Julia Roberts is one lucky woman. In “Ocean’s Eleven,” she’s the only female in a cast consisting of handsome - and talented - hunks, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Andy Garcia. It must have been quite a sacrifice on her part to put up with such tough working conditions.

Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh did not rely heavily on the original Rat Pack version of the film while shooting his updated “Ocean’s Eleven.” Soderbergh states, “The original ‘Ocean’s Eleven‘ is probably more notorious than it is good. It was the first time that the Rat Pack appeared en masse in a film. They were the epitome of cool and none of us felt like we wanted to compare ourselves to them or to what they were up to. You can’t beat that. We took a completely different tack.”

George Clooney notes, “The truth is, most people never saw the original ‘Ocean’s Eleven.’ They just think they have because those guys were the coolest. Nobody touches Frank and Sammy and Dean, and we won’t ever be that cool. But we do have a really great story.”

Romance plays a major role in Soderbergh’s version of “Ocean’s Eleven.” Danny Ocean (Clooney) gets out of jail and immediately hooks up with old buddies in Las Vegas. Far from being rehabilitated, Danny hatches a plot to break into the supposedly impregnable vaults of Vegas’ three largest casinos. And why does he select these particular casinos? In large part because of the fact that Terry Benedict (Garcia) owns them, and Terry just happens to be involved with Danny’s ex-wife, Tess (Roberts). It’s amazing what some men will do to win back the heart of a woman. Danny still loves and desires Tess, but she’s tired of his choice of career. Danny confronts Tess as he tries to manipulate his way back into her life, while shoving Terry out of it. Danny and Tess’ fast-paced, sharp exchanges of dialogue are exquisite, highlighting the chemistry between the two characters, and between the actors themselves.

Roberts recalls, “When I read the script, I was even more pleased because my part was such great fun. Danny and Tess are so precise in the way that they speak to each other that you can see all the levels and emotions that go on between the two of them.”

Roberts describes her character as “more than just the girl. There’s intrigue and she has some difficult crosses to bear. Tess and Terry are supposed to be boyfriend-girlfriend, but then Tess has to keep evaluating her relationship with her ex-husband. So nothing is as it seems really.”

Does “Ocean’s Eleven” work in 2001? It does in that it succeeds in being entertaining, fast-paced, and just plain fun. “Ocean’s Eleven” serves up some of Hollywood’s biggest stars in a film that’s as enjoyable to watch as it evidently was to film. Clooney may believe this cast isn’t as cool as the original Rat Pack, but the onscreen antics of Clooney, Pitt, Damon, Garcia, and the rest of this talented ensemble, come close to the epitome of movie coolness.

Rebecca Murray
Hollywood Movies Guide

In an era when the country’s first line of defense, intelligence, is more important than ever, this story opens the CIA’s infamous closed doors and gives an insider’s view into the Agency: how trainees are recruited, how they are prepared for the spy game, and what they learn to survive. James Clayton might not have the attitude of a typical recruit, but he is one of the smartest graduating seniors in the country - and he’s just the person that Walter Burke wants in the Agency. James regards the CIA’s mission as an intriguing alternative to an ordinary life, but before he becomes an Ops Officer, James has to survive the Agency’s secret training ground, where green recruits are molded into seasoned veterans. As Burke teaches him the ropes and the rules of the game, James quickly rises through the ranks and falls for Layla, one of his fellow recruits. But just when James starts to question his role and his cat-and-mouse relationship with his mentor, Burke taps him for a special assignment to root out a mole. As the suspense builds toward a gripping climax, it soon becomes clear that the CIA’s old maxims are true: “trust no one” and “nothing is what it seems.” Written by wild62

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Maverick is recreated from the character James Garner created in the 1950s TV program. Maverick is a gambler who would rather con someone than fight them. He needs an additional three thousand dollars in order to enter a Winner Take All poker game that begins in a few days. He tries to win some, tries to collect a few debts, and recover a little loot for the reward, all with a light hearted air. He joins forces with a woman gambler with a marvelous, though fake, southern accent as the two both try and enter the game. Written by John Vogel {jlvogel@comcast.net}

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