‘Ocean’s 8’ Review

Recently I have been trying to watch more movies and TV shows! I joined Netflix last month, and have been really enjoying it! I really feel like you can’t beat the feel of the actual cinema, however!

I’ve been going to the cinema a lot more than I used to this year, and recently my friends and I went to see Ocean’s 8, the new all-female spin-off of the 2001 Ocean’s trilogy. I was really excited to see this movie, as it has some strong female actresses as equally strong lead roles! It was received really well when it was released Stateside, which only added to my anticipation!

*DISCLAIMER – MAY CONTAIN MINOR SPOILERS*

I haven’t seen the Ocean’s trilogy with George Clooney, but you don’t need to have watched them as the spin-off has a story for itself.

The flawless, star-studded cast is enough to draw anyone’s attention. Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter are all world-class actresses in their own rights, so the movie was definitely highly anticipated, for me anyway, when I saw these four power-women amongst the lead roles. Of course, that’s not to mention Rihanna.

Ocean’s 8 follows Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock), sister of the late Danny Ocean (Ocean’s trilogy) who is released from prison on patrol. As soon as she is freed from jail, Debbie sets about to track down her old friend, and partner in crime, Lou (played by Cate Blanchett) and convinces her old pal to help her with a heist she had planned while serving her sentence.

The two ladies set about to form the rest of their team. They recruit a fashion designer, Rose Weil (played by Helena Bonham Carter), Amita, a jewelry maker and old friend of Debbie’s, a pickpocket by the name of Constance, Nine- Ball- a skilled computer hacker, and lastly, another of Debbie’s old friends, Tammy.

The movie follows the seven women set about planning and completing an impossible heist at the yearly New York City Met Gala, with the guest of honour, Daphne Kluger- played by Anne Hathaway wearing the item of value in question, a $150 million necklace, known as the Toussaint.

Without saying too much about the actual story, I thought the ins and outs, and finer details of the storyline were quite smart, and each character in the team definitely brought something to the table, adding to the story.

I really loved the actual Met Gala scenes, it looked so realistic. It was interesting and fun to see all the style and see many familiar faces in the scenes such as Gigi Hadid, the Jenners, and Kardashians as well as Heidi Klum amongst some of the well-known stars that would attend the Met Gala.

As I’ve said I haven’t seen the original Ocean trilogy, and so I can’t compare, but I really thought the female packed film was definitely one of the better films I’ve seen in recent times.

Personally, I thought the casting was pretty much on point, and everyone got the right role! Everyone seemed to just fit into their role so well, and it’s clear both the producers and director did their work, as well as the actresses on the characters they played. After seeing the movie it just confirmed this thought furthermore.

After a three year absence from the big screen, Sandra Bullock comes back as good as ever in playing the strong lead role of Debbie Ocean. She plays the lead role as a criminal superbly well, and there wasn’t once I felt she wasn’t right for the role.

I loved Anne Hathaway, and how she carried her character, Daphne Kruger in the film. I’ve always been a massive fan of Anne since I was much younger, and so I love seeing how she’s progressed through the years. Her portrayal of Daphne Kruger was flawless- you wouldn’t expect much else from Anne, really.

Thirdly, was Helena Bonham Carter, and her portrayal of her own character, fashion designer, Rose Weil who is in debt when she meets Debbie and Lou. I’ve always found Helena to portray kooky characters, and in a way feel like this is no different, as Rose is quite unique and kooky in her own way.

I also felt Rihanna was cast very well as the highly skilled computer hacker, Nine Ball. She didn’t have the most talking but this may have worked in her favour.

I wasn’t expecting James Corden when he came out- I never realized he did a spot of acting, really! He was quite funny as the insurance guy nearing the end. I also didn’t exactly think much of Debbie’s ex-boyfriend, Claude Becker, and loved how Debbie set him up for her revenge! Quite clever, I believe.

There was a tiny lilt in the film, about an hour into it, which made it feel like it was ending! I remember thinking how it was hardly over already, and how if it was it was very anti-climatic, but I was wrong, and it was probably a game plan from the directors! You’ll know when the moment comes. On the flip side, once I realized it wasn’t the end of the film, I felt a sense of female empowerment as the lead roles entered the Met Gala in their gowns.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFWF9dU5Zc0&feature=youtu.be OCEAN’S 8 – Official 1st Trailer Source: Warner Bros. Pictures/Youtube

All in all, I really enjoyed the movie, and I felt it flew! It didn’t at all feel like nearly two hours, which is always a good feature in a movie!

 

Have you seen Ocean’s 8 yet? What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments!