Steven Soderbergh

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Lore & Background

Steven Soderbergh directed Ocean's Eleven from a screenplay by Ted Griffin. The film was shot primarily in Las Vegas between February 11 and June 7, 2001, with additional scenes in New Jersey, Chicago, Los Angeles, Florida, and Burbank. Producer Jerry Weintraub's friendship with Bellagio owner Kirk Kerkorian allowed the production to film at the Bellagio, where the cast also stayed during the shoot. The 'pinch' used to black out power in Las Vegas was based on the real-life Sandia Z-pinch, though the effect shown is unrealistic. Don Cheadle was uncredited for his role due to behind-the-scenes disagreements.

In Their Own Story

Soderbergh assembled an eleven-person crew of con artists and specialists for the heist, including George Clooney as Danny Ocean, Brad Pitt as Rusty Ryan, and Matt Damon as pickpocket Linus Caldwell. The team targeted over $150 million from three casinos owned by Terry Benedict: the Bellagio, the Mirage, and the MGM Grand. They built a precise replica of the vault to practice, used an EMP device to disable security lasers, and ultimately escaped disguised as SWAT members after faking their own failure. The film ends with Danny released from prison months later, picked up by Rusty and Tess, knowingly followed by Benedict's men.

Reader's Guide

Steven Soderbergh directed Ocean's Eleven as the first installment in the Ocean's film trilogy. The film features an ensemble cast including George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy García, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Casey Affleck, Don Cheadle, Scott Caan, Elliott Gould, Bernie Mac and Carl Reiner. The story follows Danny Ocean and Rusty Ryan planning a heist of $160 million from casino owner Terry Benedict. The film was theatrically released in the United States on December 7, 2001, by Warner Bros. Pictures. It received positive reviews from critics and grossed $450.7 million worldwide, becoming the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2001. Soderbergh also directed the sequels Ocean's Twelve in 2004 and Ocean's Thirteen in 2007. A spin-off, Ocean's 8 with an all-female lead cast, was released in 2018.

Did You Know?

• Don Cheadle was uncredited for his role as Basher Tarr due to behind-the-scenes disagreements.
• The 'pinch' used to black out power in Las Vegas was based on the real-life Sandia Z-pinch, though the effect shown is unrealistic.
• Producer Jerry Weintraub's friendship with Bellagio owner Kirk Kerkorian allowed the production to film at the Bellagio, where the cast also stayed during the shoot.
• The film grossed $450.7 million worldwide, becoming the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2001 (behind Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Shrek, Monsters, Inc., and P

A Star-Studded Heist Ensemble

Steven Soderbergh directed Ocean's Eleven, a 2001 American heist comedy film that is a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack film. The film features an ensemble cast including George Clooney as Danny Ocean, Brad Pitt as Rusty Ryan, Andy García as Terry Benedict, Julia Roberts as Tess Ocean, Matt Damon as Linus Caldwell, and others such as Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Don Cheadle, Elliott Gould, Bernie Mac, and Carl Reiner. The story follows Danny Ocean and Rusty Ryan as they plan a heist of $160 million from casino owner Terry Benedict, who is dating Danny's ex-wife Tess. The film also includes cameos from television actors Holly Marie Combs, Topher Grace, Joshua Jackson, Barry Watson, and Shane West, as well as Siegfried & Roy, Wayne Newton, and boxers Wladimir Klitschko and Lennox Lewis.

A Masterclass in Cinematic Deception

The plot of Ocean's Eleven involves professional thief Danny Ocean, paroled after four years in a New Jersey prison, breaking his parole to reunite with Rusty Ryan. They secure financial backing from Reuben Tishkoff to rob three casinos owned by Terry Benedict: the Bellagio, the Mirage, and the MGM Grand. Danny estimates the casinos will hold over $150 million during a high-profile boxing match. The team builds a precise replica of the vault to practice, and members infiltrate the Bellagio to assess security. The heist involves an EMP device that disables electricity across Las Vegas, including the laser grid protecting the elevator shaft. Saul Bloom tricks Benedict into storing fake jewels that are actually explosives. The team fakes their escape with paper-filled bags while disguised as SWAT members to retrieve the real cash. Benedict realizes the surveillance footage was faked because the Bellagio logo was missing from the vault floor.

Box Office Triumph and Franchise Expansion

Ocean's Eleven was theatrically released in the United States on December 7, 2001, by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film received positive reviews from critics and was a major box-office hit, grossing $450.7 million worldwide and becoming the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2001. Soderbergh directed two sequels, Ocean's Twelve in 2004 and Ocean's Thirteen in 2007. A spin-off, Ocean's 8 with an all-female lead cast, was released in 2018.

Character Dynamics and Emotional Stakes

The central conflict in Ocean's Eleven is driven by Danny Ocean's desire to reconnect with his ex-wife Tess, who is dating Terry Benedict. Rusty Ryan initially questions the morality of the plan upon discovering this romantic angle but ultimately remains loyal. Benedict has Danny barred from his casinos after a meeting. During the heist, Danny is detained by Benedict in a surveillance-free room to be beaten by Bruiser, who secretly works with Danny. The film concludes with Danny and Tess reconciling before he is arrested for parole violation. Months later, Danny is released from prison and picked up by Rusty and Tess, knowingly followed by Benedict's men.

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