Ocean’s 8 proves that a witty, vibrant all-female cast can surpass that of a well built franchise if the characters are handled properly and the plot doesn’t become too overbearing.
Ocean’s 8 proves that a witty, vibrant all-female cast can surpass that of a well built franchise if the characters are handled properly and the plot doesn’t become too overbearing.
Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) reemerges out of jail with a ginormous plan to steal a $150 million necklace off the neck of actress Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway) during the Met Gala. To do just that she puts together a team of some of the best people in the business, including her partner Lou (Cate Blanchett), hacker Nine Ball (Rihanna), fashion designer Rose Weil (Helena Boham Carter), jeweler Amita (Mindy Kaling), suburban mom Tammy (Sarah Paulson) and street hustler Constance (Awkwafina).
Movies with such an all-star cast have failed before but the chemistry between Bullock and her team makes the movie. The authentic and zany relationships the women create as the plot develops is not only authentic but very charming. They are all well entertwined, especially the duo Lou and Debbie. Blanchett and Bullock are the two-man heist team we have all been waiting for. Not only are they hilarious together throughout the film, but their strengths, much like the rest of the team, complement each other.
The characters alone surpassed any misgivings I might have had about Ocean’s 8 when I first watched the trailer. I was anticipating a heist film that just barely reaches the coattails of the first Ocean’s trilogy starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Though the plot is not exactly perfect, I mean the girls steal from the Met Gala, making sure that they delve into fashion. Because why would an all-female cast not want to dress up in the final scenes of their biggest heist?
Despite most of its downfalls, the plot is almost as compelling as its characters with the same twists and turns that have become iconic to the Ocean’s franchise.
Director Gary Ross doesn’t seem to be able to separate an inspiring team of actresses from some of the stereotypical assumptions of a woman’s motivations, including Debbie tying her ex-lover into the plot for a little bit of revenge. Ross didn’t need to fall back on these tactics to make a great movie. But he did and, luckily, Bullock, Blanchett and the rest of the all-star female cast pick up his slack.
Ocean’s 8 provides a film that little girls can watch and see strong, independent women working together to accomplish something, even if it is dastardly.
It also marks the second movie that has had an all-female cast remake, giving hope to the possibility that more are to come as movie producers and directors finally see a benefit in providing women actresses more than just the side character roles.
