Ocean’s 8 is a lovely ensemble heist film. All of the character sketches are quite well done and the film without the guidance of director Steven Soderbergh is lacking a little of the luster of the first three, but difference is to be expected and encouraged in reboots. Take that John Mulaney.
Sandra Bullock’s casual chaos muppetry in the first hotel-mall montage reminded me of how versatile she is as a comic actor.
Cate Blanchett is more in the movie for her stylish outfits than anything else. If I had to fire anyone from the group, it would be her.
Anne Hathaway, wife says, had the breakout performance. Lot of fun moments and breadth in her character. Slate’s review tried to make the case that this was HBC’s movie, but AH kind of steals the show. Maybe it’s an unfair comparison. They’re in different parts of their career. HBC is more of a character actor and we have evidence for a (great) new character of hers.
Sarah Paulson in a comic role take my money. She had one of the most subversive roles in the film in my opinion.
Rihanna can be in every heist film. Awkwafina’s debut (?) on screen is welcome. I can’t wait to see her in a role more deserving of her talents in Crazy Rich Asians later this year.
Mindy Kaling is actually having an amazing run of movies apart from her television career: Wrinkle in Time, Inside Out, Wreck It Ralph.
The focus on the relationship between the two Ocean siblings seems strained and weird, because it really is just a manufactured connection. The role of insurance guy James Corden is still not entirely clear to me, except that wife thinks that Sandra Bullock’s character’s major motivation is thumbing her nose at people who underestimate her, and James Corden gives her (a man) someone to show off to (all of her other friends are women and her brother’s not there).
Wife likes the way that the movie anticipates a lot of objections by explaining why Sandra Bullock doesn’t want to include men on the job.
All for now! Packing for our trip to Hawaii and may try to see Incredibles 2 today!
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