Ocean's Thirteen (2007)

This week's other third parter is Ocean's Thirteen. Once again, after all the hype that these Ocean films get, not much can live up to it. I also didn't really go for the first two, but I figured I'd give it one more try.

George Clooney once again plays Danny Ocean, a mastermind of the casino heist. Never mind that he made off with tons of loot in the first two films; this time it's to avenge how Willie Bank (Al Pacino) wronged his friend in a casino development deal. Bank is building the ultimate Vegas casino, something to even trump the over the top Wynn. Of course, the obvious solution is to just take Bank out the back and rough him up. Naah, then we wouldn't have any film. Instead, Danny Ocean enlists the aid of his old crew including Matt Damon, Bernie Mac, Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, and Don Cheadle (of note, Julia Roberts didn't return this time around, but I'm not sure she really worked in these films anyway) with an elaborate plot to drain Bank's bank. Even going so far as to enlist outside consultants, they come up with plan to get a bunch of whales into the casino, betting large, and then for the house to lose at all their games simultaneously. Oh, and because they don't need the money, they're not even going to win anything out of this (they do get some jewels later, but it's an afterthought).

So, does the Ocean crew deliver the goods this time around? Well, unlike the other outings, I liked Thirteen better than the last two. I think that this time around the plot had some more substance, was better developed, and I actually wanted to see how it finished. With so much simultaneous star power, the acting was solid throughout. The scenes of the Vegas strip were well done, and they did convey the excitement and vibrancy that permeates that town. One criticism is that there were still too many scenes that dragged on, especially without any dialogue, and I had to use the fast forward button to muddle through.

My other criticism is that in their effort to get this to look like an older movie shot on film, at least on the DVD through my LCD HDTV, it was overdone. To my eye, they had added some type of film effect filter, and it turned up the grain a little too much, and made it look lower quality than the base video likely was. Also, it was plenty overdone in the first scenes, but they had pretty much ditched it by the end. Trying to get the video to look retro and classic is one thing, but this ended up being a distraction, and should have at least been consistent throughout.

I can't say that I'm waiting to see Ocean's Fourteen, but at least Ocean's Thirteen was ok.

Overall Grade: B

Reviewed by Jonas

Two For the Money

Inspired by a true story, Two For The Money features the acting prowess of Al Pacino, and Matthew McCounaghey in a great dramatic film. Al Pacino plays the mentor with Matthew as his protege in the high stakes world of sports betting. Overall, it has the feel of similar movies such as Wall Street, Boiler Room, or even The Color of Money.

Matthew McCounaghey plays Brandon Lang, who starts as a 900 number voice man in Vegas while he desperately attempts to restart his college football career which is rapidly becoming a dim memory. Subconsciously, Matthew needs a father figure. Pacino discovers him when McCounaghey starts picking football games with amazing accuracy. In a whirlwind blink, McCounaghey is in the "big city" of NY and quickly moves up the ranks to Pacino's right hand man. Soon they are on the desperate edge, while millions of dollars change hands over the score picks that McCounaghey gives to his growing clientele.

The pace of this movie is just about right, with no sagging parts, or weak moments. A dramatic subplot also develops with Pacino's wife, Toni, played by the competent Rene Russo. The movie is also supported by dramatic views of the Manhattan skyline, and the Brooklyn Bridge. I also enjoyed such snappy dialogue as "We're selling certainty in an uncertain world."

Overall, it is a compelling drama, with strong performances by all. If you want a glimpse into the world of sports betting, and consulting, Two For The Money is just the ticket.

Overall Grade: A

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