Ocean’s 8 (2018)

Directed by Gary Ross. Starring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Sarah Paulson, Helena Bonham Carter, Awkwafina, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, James Corden, Richard Armitage, Nathanya Alexander. [PG-13]

All-female sequel/spin-off in the Ocean’s series casts Bullock as the felonious sister of George Clooney’s character (who’s reportedly dead now—it’s suggested it may be a ruse, but the movie never confirms one way or the other). She’s been paroled and is eager to dive into another heist: swiping $150 million of diamonds off the neck of a flaky movie star (Hathaway). She and former partner-in-crime Blanchett enlist the aid of a routine grab-bag of criminals (fencer Paulson, pickpocket Awkwafina, etc.); the rest will, of course, fall into place. Sleek and lightweight caper doesn’t leave much of a lasting impression; the theft plot is needlessly convoluted (an obvious clue that not all is as it appears…), and one of the twists is especially weak—anyone who can count past seven can see it coming miles in advance, and the fact that some members of the crew were kept in the dark about it makes no sense. Mostly sage casting decisions, with Hathaway appearing to have a ball sending up shallow celebrities. Director Ross does his best to mimic the chic style that Steven Soderbergh brought to the last three pictures in the series, but mimicry is exactly what it feels like, and the panache is noticeably absent. A large number of celebrities (shallow or otherwise) cameo as themselves; Elliott Gould and Shaobo Qin from the earlier films also appear briefly.

51/100