Ocean's 8 - Review

The heist movie is one of the most cinematically satisfying genres. Whether it’s The Italian Job, Sneakers, or Inception, there’s something about watching a group of professionals plan a heist and then carry it out (or even fail) that’s always just a good time at the movies. Ocean’s 8, the latest Ocean’s 11 sequel, falls proudly into this tradition.
 
Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock – CAA) is released from prison for good behavior. Her brother, Danny (George Clooney in the previous Ocean’s films) has recently passed away. To honor him, Debbie decides that she’s going to plan a big score – steal incredibly valuable diamonds while using the annual Met Gala and a famous actress, Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway – CAA|Management 360), as cover. And maybe in the process she’ll frame her ex-lover, Claude Becker (Richard Armitage – WME|Management 360|United Agents, UK), who previously set her up and sent her to prison. But Debbie will need help from seven ladies: Lou (Cate Blanchett – CAA|RGM, AU), her best friend and premium con artist; Rose Weil (Helena Bonham Carter – WME|MGMT|Conway van Gelder Grant, UK) a fashion designer; pick pocket Constance (Awkwafina – UTA|Artists First); Amita (Mindy Kaling – CAA|3 Arts), a diamond appraiser; Tammy (Sarah Paulson – CAA), a diamond fencer; and hacker Nine Ball (Rhianna – WME|ROC Nation) to hack the Met’s security system. The film then follows these characters bouncing off each other as they plan their heist. And then, of course, there’s the eventual heist itself with its twists, turns, and reversals.
 
Ocean’s 8 is a great time. Like the previous Ocean’s films, the fun is watching great actors bounce off of each other, snipe back and forth, and watching the camaraderie build. What makes Ocean’s 8 unique is that we’ve never really seen a group of women pull off a glamorous heist like this. Anchoring the whole endeavor is Bullock, who plays a variation of the suave cool criminal that George Clooney played in the three previous Ocean’s movies. Mindy Kaling plays a version of herself, but watching her play off Helena Bonham Carter’s overly neurotic fashion designer is a joy. Awkwafina plays an aloof pickpocket, and she and Bullock have a pretty funny rivalry. Rhianna is hilarious as the stoner hacker. Sarah Paulson is fun as the housewife who’s secretly a no-nonsense fencer. But the real standout is Anne Hathaway, who is having a ball playing a bimbo starlet who might know more than she lets on.
 
The cast is clearly having a blast all around, and that good time is infectious thanks to the slick direction by Gary Ross (CAA), who also co-wrote with Olivia Milch (ICM|Mosaic). Ross wisely doesn’t try to ape Steven Soderbergh’s (Anonymous Content) stylized approach, but he still gives the film a glamorous cool that keeps things moving. If the film has a problem it’s that it is a little slow to start, and it takes a little bit for the group to come together. You can see the story machinery moving in the early stretch. But once the team comes together and they start planning the heist, the movie really cooks. The heist scenes in particular are a lot of fun to watch.
 
If I had one major complaint it’d be this – I wish there was more of an emotional motivation for Debbie to steal the diamonds in the first place. As it stands, her reasoning is because she’s good at it. However, if I’m being truly honest with myself – if I was planning a diamond heist using the Met as a cover, I’d probably do it for the fun as well.
 
Ocean’s 8 is a great time, doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it’s enthusiasm is infectious. A nice reprieve from all the CGI explosions and laser blasts.
 
Three out of four stars.