We are told some of the plans details, left with questions, watch the mystery unfold, and as usual are given the last piece of the puzzle at the last possible second. This formula worked well for in the first two, completely surprising the majority of the audience each time. With director Steven Soderbergh's latest attempt the formula feels a bit dry, the mysteries a bit less potent, and the missing piece a lot less unexpected. You will likely find yourself saying "that's just not possible" to some of the things Ocean's crew pull off, but enjoying it enough to suspend disbelief and ignore the plot holes.
The Ocean's franchise is known for offering ironically clean and ethical films. This third outing does a great job of placing thieves in a heroic situation, to the point where they even right the wrongs they commit to another. The smooth pace, snappy dialog, and enjoyable subplots are all improved upon, but the biggest problem is that we don't get to see enough of the characters we like so much. Where there was more character development in the first two films, this film is about the characters we know doing what we know them for.
Part of what makes up for the lack of character development is the execution of the heist and how well it unfolds over a period of two hours. Telling a story this complex could easily get messy, even more so when you have ensemble cast staring some of the most respected actors of our time that people want to see. You're never left thinking a scene is redundant, taking too long, or causing you to wonder impatiently about another character. But you are left wanting more screentime for François Toulour (Vincent Cassel) and the hilarious duo Virgil (Casey Affleck) and Turk Malloy (Scott Caan). Further complimenting the smooth storytelling is the excellent score by David Holmes. Once again he provides music just as cool as the movie and characters on screen.
There is only one major problem with the concept for "Ocean's Thirteen," it's not really necessary. Watching this movie is like listening to a b-side track from one of your favorite bands. It's fun, it's catchy, but in the end it was cut from the album for a reason: it wasn't needed. However, out of all the sequels we've seen this summer this is likely the best of them all and should not be overlooked. Thankfully, unlike the "Spider-Man" and "Shrek" franchises, sequels are not currently planned and the franchise appears to be retiring. "Ocean's Thirteen" is without a doubt an acceptable and enjoyable end to the franchise, and worth the two hours of your time.
Originally published in The Hammonton News
