Nerds That Geek Movie Review: 'Ocean's Thirteen'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

​Our closest friends often times mean as much to us as our family. Heck...we usually refer to them as family because these are incredible people who have shared equally incredible moments with us, and that's precisely why we will drop anything on a moment's notice to be near those friends and help them in their time of need, regardless of the situation. 

We do it because we love them, and because we will go the extra mile for anyone that matters that much in our lives, and sometimes when we step in to support our surrogate family, we find ourselves angry because they have been wronged...and when they are close enough to us, we will do anything and everything to avenge and ease their pain and just how far we are willing to go to set everything right...was explored in great detail in the grand finale of the Ocean's Trilogy...Ocean's Thirteen.

Danny Ocean and all of his friends have returned to Las Vegas for one somber reason; their longtime pal Reuben Tishkoff, has suffered a massive heart attack. But unfortunately for the gang, they're not merely in town to just lend support and a helping hand, they're concerned and angry, because Reuben's heart attack was not a matter of poor health, it was instead brought on by a grand double cross by Hotel Magnate Willy Bank, and Willy's move all but ruined Reuben's finances, and after turning down an opportunity to set things right and make Reuben whole once again...the gang decides it is high time to teach Willy Bank a lesson he will never forget...

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I have to admit that every single time I watch this film, I always wonder if it was made to truly close out the Ocean saga...or if it was put together to wipe away the bad taste and reception of its predecessor because Thirteen takes us back to Sin City and removes any traces of the darker and edgier film that came before it and well...that's not necessarily a bad thing. This saga was always about making revenge and thievery fun and silly and well, this film certainly delivers when it comes to that. 

In fact despite Reuben's predicament, there's laughs to be found everywhere in this film, so many chuckles in fact that it borders on outright comedy in some places, and really, that's just one reason of many to enjoy this motion picture. Not to mention, the con in this one is the most complex one of all in this series in order to keep the gang five steps ahead of the many enemies that return for this film, including Toulour and Terry Benedict and let's be honest here, Al Pacino steals the show as Willy Bank. As an actor who rarely plays a villain he absolutely relishes this role, and Bank is truly the most vile human being that the Ocean Gang has ever dealt with since it's all about fortune and glory for this man, making the final act of the film incredibly satisfying when the team's plan for revenge finally comes together.  

As an added bonus, this film is once again a visual feast since The Bank Hotel and Casino is unlike anything we've ever seen in Las Vegas but all visual beauty aside, this is truly my favorite film in the franchise, because this time the story revolves around a noble cause. While the first film featured hints of revenge, it was at its core about getting Danny and the gang out of the game before the sequel had them saving their backsides. But this time...they truly band together as one to exact the right kind of revenge on a man who values his Five Diamond Awards over people and since he gets everything he deserves...it makes this film the most satisfying entry in the series and it is a wonderful way to wrap up the wild adventures that we enjoyed with Danny Ocean and his lovable band of thieves.

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