Give me a film that stars Sandra Bullock, and I'm there!
Give me a film that delivers eight female heisters (v. 1927 (American English slang, probably a dialectal alteration of hoist "lift," in sense of "shoplift," also in older British slang "to lift another on one's shoulders to help him break in", as a noun, from 1936) and you can double that bet.
Last century closed with one of my favourite film heists of all time, The Thomas Crown Affair where Brosnan’s thief steals a $100 million Monet from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in broad daylight. A couple of years later, to start this century, the remake of ratpack Ocean's 11, sets the scene for modern heists. But it is all, well mostly, thievery by men. Until now.
These girls - Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna, and Helena Bonham Cartershow - show us how it's done. With another heist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, although this time they're not stealing a painting.
Five years, eight months, 12 days and counting, that's how long Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) has been calculating how to get her hands on the bling.
Watching this film, it's a bit hard to move past the girl love. Sandra Bullock is nothing short of brilliant. Shining brightly alongside here as Debbie's partner-in-crime, Lou is Cate Blanchett. Showing us what girls can be made of. Glamourous. Smart. And tough.
Ocean's 8 is entertaining, and worthy of viewing on the big screen as an outing. It even gives a nod to the George Clooney Ocean's 11. Just one of the predictable moments. Not quite cliche yet most definitely not deep and meaningful. Yes, its light and its fun and its well paced, but most of all its a delight to watch this all star girl cast come together booting out the boys from their traditional role.
Adding to the girls movie swoon, is jewellry and fashion delights of The Met Ball. What a pity this wasn't released for the first week in May. Keep your eye out for celebrity cameos beyond the Clooney framed photo.
Did they pull it off? The $150 million heist? You'll have to watch the movie to find out. No spoilers here.
Ocean's 8 is released in cinemas around Australia tomorrow, June 7th.