By Olivia Greubel
Ocean’s 8 was released in theaters this past weekend after much speculation and anticipation from fans and critics alike. An all-female reboot tends to make audiences nervous. Especially audiences who have enjoyed the Ocean’s Trilogy starring George Clooney as con man Danny Ocean.
Sandra Bullock plays Debbie Ocean, the sister of Danny Ocean. After a release from prison, Ocean decides to pull off the biggest heist in history, one she spent her entire prison sentence planning. She needs a crew– A-list women only, of course. This includes Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, Awkwafina, Sarah Paulsen, Helena Bonham Carter, and Anne Hathaway.
Sandra Bullock, however skeptical viewers might have been, proves to be a fantastic Ocean. She isn’t her typical awkward, lovable, snorting laugh Bullock character. She has a quietness, an intelligence, and the wit of a smooth criminal.
Debbie Ocean, played by Bullock decides in prison that she is going to rob the Met Gala and steal a precious Cartier diamond necklace valued at 150 million dollars. This requires an actress, a fashion designer, an inside woman at Vogue, and more in order to be pulled off. The film’s parts are set perfectly, and by the end they tumble like a neat row of dominos. Bravo, Ocean’s eight.
This cast of women have solid chemistry and work well together, with scenes flowing seamlessly into the next. One minute they’re planning the heist, the next they’re helping each other work Tinder. They become more than just partners, they become friends who have each other’s backs. It feels authentic, but after each woman exhibited their skills, I found myself wondering more about their backstories.
This is an area where the film may fall flat for some viewers, there seem to be questions raised that are left unanswered. There is little to no backstory for the film, save Bullock’s central character, which leaves the other women as caricatures at times. However, there are eight characters. Knowing a deep-rooted motivation behind each of them may not be necessary, an eighth of a cut of 150 million dollars seems motivating enough. A heist movie, to some extent, requires a suspension of disbelief.
If you stop and ask questions, slowly things might start to unravel. Do yourself a favor and don’t pick at the seams– just go where the crew takes you. You may be surprised at where you end up in the end.
Olivia Greubel is a Copy Editor for District. She’s a senior writing major who will graduate in 2019.
