Fast-Paised review: 'Ocean's Thirteen'

No bluffing. This one's a winner.

By Matt Pais

June 7, 2007

• Photos: Shots from the "Ocean's Thirteen" premiere!
• Video: Watch our red carpet coverage with George Clooney!

After super-rich Willy Bank (Al Pacino, looking kinda orange) double-crosses Reuben (Elliott Gould) in the development of a hotel/casino, Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and company work to do right by Reuben and rig the casino's games so it, and Bank, will fail.

Big question: The slow and smug "Ocean's Twelve" traveled to Europe and lost its mojo. Can "Ocean's Thirteen" recover by bringing the guys back to Vegas where it all began?

Catch it: Jazzy, snazzy, and a whole lot of fun, "Ocean's Thirteen" is nearly on par with the breezy pleasures of "Eleven," with the cast back to acting like friends working together instead of celebs acknowledging how cool they are. This tightly written, snappily executed treat bobs and weaves like a prizefighter without even breaking a sweat.

Skip it: If you're annoyed with bars that offer attractive but lousy service. Rather than employing waitresses, The Bank Casino hires "models who serve" so they can legally monitor their appearance!

Bottom line: The gang manages to infiltrate anything, buy anyone and stay five steps ahead of their enemies, and some bigger roadblocks in the plan would keep everything from feeling so effortless. Of course, that's part of the appeal of "Ocean's Thirteen," not just the summer's best sequel but the biggest mainstream achievement so far this year.

Bonus: Did seeing "Knocked Up" last week made you fear childbirth? You're not alone: Though he's actually talking about construction on his hotel, Bank admits, "I don't want the labor pains. I just want the baby."

Matt Pais is the metromix movies producer.

----

'Ocean's Thirteen'

Directed and photographed by Steven Soderbergh; screenplay by Brian Koppelman and David Levien; edited by Stephen Mirrione; music by David Holmes; production design by Philip Messina; produced by Jerry Weintraub. A Warner Bros. Pictures release; opens Friday. Running time: 2:02. MPAA rating: PG-13 (for brief sensuality).

Danny Ocean - George Clooney

Rusty Ryan - Brad Pitt

Linus Caldwell - Matt Damon

Terry Benedict - Andy Garcia

Willy Bank - Al Pacino

Abigail Sponder - Ellen Barkin