Blu-Ray Review: ‘Ocean’s 11’ Continues to Define Cool With 50th Anniversary Edition

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CHICAGO – When one considers that it is five-decades-old this year, the influence of the original “Ocean’s 11” is somewhat jaw-dropping. The fact is that the Rat Pack has defined cool for half-a-century now and their influence on everything from film to music to fashion shows no signs of fading. Find me another 50-year-old movie that breathes cool like “Ocean’s 11.”

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0

The definitive Rat Pack movie stars Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean, the leader of a group of heist artists planning their biggest job on New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas. They’ll knock out the power and drain five casinos at the same time. With a perfect blend of comedy, action, and suspense, “Ocean’s 11” entertains as much in 2010 as it did in 1960. With co-stars Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, Cesar Romero, Richard Conte, Red Skelton, George Raft, and Angie Dickinson, “Ocean’s 11” still crackles with energy, especially in HD.

Ocean’s 11 was released on Blu-ray on November 9th, 2010
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. has an extensive enough catalog that they’re understandably on top of their game when it comes to HD restorations for fifty-year-old films. “Ocean’s 11” looks great in HD. It’s a film that vibrates with the bright colors of the strip and that naturally makes it a strong choice for 1080p. The DTS-HD Master Audio track is also strong. In every way, this movie does not look five decades old. It’s no wonder it spawned so many imitators but very few films that could live up to the pure entertainment of the original. Just watching Frank, Deano, and Sammy having this much fun is infectious. Revisit the model for the modern heist film or check out what’s inspired so many movies you’ve loved for the first time.

Synopsis:
“New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas. Roulette wheels spin, cards snap, slots chime, champagne fizzes, shows go on…and the lights go out. It’s the perfect time to steal a kiss or a $25 chip. But for Danny Ocean (Frank Sinatra) and 10 partners in crime, it’s the ideal moment to steal millions. Sinatra and off-screen pals Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, play army buddies who scheme to knock out power to the Vegas strip, electronically rig five big casino vaults and raid them all on the same night. Packed with location-lensed glamour, sweaty suspense, swinging comedy and a stunning twist ending now in gorgeous hi-def, Ocean’s 11 is your entertainment best bet.”

Special Features:
o Commentary by Frank Sinatra Jr. and Angie Dickinson
o Interactive “Las Vegas Then and Now” Map
o Casino Vignettes
o “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” Excerpt Featuring Guest Host Frank Sinatra and Guest Angie Dickinson
o Theatrical Trailer

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By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com