Philip Messina

Living in Las Vegas I find it a stretch that it works. But it is still one of my favorite movies.

A rarity--a remake that's better than the original. 11 men led by Danny Ocean (George Clooney) prepare to rob a vault linked to 3 casinos in Las Vegas. His partners in crime include Brad Pitt, Carl Reiner, Elliot Gould, Casey Affleck, Matt Damon and Scott Caan. Also, the casinos are owned by Tery Benedict (Andy Garcia) who is romancing Ocean's ex-wife Tess (Julia Roberts). Fun, engrossing, moves smoothly, the entire cast plays it cool and easy and Steven Soderbergh directs it with flair and intelligence. Yes, it's light; yes, it's a trifle but it's so FUN!

This was really fun to watch. No work of art, but neither was the original.

But I'm sorry, George Clooney is nowhere near being Frank Sinatra. It just doesn't work. The original Ocean's 11 is an amazing timepiece showing the coolest guys and gals in the 60s universe horsing around, partying, and in general having fun making jokes together. This, by comparison, is more like the major studios having fun thinking people wouldn't know that this movie had already been done, and done better, with bigger stars, better scenery (mainly due to the spectacle of the Vegas of the 60s, before Disney moved in) and better all-around performances. Plus, of course, songs by Rat-Pack members.

Three bones for this regurgitated plot that brings absolutely nothing new to the crime genre. Hmmm it's not comedy, it's not drama, it's not action, but it has a lot of pretty hollywood A-listers in it. This must be gold!! (assuming gold is the nuggets I pull from my nose I would agree).