #2; Joe La Due - Billy Tim Denham; Jim Lampley - Himself; Steve Lawrence - Himself; Wayne Newton - Himself; Rick Reed - Bucky Buchanan; Robin Sachs - Seller; Henry Silva - Himself; John Robotham - Uzi-Carrying Guard #1; Jerry Weintraub - High Roller; Tony Allison - French High Roller; Rusty Meyers - Security Officer #1; Frank Patton - Lockbox Carrier; Miguel Perez - Explosives Cop; Richard Steele - Himself; Timothy Paul Perez - Security Guard ("Oscar"); J.P. Manoux - Aide-de-Camp; Larry Merchant - Himself; Barry Watson - Barry; Kelly Adkins - Dancer; James Alfonso - Police Officer; Frankie Jay Allison - High Roller Pit Boss ("Eddie"); William Allison - Guard; Scott Clark Beringer - Head Goon; Cecelia Birt - Board Member #1; Barry Brandt - Technician #1; Joe Coyle - Security Officer #2; James Curatola - Baccarat Dealer; Siegfried Fischbacher - Himself; Carol Florence - Board Member #3; Lori Galinski - Blackjack Dealer; Mark Gantt - Bartender; Roy Horn - Himself; Wladimir Klitschko - Himself; Tommy Kordick - Hotel Bellman; Charles La Russa - Italian High Roller; Lennox Lewis - Himself; Paul L. Nolan - Board Member #2; Robert Peters - Eye-in-the-Sky Technician #1; Tim Snay - FBI Man #2; Ronn Soeda - Japanese High Roller; Larry Sontag - Plainclothes Goon #2; Gregory Stenson - Sentry; William L. Johnson - Technician #2; Vincent Ward - Uzi-Carrying Guard #2; Scott L. Schwartz - Bruiser; David Sontag - Plainclothes Goon #1; Jorge R. Hernandez - FBI Man #1
Credit
Keith P. Cunningham - Art Director, Cinesite - Animator, Randy Johnson - Boom Operator, Debra Zane - Casting, R.J. Louis - Co-producer, Jeffrey Kurland - Costume Designer, Nigel Boyd - Costume Designer, Corey C. Bronson - Costume Designer, Betsy Glick - Costume Designer, Anthony T. Lukins - Costume Designer, Shoshana Rubin - Costume Designer, Julie Yang - Costume Designer, Greg Jacobs - First Assistant Director, Steven Soderbergh - Director, Stephen Mirrione - Editor, John Hardy - Executive Producer, Susan Ekins - Executive Producer, Bruce Berman - Executive Producer, Bonnie Clevering - Hair Styles, Peggy Semtob - Hair Styles, K.G. Ramsey - Hair Styles, Waldo Sanchez - Hair Styles, Betty Lou Skinner - Hair Styles, Quentin Halliday - Location Manager, George Harthel - Location Manager, Ken Lavet - Location Manager, David Holmes - Composer (Music Score), Jean A. Black - Makeup, Richard Dean - Makeup, Fionagh Cush - Makeup, Elisa Marsh - Makeup, Duane Manwiller - Camera Operator, Philip Messina - Production Designer, Peter Andrews - Cinematographer, Charles Miller - Production Manager, Jerry Weintraub - Producer, Paul Ledford - Production Sound, Dawn Brown-Manser - Set Designer, Nancy Deren - Set Designer, Kristen Toscano Messina - Set Designer, Barbara Ann Spencer - Set Designer, George R. Lee - Set Designer, Eric P. Sundahl - Set Designer, Cinesite - Special Effects, Paul Ledford - Sound/Sound Designer, Aaron Glascock - Sound Editor, Michael Chock - Sound Editor, Michael Cassidy - Stunts, Cheryl Lawson - Stunts, Corey Michael Eubanks - Stunts, Steve Lambert - Stunts, John Moio - Stunts, Richard L. Bucher - Stunts, Jayson Dumenigo - Stunts, Brad Martin - Stunts, Jon Sakata - Stunts, Justin Sundquist - Stunts, John Robotham - Stunts Coordinator, Thomas J. Smith - Special Effects Supervisor, Chic Daniel - Technical Advisor, Frederic W. Brost - Unit Production Manager, Ted Griffin - Screenwriter, Spooky Stevens - Publicist, Al Laverde - Key Grip, Karen Jarnecke - Production Coordinator, Robin Le Chanu - Production Supervisor, Steven B. Melton - Properties Master, Larry Black - Re-Recording Mixer, Annie Welles - Script Supervisor, Trey Batchelor - Second Assistant Director, Kevin Hannigan - Special Effects Coordinator, Duane Manwiller - Steadicam Operator, Bob Marshak - Still Photographer, Larry Black - Supervising Sound Editor, Steve Hai - Translator, Michael S. Pryor - Visual Effects Producer, Robert Woodruff - Assistant Art Director, Blair Huizingh - Assistant Art Director, Bobby Wojewodski - Assistant Costumer Designer, Eric Wolfson-Sagot - Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, Caleb Duffy - Assistant Location Manager, Ken Ungrodt - Assistant Production Coordinator, Lance Larson - Assistant Properties, Melody Miller - Assistant Properties, Gregory F. Poulos - Assistant Properties, F. Scott Taylor - Assistant Sound Editor, Ricky Harris - Best Boy Grip, Timothy Tillman - Camera Loader, George Brown - Casting Assistant, John O. Falvey - Casting Assistant, Jenny Gienger - Casting Assistant, Thomas King Jr. - Casting Assistant, Danny Molina - Casting Assistant, Pamela Thomas - Casting Assistant, Christopher Just Weaver - Casting Assistant, Terri Taylor - Casting Associate, Jim Plannette - Chief Lighting Technician, Chris Snyder - Construction Coordinator, Elaine Maser - Costumes Supervisor, Paul Threlkeld - Dolly Grip, Rich King & Associates - Extra Casting, Douglas Crise - First Assistant Editor, Keith Sauter - First Assistant Editor, James Christopher - Foley Editor, Victoria De Kay - Key Costumer, Chris Newlander - Key Costumer, Roxanne Wightman - Key Hairstylist, Christien Tinsley - Key Make-up, Jackie Baugh - Production Controller, Basti Van Der Woude - Second Second Assistant Director, Robert Camron - Set Dresser, Jeff Damal - Set Dresser, Larry Haney - Set Dresser, Mike Malone - Set Dresser, Paul Richards - Set Dresser, Lynne Martin - Set Production Assistant, Lynn Struiksma - Set Production Assistant, Dan Berkowitz - Set Production Assistant, Keri Bruno - Set Production Assistant, Anne G. Cellucci - Set Production Assistant, Michael La Corte - Set Production Assistant, Natascha Oppenheim - Set Production Assistant, Keith Popely - Set Production Assistant, Leonard Morganti - Storyboard Artist, George Clayton Johnson - Short Story Author, Jack Golden Russell - Short Story Author
Shortly after being released from a New Jersey prison, Danny Ocean (George Clooney) breaks parole and travels to Los Angeles to meet up with his former partner in crime and close friend Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt) to propose a new scheme he has in mind. The two head to Las Vegas to approach wealthy friend and former casino owner Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould) with a plan to rob the vaults of the Bellagio, The Mirage and the MGM Grand casinos. At first Reuben is very reluctant, knowing himself how much security there is in every casino. Seeing this as a way to get back at his rival, Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), owner of the 3 casinos, Reuben eventually finances the operation. By Nevada Gaming Commission rules, the casinos must maintain adequate funds in their vaults to cover all bets, and during the busy casino night coinciding with a boxing match, more than $150 million is expected to be stored in the Bellagio vault. Danny and Rusty begin to recruit former colleagues and other criminal masterminds into their group. The team plans and carries out a series of reconnaissance missions at the Bellagio to learn as much as possible about the security, the lay of the land, and the routines and behaviors of the casino staff. At the same time, they recreate a perfect replica of the Bellagio vault to practice evasion of the vault's formidable security systems. During this planning phase, the team discovers that Danny's ex-wife, Tess Ocean (Julia Roberts), is currently Terry's lover. Rusty urges Danny to drop the plan, saying that "Tess does not split 11 ways", aware that Tess may warn Terry that something is afoot if she sees Danny, but Danny figures this into the plan.
On the night of the fight, the plan is put into effect. Danny himself goes to the casino in order to be seen by Terry, who, as he expects, has him locked up in a storeroom to be beaten up by one of his bouncers. The bouncer, however, is in Danny's pocket, and he allows Danny to escape through a ventilation shaft and meet with his team in the vault. The team activates a stolen pinch device to temporarily disable power from the city, allowing them to breach the vault undetected. As Terry tries to restore order in the casino after the power outage, Rusty anonymously calls him via a cell phone that Danny planted earlier in Tess's coat. He lets him know that his vaults are being robbed and that all the money will be blown up if Terry does not cooperate to load half the money from the vault into a van waiting outside. Terry observes video footage of the vault that confirms Rusty's demands, and concedes to help move the money, but orders his men to follow the van when it departs while also calling a S.W.A.T. team to attack the vault. The S.W.A.T. team's arrival causes a shootout and the explosion of the other half of the money. The S.W.A.T. assures the situation is secure and departs with their equipment, leaving Terry to contemplate the ruins.
Terry realizes that the vault video feed was faked when he notices that the vault's marble-inlay floors are missing the Bellagio logos, which were only very recently installed in the vault. His men following the van find that it is being driven remotely, and is only filled with "flyers for hookers". A flashback reveals that Danny used his vault replica to create the fake video feed. The rest of Danny's team posed as the S.W.A.T. team, and took all of the vault money unchecked. Terry returns to the room where he left Danny, finding that Danny is still there, leaving Terry no way to connect him to the theft. Danny offers to assist Terry in finding the money on the condition that he give up Tess, to which Terry agrees. However, the team routes the live security feed of this conversation to Tess's suite. Angry at being used by Benedict, she leaves him and returns to Danny. Danny is still arrested for violating parole, the police having been tipped off by Benedict, and spends some months in prison. When Danny is released, he is met by Rusty and Tess, and the three drive off, closely followed by Benedict's bodyguards.
In the beginning of the film, when they begin to work on the plan for the casino heist, Rusty (Pitt) says to Danny (Clooney),
“
Off the top of my head, I'd say you're looking at a Boesky, a Jim Brown, a Miss Daisy, two Jethros and a Leon Spinks, not to mention the biggest Ella Fitzgerald...ever.
”
This list of cons was created by director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Ted Griffin to describe the type of people and cons needed to knock over the three casinos.[2]
Boesky - Saul playing Lyman Zerga. This is a reference to Ivan Boesky, a big-time trader on Wall Street who got caught committing securities fraud. The con is about a wealthy bankroller who has insider information.
Jim Brown - the confrontation between Frank Catton and Linus Caldwell, staged to distract Terry Benedict so that Linus can lift the security codes to the vault. Named for the famous American football player Jim Brown.
Miss Daisy - the SWAT vehicle used as the getaway car. From the film title Driving Miss Daisy.
Two Jethros - "Hillbilly gear-head types" (in this case the Malloy brothers) having a confrontation on the casino floor, during which balloons are used to cover a security camera and distract casino security, allowing Livingston Dell to sneak into the security offices.
Leon Spinks - the disruption of the boxing match. This refers to the surprise victory of Leon Spinks over Muhammad Ali.
Ella Fitzgerald - the looped tape of the robbery that is played over Benedict's security system. A reference to a 1970s commercial for Memorex, in which a recording of Ella Fitzgerald's voice breaks a glass and the question is posed to the viewer: "Is it live or is it Memorex?"
Reception
Critical
The film received a rating of 80 percent at Rotten Tomatoes.[3]People magazine called the film "pure fun from start to finish,"[4] and included it in its end-of-year Best of Screen list.[5]Newsweek said Ocean's Eleven "bounces along with finger-snapping high spirits," and said that while Soderbergh has "made deeper films, ...this carefree caper movie is nothing to sneeze at."[6]Time magazine's reviewer Richard Corliss criticized the film, saying it "doesn't offer much."[7] Ocean's Eleven ranks 500th on Empire magazine's 2008 list of the 500 greatest movies of all time.[8]
Commercial
Ocean's Eleven had a budget of $85 million. On its opening weekend, it grossed an estimate of $38 million and was the top box office draw for the weekend. The film grossed $183,417,150 in the United States and grossed $267,300,000 overseas leaving a worldwide gross of $450,717,150 making the film a huge box office success. The film is the fifth highest grossing film of 2001.
