More a sequel than an actual reboot, Ocean’s Eight has Danny’s younger sister taking up the torch after being released from prison.
The Production: 3.5/5
At the end of Ocean’s Eight, Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) sits by her brother’s grave, toasting him with a martini, saying “You would’ve loved it.” I have my doubts, as I think Danny would have loved the heist, but the previous Ocean’s movies had a moral compass and a villain the audience can grow to hate, something a good con caper film needs but is ultimately lacking in this sequel. Five years, eight months and 12 days ago, Debbie was framed for an art heist by Claude Becker (Richard Armitage), and has been plotting her revenge ever since. Once released from prison, she enlists her “business” partner, Lou (Cate Blanchett), to help her enlist a crew to steal a $150 million Cartier necklace known as the Toussaint, kept under heavy guard and security, during the annual Met Gala. It is the ensemble cast, each one delivering a top-notch performance, and a script peppered with witty dialogue by director Gary Ross (Pleasantville, Dave) and Olivia Milch that keep the film afloat for most of its 110 minute running time.
Going back to my original statement, Ocean’s Eleven had a great villain in Terry Benedict, played by Andy Garcia. He was ruthless and was very much involved in the storyline as Danny (George Clooney) really played him, he was the mark and he was going to get what was coming to him. In Ocean’s Eight, the audience knows very little about Claude Becker, and stealing the necklace isn’t exactly a direct hit on him (although – spoiler alert – the girls do frame him for it), he is effectively a mark on the sidelines for much of the movie, and the ending pretty much suffers for it.
Video: 4.5/5
3D Rating: NA
Ocean’s Eight was captured at 3.4k resolution using Arri Alexa Mini and SXT Plus cameras, and was likely finished as a 2k digital intermediate with Dolby Vision high dynamic range at some theatrical venues. Warner’s 4K UHD Blu-ray presents the film in 2160p resolution with both Dolby Vision and HDR10 high dynamic range, preserving the film’s theatrical aspect ratio of 2.39:1. This is not a huge improvement over the already excellent Blu-ray, although the UHD disc does seem to handle the luxurious color palette and contrast much better, especially once we get to the Met Gala. Jewels and designer gowns glimmer more, with much more vivid colors. Shadow detail is also greatly improved upon, as the attendees mingle in the darkened dining room. Overall, it is a subtle but still noticeable upgrade.
Audio: 4.5/5
The 4K UHD disc contains the same Dolby Atmos track found on the included Blu-ray edition, and thankfully there is no redundant DTS-HD MA track to muck up the default audio settings. This is a rather subtle implementation of object-based audio, and understandably so since this is a very dialogue-driven movie. There is nothing really flashy about it, but it does create a sense of immersion into the environments depicted on screen. For example, in the dining hall, you will occasionally hear clinking of glasses or guests murmuring in various parts of the room, while Daniel Pemberton’s score (along with an eclectic selection of music cues) fill out the room. Dialogue is clear and understandable throughout.
Special Features: 3/5
All of the special features can be found on the included NBlu-ray edition of the movie.
Deleted Scenes (1080p; 1:53): Two scenes are included, with only their scene numbers indicated with title cards.
Reimagining the Met Gala (1080p; 12:47): Cast and crew discuss recreating the famous event for the film and the participation they received from the esteemed museum.
A Heist in Heels (1080p; 11:35): A look at the costumes created and used in the film.
Ocean’s Team 3.0 (1080p; 13:20): A look at the casting and importance of chemistry among the actors.
Digital Copy: An insert contains a code to redeem a digital copy on Movies Anywhere. I redeemed my code on Vudu, and received UHD versions on Vudu, FandangoNow, and Google Play Movies, and HD on Amazon Prime Video. I do not own an Apple TV or an XBOX One so cannot confirm the resolutions on iTunes and Microsoft Movies, respectively.
Overall: 4/5
I really wanted to enjoy this film more, but the lack of a clear and definable villain or mark detracted from it. Presentation is a nice upgrade from Blu-ray, and the set contains a decent set of special features.
https://www.amazon.com/Oceans-4K-Ultra-Blu-ray-Digital/dp/B07BX5MPJC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537398011&sr=8-1&keywords=883929623440Todd Erwin has been a reviewer at Home Theater Forum since 2008. His love of movies began as a young child, first showing Super 8 movies in his backyard during the summer to friends and neighbors at age 10. He also received his first movie camera that year, a hand-crank Wollensak 8mm with three fixed lenses. In 1980, he graduated to "talkies" with his award-winning short The Ape-Man, followed by the cult favorite The Adventures of Terrific Man two years later. Other films include Myth or Fact: The Talbert Terror and Warren's Revenge (which is currently being restored). In addition to movie reviews, Todd has written many articles for Home Theater Forum centering mostly on streaming as well as an occasional hardware review, is the host of his own video podcast Streaming News & Views on YouTube and is a frequent guest on the Home Theater United podcast.
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