Breaking the law never looked so cool
Reboots of larger-than-life franchises that plunk in an all-female cast are always a good idea. Why? Not because of all that feminism babble, thank you very much, but because women definitely have more fun. It was the case with Ghostbusters last year and Hollywood has done it again this time by putting female stars into the world of heists pulled by the Oceans. In this latest edition, following the three previous films directed by Steven Soderbergh, we meet Sandra Bullock as the recently paroled Debbie Ocean — younger sister of the (maybe) deceased Danny Ocean.
The trailer tells you everything — that she’s assembling a gang of talented thieves in order to pull a diamond heist at one of America’s most exclusive and glamorous balls: the Met Gala. With co-stars such as Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Awkwafina, Helena Bonham Carter, Sarah Paulson and the Met’s real-life darling herself, Rihanna, the script could well be dead on arrival but the movie would sparkle anyway from the mere presence and clothes of its stars.
It’s possibly the most glamorous caper ever, as you watch how the team work their way to plant and eventually steal the 3kg Cartier stunner from the neck of the ridiculous celebrity Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway). The actual process looks a tad too easy, but this undemanding break-in will fill up the action hole with luminaries from the Vogue circle and a lot of laughs. Surprisingly, it is not Bullock or Blanchett that steal the show. For all you Hatha-haters out there, you’d be pleasantly surprised at how many times she will make you genuinely crack up. Hathaway is on point in Ocean’s 8 and the movie does well by successfully banking on her annoyingness that is well-suited to ironically portraying a self-obsessed and dumb star.
We’re hot off the glitzy trails of the real Met Gala and for those who have always yearned to know what things look like beyond that press-permitted carpet, this movie does not disappoint with its glorious fashions, drool-worthy jewels, stunning museum showpieces and pop-culture extravaganza.
This fictional first Monday of May is packed with cameos of supermodels and just about everything high-gloss that makes breaking the law seem so damn cool. If you ever were an eight-year-old girl who dreamed of becoming a criminal someday or are a big fan of everything Anna Wintour does or touches, this one is the perfect summer escapism you’ve been waiting for.