Ocean's Eleven

Updated June 26, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

Fueled by star power, suavity, and a top-notch director working with a familiar crew of actors, Ocean's Eleven has all the odds stacked in its favor. Like a casino, it can't be beat. Stephen Soderbergh (Traffic, Erin Brockovich ) helms a cast that includes George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Andy Garcia, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, and Don Cheadle. The high gloss roster comes together for a remake of a 1960 Rat Pack film by the same name. Fresh outta jail, Danny Ocean (Clooney) assembles a crack crew in a bid to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously. Julia Robert's character is Ocean's ex-wife; her new man (Garcia) owns the casinos Ocean wants to leave high and dry.

Ocean's Eleven goes down very smoothly. The movie is standard heist fare executed by a team of masters. Sets and costuming are sumptuous, and the actors exude charm with the assurance of big stars, which they all are. Portraying polished, dangerous Danny Ocean will only up Clooney's hunk status. His sexy persona plays well off Julia Roberts. Their verbal sparring evokes classic moviegoing wit.

Other Soderbergh films had more social weight and artsy craft, but the pop shimmer of Ocean's Eleven—from the actors to actual Vegas locations—is undeniably fun.