Ocean's 8

Ocean's 8, Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures

Well written heist thrillers are sort of a novelty these days, with many attempts being either fun, yet ridiculous (Now You See Me) or otherwise fleeting and forgettable (Man On a Ledge). But, a heist thriller that’s well written, based on a heist thriller series untouched for over a decade, and not starring anyone from the original cast, seems incapable of being decent. Thankfully, the writers knew what they were doing with Ocean’s 8.

This film is a fun, clever, and stylish continuation of an already fun, clever, and stylish series, allowing its off-shoot nature to be viewed just as fluidly as a direct cannon sequel. The movie takes place a few years after the original series, where Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock), sister of the late Danny Ocean, is planning the greatest jewel heist in history. Aided by her old partner in crime (Cate Blanchett), she puts together a crack team of hackers, pickpockets, and even fashion designers to pull off her fool proof plan. The film’s plot plays out much like any other Ocean’s movie: heist is set up, heist is carried out, rewards are reaped, and tracks are covered. Many other critics have debated whether this lack of plot deviation is to the advantage or to the detriment of the plot. Personally, I think it was nice to see an Ocean’s movie reboot that actually felt like and Ocean’s movie, unlike many other attempted series reboots of today. Thus, familiarity was welcome. Other critics have also voiced their issue with Debbie Ocean’s side goal of getting revenge against a boyfriend character, and while I agree the whole scheme was unnecessary, I never thought of it as distracting to the main heist overall.

What I do have issue with was Sandra Bullock’s performance. Many of the other cast members including Rihanna, Awkwafina, Helena Bonham Carter, and Anne Hathaway were great to watch in character, mostly because they had one. To be fair, Bullocks’ character equivalent, Danny Ocean (George Clooney) isn’t exactly the most memorable or dynamic character in cinema history; but, where Danny Ocean was charismatic and ruggedly scoundrel-like, Debbie Ocean is flat and only mildly mischievous. Luckily, the Ocean’s films have always been less about character development and more about plot focus, which, as I stated, was serviceable.

To wrap up my thoughts as a whole, Ocean’s 8 is a good follow-up to a good series, and doesn’t fail to entertain in virtually any aspect. While not quite as solid as the first three (Ocean’s 11, 12, and 13), Ocean’s 8 is a wonderfully smart and stylish film worthy of being watched on its own, or with its predecessors in an all-night Ocean’s marathon. It will satisfy series newcomers and long-time fans alike.

Overall Rating: A Great Watch

Entertainment Value: Kept My Attention