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Ocean's 11 PG-13 Action / Comedy / Crime Released: 2-9-2002 Director: Steven Soderbergh Cast: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Andy Garcia, Julia Roberts

What do you do if you are one of the hottest, most desirable, most marketable and connected leading men in movies today? Well, if your name is George Clooney, you put down your martini, call up a few other of the hottest stars around (he probably had someone else call for him), and make a movie. Why, you ask? Well, the answer is in the movie...it's just for fun!

Who wouldn't want to be in a movie with Clooney? Just think of all the posters with your face right next to his, with millions of awestruck fans fantasizing about being there with you. Judging from the cast list, not too many people said no.

Clooney's plan was to do a remake of the old "Rat Pack" movie, Ocean's 11, and hope that these newest stars and a director could make a hit movie. A hit? I don't know if this movie has the guts to be one, but it is a lot of fun to watch.

To start, Clooney (Danny Ocean), is just released from prison. We see him in front of prison officials answering questions about the possibility that he will return to a life of crime. Of course he answers "no", but with a cocky confident tone and a smug look that makes it quite obvious that there is nothing farther from the truth.

So, the second he is out the front door he begins to assemble his men for his next big hit; of course it's bigger, better, riskier and more lucrative than anything anyone else has ever done before. His recruitment lines and style are so cocky and transparent that, of course, no one can refuse him. After he nets his right-hand man Dusty Ryan (Brad Pitt), the two of them go on a cross-country trip and bag the rest of the crew. The quest is summed by Pitt's character after someone actually puts up a little resistance: "Guys like us don't change". Oooh, that gets 'em every time.

The plan is brilliant and foolproof (did we expect anything less?) except for the one thing can always throw a wrench into any man's perfect plan--a beautiful woman. Ocean's estranged wife, Tess (Julia Roberts), may be the only thing in the way of a carefree life of spending millions of dollars. When will guys learn? Leave the babes alone and grab the cash!

The movie does pick up the pace when the actual heist is taking place. The filming, music, dialogue and action heat up pretty good. The film does a great job of balancing the scenes when everything is "going down". There is Danny Ocean and the gang, hundreds of feet below the casinos of Las Vegas, trying to stay alive; casino owner Harry Benedict (Andy Garcia) and girlfriend Tess Ocean watching a boxing match unaware of the trouble; and Dusty Ryan pacing the casino floor and acting as maestro for the plan.

It's a great ride through this part of the movie and you'll have to see for yourself how it ends.

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