Gary Ross brings together an all-star cast for “Ocean’s 8”, a high stakes crime caper that follows Danny Ocean’s younger sister Debbie (Sandra Bullock) as she and her crew attempt to pull off an impossible heist. Bullock leads a star-studded cast including Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, Anne Hathaway, and Sarah Paulson to name a few. The film marks the first spin-off from Steven Soderbergh’s “Ocean’s” trilogy and was released 11 years after “Ocean’s 13”, also directed by Gary Ross.
Fresh out of prison, Debbie Ocean reunites with her former accomplice Lou (Cate Blanchett) and explains her latest heist - stealing a $150 million necklace from the neck of actress Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway) at the Met Gala. The pair soon get to work forming their all-female team, each with their own unique skills from pickpocketing to jewellery making. Attempting to steal a necklace so valuable that comes with its own security team results in the formation of an intricate and elaborate plan that, if successfully pulled off, will make these women’s bank accounts a whole lot wealthier.
Gary Ross crafts a stylish caper that uses the pre-established ‘Ocean’s’ franchise to its advantage, giving backstory to its lead character (played by Sandra Bullock) while also setting the tone for the film. Bullock gives a charming performance as Debbie Ocean, her fierce, convincing portrayal is the perfect thing needed to lead “Ocean’s 8” and steer it away from being a drab heist film. Alongside Bullock is a talented cast who all deliver stellar performances including Cate Blanchett who, despite her performance not being as intense as some of her other roles, is still a thoroughly enjoyable presence to watch on screen. These performances are accompanied by glamorous costumes courtesy of Sarah Edwards that reflect and compliment each of their characters and their personalities. From the minimalist wardrobe worn by Bullock, to the vintage and tasteful outfits donned by Blanchett, and the eccentric designs seen on Helena Bonham Carter, each character’s fashion reflects their character to a T.
Despite basing itself on an established, successful franchise, “Ocean’s 8” manages to be a film that feels fresh and original, while also paying homage to the source material and the films that came before it. Ross’ film greatly benefits from its impressive world building and ability to bring likeable and interesting characters to the screen, with the inclusion of celebrities such as Anna Wintour, Kendall Jenner, and Heidi Klum, help to ground the story into feeling as believable as possible. Ross works with “Hello Tomorrow!” writer Olivia Milch to pen a script that features comedy, drama and high-stakes in equal balance alongside hilarious one-liners to make “Ocean’s 8” a thoroughly amusing 110-minute film.
Full of unexpected twists and led by a sensational cast, “Ocean’s 8” is a clever, entertaining film that takes audiences along with a talented crew of women on a glamorous heist. Gary Ross’ film proves to all the naysayers that films with female leads can be enjoyable and successful, grossing nearly $300 million on a $70 million budget. Smooth pacing, glossy visuals and intriguing characters blend together perfectly to bring audiences a stylish crime caper that features strong performances from its entire cast