Oceans collection - Lewis Milestone, Steven Soderbergh, Gary Ross

The Ocean capers is how these four films are described on the back of the DVD box. I would agree with that description. The first Ocean's Eleven, directed by Lewis Milestone, was released in 1960. It has an incredible cast lead by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. It also includes Peter Lawford, Angie Dickinson, Cesar Romero, and Joey Bishop. This was my second time watching this film, and I decided to start my rewatch of the series with this original. I think that is the right order to watch them in because I found when I watched this one last, I was really disappointed in it. It was written and filmed at a specific time period and the attitudes of that period prevail through out. There is too much slang that doesn't necessarily translate to current times. There are some horrible voice overs, too much backstory that just isn't needed, and the music is repetitive. There is some subtle and not so subtle racism. At one moment they are talking about what they will do when they get rich. One of the characters talks about going into politics, repealing the 14th and 20th amendment to take the vote away from women and to make them slaves...all while standing next to Sammy Davis Jr's character. Truly tone deaf. Along with that, Davis's character is a garbage man who is in charge of getting the loot out of town - that is his big job. Women have very little to do or say, and they are mainly just objects to the men in the film. It is a time capsule which has some fun aspects to it (the opening credits by Saul Bass for example), and the use of paint that can be seen with night goggles. Also, a wonderful bit part by Shirley McClaine!

Luckily, a lot of this was changed for the remake by Steven Soderbergh in 2001. You still had a stacked cast - George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Bernie Mac, Elliot Gould, Casey Affleck, Scott Cann, Shaobo Qin, Carl Reiner, and Andy Garcia...as a start. There is an overall feel that this cast is working together towards a single goal, which wasn't always the case with the 1960 film. I felt that the storytelling is good with the focus on where it should be. There is very little extraneous anything, it is all there to keep the story and film moving forward.

Oceans 12, directed by Steven Soderbergh, was released in 2004. Reuniting the majority of the original cast, as well as adding on Catherine Zeta-Jones, Vincent Cassel, and Eddie (Suzie) Izzard. The story continues because the man they stole all the money from in Oceans 11, found each and every one of them. Despite the fact that the casino's didn't lose anything due to insurance, he still wants his money back...in two weeks time. This leads the gang to a mini-heist in Amsterdam, which then leads them to a bigger heist in Italy. There is a bit more backstory to Brad Pitt's character, and more focus on Matt Damon and Julia Robert's characters but all of this helps fill in the story, and rounds out characters. Personally I find Julia Roberts character to be hilarious in this film. 

Finally, Oceans 13 in 2007, also directed by Soderbergh. Again, the cast comes back for one last heist. This time it is payback for how one of their own was treated by a casino owner, played by Al Pacino, and so they work with Andy Garcia's character for an extensive ploy. It really is quite amazing to see how it all comes together and is resolved. 

Now, if this doesn't satisfy you - you could also check out Oceans Eight. Directed by Gary Ross, it is another heist film but this time the cast is almost all women lead by Anne Hatthaway as Debbie Ocean. I have watched it as well, and thought it was a really fun heist film that fit well into the Ocean's series.