(aka "Ocean's 12" )

 

directed by Steven Soderbergh
USA 2004

 

Based upon the script ”Honor amongst Thieves” by George Nolfi, Soderbergh, producer Weintraub and Clooney used it as a platform for the follow-up to the mega hit “Ocean’s Eleven”.

But rather than making another heist movie, Soderbergh took the chance and continued to play with blending reality and fiction together, as he previously did somewhat in “Traffic” and very much so in “K-Street”. While the characters have their character names, they are indeed themselves and the film is full of references and personal in-jokes, where these celebs do satire on themselves. Bernie Mac constantly has manicure, Clooney is concerned about if he looks his age, Julia Roberts imitates Julia Roberts, along with Bruce Willis playing himself, Vincent Cassel imitates Catherine Zeta-Jones’ acrobatic sneaking between the lasers from “Entrapment” and so forth. Even the plot itself is an in-joke on both “Ocean’s Eleven” and several other heist movies, where the gang begins to discuss why the hell they are known as Ocean’s eleven and why Danny Ocean gets all the honor.

As a result of this, the story is awfully flawed and as a "film" film it is barely acceptable. But neither Soderbergh or Clooney, or for that matter any of the other participants, were concerned about the film. It was all about having fun and making fun of themselves. Very few filmmakers can get away will pulling a stunt like this. This is a film first and foremost for Soderbergh fans and those who get the joke. Those who don’t will be left behind.

Shot by Soderbergh, under his alias Peter Andrews, and edited by his now regular editor Stephen Mirrione (and Soderbergh himself), it is even more extreme in its use of Soderberghian mise-en-scene, supported by the super funky soundtrack by David Holmes, who also did the score for “Out of Sight” and “Ocean’s Eleven”, and further notes upon this being a project between close friends.

“Ocean’s Twelve” is escapism at its most extreme, a film without any redeeming value, without any social context. Its about having fun and making fun of each other. Its the sort of film where the protagonists can get away with anything, and where we let them, because its one hell of a ride to watch them do it. Its the sort of film that lives on the chemistry between the actors and the energy which is generated by it.

Henrik Sylow

Posters

Theatrical Release: December 8, 2004 (Hollywood, California)

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Warner - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Henrik Sylow for the Review!

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Warner Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	2:00:08 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	2.40:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.92 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate
Audio	2.0 Dolby Digital English, 5.1 Dolby Digital English
Subtitles	English, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Icelandic, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Warner Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.40:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer DVD Release Date: April 19, 2005 Keep Case Chapters 36

 

 

 

 

Comments

Funkalicious image. It simply looks damn good. Also great 5.1 Dolby Digital mix, that really pumps the funky tunes of Holmes. Sadly, only a trailer as extra. Where is the 'Making Of' or the audio commentary?  - Henrik Sylow

 

 

---

DVD Menus

 

 

---

Screen Captures

subtitle sample (English only)
Captures resized to 800px from 1016px native resolution

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

---

 

 

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Warner Region 2 - PAL