Last month, the world was riveted by a daring jewel heist that occurred at the Louvre Museum in Paris in broad daylight.
Coincidentally, Netflix just added a 2018 movie that also involves the theft of expensive jewels at a world-famous museum, this time at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
A loose sequel to the Ocean’s 11 trilogy by director Steven Soderbergh, Ocean’s 8 is worth watching even if it didn’t parallel real-world events.
The film features an all-star cast of some of the best actresses working today, and Watch With Us is here to tell you why it should be on your watchlist this November.
Sandra Bullock Shines as a Charismatic Con Artist
The connecting tissue between this movie and the previous trilogy is Sandra Bullock‘s Deborah “Debbie” Ocean, the previously unrevealed sister of George Clooney‘s character, Danny Ocean. Perhaps the most annoying part of this story is that it depicts Danny as having died off-screen. But it’s the kind of thing that could easily be ignored if there’s ever an Ocean’s Fourteen.
As for Debbie, she is her brother’s sister in the best way. She puts together cons at the spur of the moment, and Bullock plays her with such confidence that few ever question it. Debbie would have fit right in with Danny’s team, and that’s a big compliment to her prowess as a thief.
The Ensemble Cast Is Very Appealing
For a film that was made seven years ago, Ocean’s 8 still has impeccable casting for the supporting roles. Cate Blanchett gets the Brad Pitt role as Lou Miller, the best friend of Debbie and the only real partner she has. The rest of the characters are recruited primarily because they have the specific skills needed for the job. Amita (Mindy Kaling) can craft jewels, while Constance (Awkwafina) is a gifted pickpocket. Meanwhile, Leslie “Nine Ball” Jordan (Rihanna) is the hacker that every good team needs.
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Rose Weil (Helena Bonham Carter) proves her worth with the insider information she provides. That leaves Tammy (Sarah Paulson) to act as a utility player and the eventual fencer for the stolen jewels. The eighth and final member of the group is actress Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway). And she’s not even aware that she’s part of the heist!
Anne Hathaway Shows Her Sharp Comedic Skills
Leaving Daphne in the dark was a choice made by Debbie in part because there was never any guarantee that the former would go along with the plan. Aside from Debbie herself, Daphne is the standout member of the ensemble because Hathaway portrays her as a stereotypical self-centered narcissist.
This is largely played for laughs, and Hathaway also seems to be spoofing her own image as an actress. Yet at no point does Daphne become one of the film’s villains. She may be the butt of a few jokes, but Hathaway’s performance finds enough humanity in Daphne that she has sympathetic traits as well.
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‘Ocean’s 8’ Has a Fun Heist to Watch
Debbie’s elaborate con is set during the Met Gala, a real annual event in New York City, but rarely as interesting as it’s portrayed in this movie. All of the members of her team have an important role to play. That includes Daphne, regardless of her knowledge or intentions.
However, Debbie has an ulterior motive that she kept from her team. She doesn’t just want the money — she wants revenge on her ex-partner, Claude Becker (Richard Armitage), the man who had her sent to prison. That adds a significant amount of risk to the plan late in the film. But the joy of a heist movie is always the part where the audience sees the plan executed. That’s where Ocean’s 8 delivers the goods.
Ocean’s 8 is now streaming on Netflix.
