[wpdevart_youtube]MFWF9dU5Zc0[/wpdevart_youtube]
OCEAN’S 8 ****
Dir: Gary Ross (12A, 140 mins)
The initial remake of Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack’s Ocean’s 11 by Steven Soderbergh was a slick, cool-as-ice, jaunty heist caper with George Clooney and Brad Pitt leading a star-studded cast, after which two less than super sequels happened. This Ocean has a complete gender change, with Sandra Bullock playing George Clooney’s estranged sister Debbie Ocean, leaving prison and promising to go straight. A lie of course. Instead she decides to rob the New York Met Gala, and to get past the hi-tech security she’s obviously going to need a crack team. Cate Blanchett is right-hand woman Lou, Helena Bonham Carter is stylist Rose, Rihanna is hacker Nine Ball, the excellent Sarah Paulson is homemaker and fence Tammy, Awkwafina is street-con artist Constance and Mindy Kaling is jewel expert Amita. Anne Hathaway’s movie star Daphne Kluger is the target of the heist, or rather the diamond necklace she is sporting. Cameos abound, with Matt Damon sneaking in as a left-over from the original 11; Dakota Fanning and Damian Lewis are on baddie duties and, unfortunately, Peter Rabbit voicer James Corden also features. Another exercise in cool with a decidedly female take, this should be smooth, funny and sharp, a welcome caper to savour.
Out June 22