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Ocean's 8 is a mediocre heist movie that lacks charisma and charm

The all-female lead spin-off of Ocean's 11 hits theaters this week, it's called Ocean's 8.

The all-female lead spin-off of Ocean’s 11 hits theaters this week. Ocean’s 8 stars Sandra Bullock as Debbie Ocean, the sister of George Clooney’s conman Danny Ocean. Fresh out of prison, she puts together a team of crooks to steal a necklace worth 150 million dollars during the New York City’s annual Met Gala. Oceans 8 also stars Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, and Awkwafina.

Ocean’s 8 can’t decide if it wants to be separate from Ocean’s 11 or be the same because it tries to do both and what you get is a run-of-the-mill, mediocre heist movie that lacks the style and eccentricity of its’ source material. The characters lacked charisma except for the street hustling, pickpocket Constance played by Awkwafina. Who is Awkwafina? I had to ask the same question. Turns out she’s a rapper who just released an EP titled “In Fina We Trust”, she’s an actress on an MTV series, and will co-star in the late summer release Crazy Rich Asians. She steals every scene she’s in from her more experienced and well-known co-stars. If there was chemistry between the rest of cast it didn’t translate onto the screen which is disappointing with these high-caliber actresses in the same film.

Ocean’s 8 probably doesn’t deserve to be compared to Ocean’s 11 which (in my opinion) is near the top of the list of great heist movies but it’s a spinoff and those criticisms are warranted. As I said before it lacks the style, charisma, and eccentricity of its’ source material and that puts in the category of mediocrity and instead of standing out, Ocean’s 8 blends right in.

Also in theaters this week…

The feature debut of writer-director Ari Aster, Hereditary is being hailed as the most terrifying movie of the year. When Ellen, the matriarch of the Graham family, passes away, her daughter's family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry. The more they discover, the more they find themselves trying to outrun the sinister fate they seem to have inherited.

I thought about reviewing this one for you but I proudly admit that I’m too scared for that.

Set in riot-torn, near-future Los Angeles, Hotel Artemis is an original, high-octane action-thriller starring Jodie Foster as The Nurse, who runs a secret, members-only hospital for criminals. When one of her clients shows up wounded and in possession of another clients stolen property, The Nurse must decide whether to defend what she’s spent so long protecting or break the biggest rule of Hotel Artemis: no killing the other patients. When Jodie Foster is joined by an all-star cast that includes Sterling K. Brown, Sofia Boutella, Jeff Goldblum, Brian Tyree Henry, Jenny Slate, Zachary Quinto, Charlie Day, and Dave Bautista.

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