Kentucky Serendipity

Ocean’s 8: Not Your Father’s, er, Brother’s Crime Story 15 September 2018

The original Ocean’s 11 (1960) was a very good movie, as was the 2001 remake. Ocean’s 12 and Ocean’s 13 managed to carry the story forward and entertain. The sequels have enough original material to keep the franchise fresh while reusing enough earlier elements to keep the ties among the movies strong. I’m not sure the series could have successfully gone on to Ocean’s 14 so it was probably a good thing to end Ocean’s crime adventures with number 13.

Then someone had an idea: What if Danny Ocean had a younger sister, Debbie, who was also a grifter and an ex-con? She could get an all-female crew together and pull off a heist in the grand style of her older brother’s gang. And so Ocean’s 8 was born. How could it miss?

But miss it did. Perhaps the casting was off; the cast is definitely not as strong as the other Ocean’s movies. Consider:

• Ocean’s 11 (1960) — Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford, Cesar Romero, Joey Bishop, Norman Fell, George Raft, Angie Dickinson
• Ocean’s 11 (2001 remake) — George Clooney, Bernie Mac, Brad Pitt, Elliott Gould, Casey Affleck, Carl Reiner, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Julia Roberts
• Ocean’s 12 — as listed for Ocean’s 11 (2001 remake) plus Catherine Zeta-Jones, Don Cheadle, Eddie Izzard
• Ocean’s 13 — as listed for Ocean’s 11 (2001 remake) plus Al Pacino, Don Cheadle, Ellen Barkin
• Ocean’s 8 — Sandra Bullock, Kate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Midori Francis, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, Dakota Fanning, Sarah Paulson

Sandra Bullock and Kate Blanchett are near the top of my list of favorite actresses, and I also enjoy performances by Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter very much. However, the above lists show that Ocean’s 11, 12 & 13 clearly beat out Ocean’s 8 in terms of star power — Ocean’s 8 just doesn’t have as much talent in the cast. And it shows.

Why doesn’t Ocean’s 8 have a stronger cast? After all, the movie has a good premise and builds on earlier, quite successful, movies. Perhaps the problem was the script — it was certainly a problem for the movie. The earlier Ocean’s scripts were crisp with jabs and banter but also warmth. Ocean’s 8 lacks those qualities. The earlier Ocean’s scripts kept pulling the story forward while the Ocean’s 8 script often leaves the story floundering. Earlier Ocean’s scripts showed the relationships among the characters and gave the characters depth through insight into their backgrounds. The Ocean’s 8 script doesn’t, and the characters appear to have no relationship other than being drawn into the heist. We never learn the relationship between Debbie (Bullock) and Lou (Blanchett) even though they are the main characters and have some sort of past together but we get no details. Are they past lovers? There seem to be hints that they are but some scenes make this unlikely. We have many questions about Ocean’s 8‘s characters but few answers.

The script is certainly a problem with the movie but so is the acting. Sandra Bullock’s performance is a major disappointment. She uses minimal facial gestures, and apparently is trying to act cool and aloof but usually she just looks bored — and that’s how I felt through most of the film. She comes across as cold rather than cool. Danny Ocean had a coolness which Debbie completely fails to capture. Danny Ocean also had a warmth behind his coolness which made you like him; Debbie lacks warmth. I had no sympathy for the character even though she did prison time after being betrayed by a partner. Kate Blanchett does a little better but her performance also seems wooden and uninspired; but then how could this script inspire an actor?

Helena Bonham Carter does a credible, though not great, performance as a somewhat not-with-it fashion designer. The best performance by far is that by Anne Hathaway. She takes the character and works it. Ms. Hathaway gives a striking performance as an egotistical actress who isn’t as stupid as she seems. This was the only performance in the film which I actually enjoyed, and it was the only character which was fleshed out. This is due in large part to Ms. Hathaway’s portrayal.

Titling the film Ocean’s 8 leaves space of Ocean’s 9 and Ocean’s 10. In other words, they could make sequels to this movie. Let us pray that they don’t.