Gem of a heist drama

OCEAN’S 8

Be dazzled by a sparkling mix of high crime and haute couture in this hugely enjoyable diamond heist caper. Sandra Bullock stars in this allfemale spin-off sequel to the supersuccessful Ocean’s 11 trilogy, which began way back in 2001. It featured George Clooney as crook Danny Ocean, who is supposedly now dead, and here Bullock plays Debbie, his con-artist sister.

Leaving prison on parole after five years inside she cuts a strikingly strong, sexy and smart figure as she blags her way into an expensive hotel suite with plans for an audacious, risky and hugely profitable con. Hooking up with former partner-incrime Cate Blanchett, they put together a multi-ethnic team of women which includes Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson and Awkwafina.

Helena Bonham Carter is entertainingly distracted as a fashion designer roped in to help, and pop star Rihanna is confident and surprisingly good as the team’s technical genius.

It’s fun to hang out with the allgirl gang who have a convincing and easygoing chemistry, and each of them is given their moment to shine in the spotlight and demonstrate their varied criminal skills.

Dressed in a series of fabulous outfits, they plan to steal a

$150million necklace from an exclusive fundraising gala in New

York while it’s being worn by a famous actress, played with comic vacuity by

Anne Hathaway.

However, not everyone knows there is more than one con being played, which raises the stakes for all concerned.

Cameos by worthies such as Vogue supremo Anna Wintour and tennis player Serena Williams are thankfully kept to a minimum. And not even the late arrival of James Corden to the party can spoil the fun.

This is a slick and highly polished good-time movie, and it’s all the better for feeling as if it smells of exquisitely expensive perfume rather than the men’s locker room.

Cert 12A Running time