OCEAN'S 8 (2018) Review

The OCEAN franchise executes a certain, distinct formula that has been proven to resonate with audiences as a thrill, at least 3 times under the brilliant direction of Soderbergh. They are (at least to me), the be-all and end-all of the heist genre. Therefore, in considering Gary Ross’ new spin-off of the revered franchise, it is hard not to fall into the repressed, comparative thought process. OCEAN’S 8 gives us an all-female, star-studded, and compelling spin-off. As an OCEAN’S movie, it is a little lacking, though refreshing; as a standalone all-female heist movie, it is a brilliant tour de force. As Nicole Kidman would say: “Wow, the power of women!”

After being incarcerated for 5 years, Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock), sister of the well-regarded Danny Ocean, has planned the perfect heist: robbing a diamond necklace off the neck of movie star Daphe Kluger (Anne Hathaway) at the MET Ball Gala. With the help of a group of talented and diverse women (Blanchett, Bonham-Carter, Rihanna, Awkwafina, Kaling, Paulson), Ocean attempts to achieve a level of glamour and thievery that would make her brother proud.

Performance-wise, the cast did as well as they could with what they were given (and their own acting abilities), and most of the time it was an array of witty exchanges and classic one-liners. Anne Hathaway was the obvious standout, giving us elegant, funny, stubborn, and especially confidence. Bullock and Kaling were not far behind, knowing their characters and going a little above what was wrote for them. Despite those three significant performances, the character writing made it difficult to really delve into the entire star-studded cast. The most notable example of this fault being Sarah Paulson’s Tammy. The character was a bit of a dud, created and cultivated into an indifferent and forgettable personality, but Paulson is not to blame.

In regards to its franchise, this is unmistakably an OCEAN’S movie. The tone, pacing and cast chemistry gave the heist all the juice it needed, and the heist itself was extravagant. The transitions and the score enabled the audience to be nostalgic of Danny and the gang, while introducing Debbie and her team in a refreshing, but oh-so-similar system. The introduction to Debbie Ocean captured the essence of an Ocean, and emphasized her future line, explaining to Lou (Blanchett) why she needed to do this: “Because it’s what I’m good at.” The team bounced off each other well, and while most of the writing fell flat, the chemistry between the actors was not missed.

My final note is this: James Corden is not a good actor. James Corden is James Corden. He is not the final twist, he is not deserving of the writing they gave him in this movie, and he certainly does not belong in this ensemble. Please, Hollywood, if there is anything you can do to move the industry in the right direction, it is to forget about James Corden.

This is a good heist movie. This is a good OCEAN’S movie. OCEAN’S 8 was fun, completely entertaining, and above all, interesting. I liked watching the individual characters indulge their talents, I loved the heist itself, and I loved the story. I have just one message for Gary Ross: do not direct these women with the (perhaps unintentional) intent of limiting them. They are better than you, and it shows.

Score: 7.6/10

Jade