Movie Title: Ocean's 8
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama
Writer: Gary Ross, Olivia Milch
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter
Review: Five years, eight months, 12 days and counting -- that's how long Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) has been devising the biggest heist of her life. She knows what it's going to take -- a team of the best people in the field, starting with her partner-in-crime Lou Miller (Cate Blanchett). Together, they recruit a crew of specialists, including jeweler Amita (Mindy Kaling), street con Constance (Awkwafina), suburban mom Tammy (Sarah Paulson), hacker Nine Ball (Rihanna), and fashion designer Rose (Helena Bonham Carter). Their target -- a necklace that's worth more than $150 million.
Ocean's 8 is a spin-off to the famed Ocean's Trilogy (Ocean's Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen). I have to admit, when I heard that Sandra Bullock was going to play Danny Ocean's sister in another heist movie with a completely different cast of characters, I was very skeptical. Full disclosure, I love Sandra Bullock, but sometimes it seems like the movie industry should leave well enough alone. Hand up, my skepticism was unwarranted. This movie was much better than I anticipated. The film assuredly benefited from a very strong cast of women who can boast four Oscars, two Emmys, nine Grammys, six Golden Globes, five BAFTAs, and 10 SAGs combined. I thought the plot was original while also providing subtle nods to the preceding trilogy. This film seemed a little accelerated in terms of the advancement of the plot and ultimately the heist, as there was a good chunk of runtime after the typical climax of an Ocean's movie. With that said, everything was tied up nicely in the end and there were some surprises to be enjoyed along the way. If you're a fan of the principal trilogy who may have had some reservations as I did, I recommend that you put them to rest and give this movie a chance. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much you enjoy this fun, well-executed film.
Fun Fact: Debbie Ocean speaks German as part of her cover. Sandra Bullock spent most of her childhood in Nuremberg, Germany and is fluent in the language. She holds dual citizenship in both Germany and the United States.