Three slightly different comedy heist films starring Clooney, Pitt, & Garcia, with Roberts & Zeta-Jones as the femmes fatales. Only watch the first 2.
Three slightly different comedy heist films starring Clooney, Pitt, & Garcia. The first film is very well constructed. Julia Roberts has remarried casino owner, Garcia, while ex-husband Clooney (Ocean) is in prison. Clooney has a clear jealous revenge motive, the heist team is assembled with care, and the job is executed with a style and twist worthy of the best Mission Impossible.
The 2nd film is the `European Vacation' component of the trilogy, with locations in Amsterdam, Lake Como, & Rome. This time, the team is after the best Faberge egg, and they are opposed by Pitt's ex-lover, police chief, Catherine Zeta-Jones. The overall style is a bit more pastiche here, except for Z-J, who gives a better acting performane than the material deserves. I assume the twists in the last 10 minutes are for pure comic effect, and not meant seriously. However, the film still gets by pretty well on raw star power and beautiful scenery, like Hollywood of old.
The final film is back in Vegas, this time with Pacino as the hissable, control freak, casino boss. While Pacino is the main reason to watch, the revenge motivation falls a bit flat here, as do most of the other performances. Everything seems half-assed: the story-telling, the editing, the mumbling scenes, the lack of a leading lady of the calibre of Roberts or Z-J, and a failiure to reignite the ensemble feelgood of the first two movies. There was always a hint that these films were less about art & more about the cast getting well-paid. However, this aspect surfaces rather too blatantly in the final film, leaving the audience feeling that they are the victims of this particular heist.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
