It’s a very entertaining film- a strong narrative, great actors (clearing having a ball), and well directed by Soderbergh who edits it fiercely at a great pace and utilizes his unending talents as a director of mise-en-scene with his trademark golden lighting
Strong Jazz score
Clooney is perfect to take on the Sinatra role (of an original film that is far from being a masterpiece). He’s not scared off by Sinatra’s swagger and carries the confidence of Danny Ocean
Pitt’s rusty is great as well- plays off Clooney like Dean Martin did Sinatra—and he’s eating in half his scenes (this is a Pitt thing (think phone booth in fight club) similar to Cruise and Dustin Hoffman with their running obsession in films)
Split screen usage
Playful transitions- wipes
The yellow bar lighting on faces of the two mega stars during the scheming is borderline genius-work
Chandeliers in that trademark Soderbergh golden/orange hue—very elaborate and decadent (he’d go back to the hotels in Vegas in Behind the Candelabra)
Love the beautiful Bellagio fountain ending
Nods to the original film with Henry Silva in the crowd at the fight at the EO-Eleven song
Golden elevator
The assembling of the crew montage isn’t revolutionary filmmaking but very engaging and entertaining
There’s a bit of Newman and Redford here (obviously the sting comes to mind before butch with the heist premise) with Pitt and Clooney- great stuff
[…] Ocean’s Eleven – Soderbergh […]