trilogy: the ocean movies

The "Ocean's Trilogy" might be my favorite movie series of all time.

The heists are a lot of fun - and so is everything leading up to them. Travel from Vegas to Lake Como and back to Vegas - and try to keep up with the hilarous dialogue between the gang:
Danny Ocean: the easy-going (unless you take his girl), devil-may-care ringleader.
Rusty Ryan: the idea man with a snacking addiction.
Turk and Virgil Malloy: the Mormon twins - whose bickering will sound familiar to anyone with siblings.
Livingston Dell: the tech geek on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Yen: the greaseman who ran away from the Chinese circus.
Reuben Tishkoff: the former casino owner who provides the funding.
Saul Bloom: the retired actor who has it all with a nice girl, a goldfish and wall-to-wall carpeting.
Frank Catton: the shady card dealer with a penchant for manicures.
Linus Caldwell: the pickpocket with famous parents.
Basher Tarr: the demolition/explosives expert from across the Pond.



Ocean's Eleven:


Less than 24 hours into his parole, Danny Ocean is already rolling out his next plan. Following three rules - don't hurt anybody, don't steal from anyone who doesn't deserve it, and play the game like you've got nothing to lose - Danny orchestrates the most sophisticated, elaborate casino heist in history.





Ocean's Twelve:


Danny gathers up the gang in New York City before they all jet off to Amsterdam, Rome, and Paris to pull off three seperate heists in order to pay back a very angry Terry Benedict. Also hot on their tails are a dedicated Europol agent with a link to Rusty's past and a mysterious French rival known as the "Night Fox."





Ocean's Thirteen:


When Reuben is double-crossed in a luxury hotel business with business partner Willie Bank, he has a heart attack. Danny and the gang plot a heist to avenge Reuben by breaking Bank's casino.

good night and good luck

the year: 2005

the genre: drama


the cast: Jeff Daniels (Sig Mickelson); David Strathairn (Edward R. Murrow); Patricia Clarkson (Shirley Wershba); Robert Downey, Jr. (Joe Wershuba); George Clooney (Fred Friendly)


the plot: In the early 1950's, CBS reporter Edward R. Murrow and his producer Fred W. Friendly decided to take a stand and challenge Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin as he exploited the paranoia of Communism in the United States.



don't miss: the music. The plot is fantastic, but the music really adds to the movie. The band playing throughout the movie is Matt Catingub's band. Matt Catingub produced Rosemary Clooney's last album and George Clooney (her nephew) was so impressed, he personally asked Matt to do the music for this film.



listen for: "What'd the general have to say?" "It was a colonel. Two of them." "That makes a general."



did you know: The filmmakers decided not to cast anyone as McCarthy because anyone "playing McCarthy" would seem like they were overacting, even if they were simply mirroring McCarthy's mannerisms. The role was never cast to begin with as a result. Interestingly, Clooney also said this was the prime reason the film was in black and white -- to match the black and white footage of McCarthy.


extra bonus points: if you know the significance of the film title.

leatherheads

the year: 2008

the genre: comedy


the cast: John Karsinski (Carther Rutherford); George Clooney (Jimmy "Dodge" Connelly); Renee Zellweger (Lexie Littleton)


the plot: Dodge Connolly, a charming, brash football hero, is determined to guide his team from bar brawls to packed stadiums. But after the players lose their sponsor and the entire league faces certain collapse, Dodge convinces a college football star to join his ragtag ranks. The captain hopes his latest move will help the struggling sport finally capture the country's attention. Welcome to the team Carter Rutherford, America's favorite son. A golden-boy war hero who single-handedly forced multiple German soldiers to surrender in WWI, Carter has dashing good looks and unparalleled speed on the field. This new champ is almost too good to be true, and cub journalist Lexie Littleton aims to prove that's the case.


don't miss: the meet cute between Lexie and Dodge.



listen for: "Yeah, I kissed her! On the mouth, twice! And I liked it. A lot!"



did you know: Clooney claimed that he had rewritten all but two scenes and had asked the WGA for credit. When they denied his request, he removed himself as a voting member and changed his status to "Financial Core Member."



extra bonus points: if you know what's interesting about the announcer in the last game talking about the "Hail Mary" pass.