By Stephen Shea
Ocean’s 8 tells the story of Danny Ocean’s sister Debbie Ocean as she plots a heist on the Met Gala fresh out of prison. She compiles a crew to steal a diamond that will be hanging off the neck of actress and host for the evening Daphne Kluger. She compiles an all-star team and sets out on the heist of her life.
Ocean’s 8 has first and foremost an incredible cast. Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham-Carter, Rihanna, and Mindy Kaling with even more talented actresses. Each actress gets a chance to flex their muscles and sell their characters. Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett serve as the straight-man in this cast of crazy characters. They step back and allow the plethora of equally talented actresses to shine in fleeting moments. Each actress is game and steps up to the plate and hits the ball. Rihanna especially surprised me playing the stoner hacker Nineball in she plays her as relaxed and slightly slow but when it comes down to it she is able to make her glamorous. Anne Hathaway steals this movie; there is a heist within a heist within a heist and Hathaway is executing that last subtle heist. She plays up her image of being a perfectionist theater kid and imbues Daphne Kruger with an intelligence not initially seen at the beginning of the film.
The film is a blast to watch. It is cool and calculated. While there aren’t any real stakes in the film everything goes off without a hitch and it is entertaining to see everyone pull off their part in the heist. If I had one complaint about the film, it is that it tries to introduce obstacles that are quickly pushed out of the way. Debbie tries to frame an ex lover for the crime, her partner isn’t happy, tells her off and in the next scene everything is fine. The obstacles are cleared too easily. Also there is a chunk of film in which James Corden comes in as an insurance investigator. While he is good, the impact of his character as an obstacle is not really felt. When he comes in, it seems as if he will be trouble and then it never really amounts to much.
All in all, Ocean’s 8 is a fun breezy heist film with an incredible cast full of fantastic actresses. It’s funny, cool and an all-around fun time.
Filmic 