*********************This review contains a mild spoiler*************************
“A him gets noticed, a her gets ignored and for once, we want to be ignored.”
Ocean’s 8 follows Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock), recently released from prison after five years and eager to get back on her feet by utilizing the criminal wit for which she is infamous, and the time she’s had to plan while imprisoned, to pull off the biggest heist of her life; drawing out and stealing Cartier’s legendary Toussaint Necklace valued at more than $150 million. Debbie reconnects with her former partner-in-crime Lou Miller (Cate Blanchett) to recruit a crew of skilled criminals, including jeweler Amita (Mindy Kaling), pickpocket Constance (Awkwafina), Tammy the fence (Sarah Paulson), hacker Nine Ball (Rihanna), and the IRS indebted, fading fashion designer Rose (Helena Bonham Carter). Together, they’ll work to rob one of the most famous actresses in America, Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway) at the biggest party in America without being caught.
Ocean’s 8 is a very entertaining and engaging heist story with a main plot that keeps viewers interested and invested in its outcome, and a few twists that ensure things don’t get boring. The engaging nature of the heist at the center of the plot is especially important for the movie since the characters themselves aren’t particularly engaging and don’t inspire much of a connection. Debbie Ocean gets almost all of the fleshed-out backstory aside from Rose, but the parts of her story that are expounded upon don’t inspire much feeling. Debbie is the sister of Danny Ocean, played by George Clooney in the early 2000s reboot of the Ocean’s franchise. In this movie, Danny is deceased and Debbie’s relationship and mournfulness for her lost brother is included to give her more emotional depth. Despite its inclusion, no real emotional pull results from Danny’s various mentions until the end of the movie. Similarly, a revenge tale from Debbie’s past is interwoven with the heist plan, giving more backstory for the main protagonist. This thread provides an added twist to the story and plan but didn’t engender much of a reaction or sympathy for the character. All of this isn’t to say that the characters aren’t interesting, quite the opposite in fact, it’s just that much of the emotion in the outcome is directed more toward the success of their heist than in their individual fates.
The performances from the cast in the movie are stimulating and entertaining, with each character given a chance to display their criminal skill set, though it comes at the expense of backstory for some. Anne Hathaway stood out as the most engaging of the bunch, convincingly portraying a spoiled, pampered Hollywood star ensconced in a world of opulence but not so much so that she becomes grating to look at. Hathaway is funny when asked to be and swiftly and ably makes a transition in character that works when unveiled. Sandra Bullock and Kate Blanchett really buoy the movie as the team’s leaders, really selling the idea that they are long-time friends with a history of capers and crime behind them. Relative newcomer Awkwafina provides laughs whenever she appears onscreen as the streetwise pickpocket Constance while music superstar Rihanna continues to improve as an actor, building upon her role in 2017’s Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets as a prodigious hacker with a murky backstory. The talented Helena Bonham Carter and Mindy Kaling work well together as a two-person comedic team during their shared screen time, with their time conning Cartier serving as one of the movie’s highlights. Juggling such a large ensemble can be a tall order for any movie and Ocean’s 8 is able to both provide at least a smattering of backstory for most of the members of the heist team with the exception of Constance, who is just referred to as some of the best hands in New York, and Nine Ball whose questions regarding her background serve to enhance the character’s allure. Each character has a unique feel and contributes to both the plan and the feel of the movie itself.
Much had been made about female-centric reboots of pre-existing IPs and the sometimes negative reactions that they engender from long-time fans, males in particular. While Ocean’s 8 does make a couple of off-hand references to the gender makeup of its main cast, girl power is portrayed onscreen through the team’s cunning and their actions, not heavy-handed dialogue. The movie allows the new cast to be their own thing with almost every connection to the Ocean’s franchise being through Debra’s lineage and flowing organically through what’s transpiring within the story. Respect is paid to the earlier movies without reminding you too heavily of the lineage and women are well represented with the feeling of being pandered or preached to. Achieving balance between all of these things has alluded many filmmakers in recent years and the execution displayed in this movie are laudatory.
The camera work used in Ocean’s 8 by director Gary Ross is very stylish and eye-catching, highlighted by a great collection of transition shots. The first shot that comes to mind is at the beginning of the movie as Debbie peruses her wardrobe for clothes with each swipe of a set of hanged outfits bringing about a transition. This type of eye-catching, stylish camera work is shown throughout the movie and helps to create a chic aura for the movie to match its Met Gala setting.
Ocean’s 8 is a very fun and entertaining time at the movies, with a pace and flow that keeps the audience engaged and never bored. As I became invested in the heist and watching it unfold, the hour and fifty-minute run-time went by quickly without ever causing me to look at my watch. The ensemble cast are all believable in their respective roles and each do their part in contributing to the fresh and fun feel of the movie. While the entire plot centers exclusively around the planned heist and its execution, the investment in seeing the team succeed and the entertainment value presented while watching them do so keeps its thinness from being a problem or a distraction. The stylishness of the set production and the characters’ costumes is matched by the camera work and direction from by Gary Ross, giving it a very fashionable look and feel. The movie also displays the viability of female lead films and characters as well as the ability of actresses onscreen without being overtly “preachy” or heavy-handed. The proof is offered in the execution and quality of the movie itself. Ocean’s 8 is good time in theaters for adults looking to have a good time at the movies.
Image: Warner Bros.
