Ocean's 8

It's the #1 movie right now but if you go to an early afternoon showing on a Tuesday, the theater is nearly empty. There is also a chance to be the youngest folks in the audience. Not a normal occurrence at my age.

Briefly, this is a movie about a complicated big payoff heist in the fashion of the other Ocean's films that started with the original Rat Pack Ocean's 11 in 1960 and was revived starting in 2001 by the George Clooney Ocean's 11, 12, & 13. The twist here is that it is an all-female team of criminals.

In this movie, Sandra Bullock plays Debbie Ocean, the sister of the maybe deceased Danny Ocean (George Clooney). She has just been paroled from prison. During her five-plus years in the slammer, she comes up with the perfect crime, a diamond heist in the $150 million range. Of course, she needs help so she recruits a couple of old friends and some new specialists. Originally six others to make a band of seven and then an eighth at the end, hence Ocean's 8.

It's a very involved plan that of course has it's hiccups in spite of the five years of planning. The movie is only a little over halfway through when the robbery is successfully executed. The aftermath and investigation are as interesting and complicated as the crime. There is a surprise ending that I will not divulge. If you figure it out beforehand, you are a better sleuth than we were. 

Most of the cast is very good. Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett are the main characters. A couple of the headliners don't seem to have enough to do, Mindy Kaling and Awkwafina in particular and Sarah Paulson to some extent. I thought Rihanna was very good. I also thoroughly enjoyed James Corden as the insurance investigator. 

Since the caper takes place at a Metropolitan Museum gala, there were several cameos by the "beautiful people". 

I guess technically this is a chick flick and I was with a chick who liked it, but I enjoyed it too. It was worth the time and money. I'd rate it a B+. 

wjh