'Ocean's 13' was a great popcorn movie, first off. I was in a packed theater with my filmmaking partner-in-crime, opening night here. The title sequence enchanted me from the start...as they showed the rippling Warner lot image, I commented, "Man, I wish they had something like 'And Now Our Feature Presentation,' as the aesthetic from 'Grindhouse' really stuck with me as something sorely lacking in today's films. Didn't matter, the opening sequence did enough for me visually.
Don Cheadle and Casey Affleck really helped steal the show. Affleck's a goofball. I don't think there's any argument there. OK, it was hokey in regards to what they did, maybe...but it was still fun. It was a better ensemble piece than the last. I agree with reviewers that said it lacked suspense, but I guess they didn't get the point of the movie. There was really no suspense needed. It was a finale to the series and a payback movie. You knew what it was from the first 10 minutes. Soderbergh was not at the height of his game, but he wasn't slipping like the last movie. This was a slick piece. The Pacino/Barkin insertion was fab, and seeing Agent Caldwell was fun for what it was. After 'Ghost Rider' left a bad taste in my mouth, I'm glad Peter Fonda didn't reprise the role from his deleted scne in the last one. David Holmes delivered again. I haven't read much about him than I read 10 years ago (and for a while it wasn't much other than he could score a film fast), but he's found good gig and he can really score a movie. Overall, good direction, cinematography, plot just as unlikely that the first, but fun to watch, great pacing and editing. Tomita's song inclusion made me smile from ear to ear.
'The Departed' is something I waited a while to see after all the hype died down. I'm not going to lie, whatever was going on in my life didn't help the fact that this was a painful-ass movie to watch. I can see why this movie gave him acclaim over his other works. Maybe I don't get Scorsese at times, or why this was the one that got him the gold...but this movie didn't have any lulls. The plot, script, pacing, direction...all taut. I think that was lacking in every other film he made that I have seen so many times. He didn't overkill with music or slick techniques. It delivered. It was brutal. Damon was pefect as the lil snitch. Wahlberg impressed me. I owned both his albums, sat through 'Rock Star,' 'The Big Hit,' and 'Planet of the Apes.' I know he shined in 'The Italian Job,' 'The Basketball Diaries,' and was the main tentpole in 'Boogie Nights," but...dude was dead to me as an assclown. I guess right now, he's best in ensemble movies like this and 'I Heart Huckabees,' which I felt was (and still is) his best movie. Dropkick Murphys, Ray Winstone...what?! Jack Nicholson took center stage, no contest there. Movie was taut and tight. I think that's what got this movie the gold.
Bonus:
"Woody Woodpecker and Friends," "Heckle & Jeckle," the entire runs of both on several DVDs. I'm instantly in kindergarden at my grndmothers who would later become my best friend and subsequently help on her way exiting this mortal plane. The animation, the interstitials narrated by Walter Lantz, the nostalgia...all completely rockin' my world.
By the way, Josh, I'd love to see 'Cruising.' Maybe we can make that happen.
