Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
After spending five years, eight months, and 12 days incarcerated, Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) is now out on parole. For Ocean all those days behind bars has left her with a lot of time to work on the biggest heist of her life. And now that she’s out she shares her plan with her friend, Lou (Cate Blanchett), and the two get a group of five other women to join them. The women they get to join them are jeweller Amita (Mindy Kaling), con artist Constance (Awkwafina), suburban mom Tammy (Sarah Paulson), hacker Nine Ball (Rihanna), and fashion designer Rose (Helena Bonham Carter). But what is the plan? Their target is a $150 million necklace for designer Rose to put on the neck of superstar Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway) at the Met Gala, then steal it.
Director and Writer Gary Ross creates a Film that has a constant exuberant and fun energy throughout. Ross manages to pull off many cameo appearances and accurately depicts the big celebration of the first Monday in May. Ross and Co-writer Olivia Milch write a tight script that is full of humour and high stakes. They also create strong character’s that are given enough of a backstory to understand why they would risk their lives for this heist.
There is a lot to love about Ocean’s 8 but nothing more so than the Cast. Bullock is phenomenal as the sophisticated and effortless criminal Ocean. Blanchett is mesmerizing as the tough-as-nails and often mysterious partner-in-crime Lou. Awkwafina is hilarious as the slight-of-hand and quirky Constance. Paulson is brilliant as the curious and subtle kleptomaniac Tammy. Rihanna is captivating as the march-to-your-own-beat and honest Nine Ball. Hathaway is spellbinding as the glamorous and must-have-it-all Daphne. Kaling is charming as the quick-on-her-feet and whitty Amita. And Bonham Carter is enthralling and the down-on-her-luck and anxious Irish Rose. What makes all of these characters great is that they all have different distinctive personality traits. It is refreshing to see a Film where women are defined first and foremost by their intelligence and skill. Above that, they all look like they are having the time of their lives!
Be ready for Ocean’s 8 to steal your hearts.
Warner Bros. Canada release OCEAN’S 8 Friday, June 8, 2018.
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com