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Ocean's Eleven

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Ocean's Eleven is a 2001 American comedy-crime caper and remake of the 1960 Rat Pack caper film of the same name. The 2001 film was directed by Steven Soderbergh and features an ensemble cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Andy García, and Julia Roberts. The film was a success at the box office and with critics. Soderbergh directed two sequels, Ocean's Twelve in 2004 and Ocean's Thirteen in 2007.

Plot

After being released from prison, Danny Ocean (George Clooney) breaks parole and travels to Los Angeles to meet up with his former partner in crime and close friend Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt) to propose a scheme he has in mind. The two go to Las Vegas to pitch the plan to wealthy friend and former casino owner Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould). The plan consists of simultaneously robbing the Bellagio, The Mirage, and the MGM Grand casinos. Reuben's familiarity with casino security makes him very reluctant to get involved, but when he begins to think of it as a good way to get back at his rival, Terry Benedict (Andy García), who owns the three casinos, Reuben agrees to finance the operation. Because the casinos are required by the Nevada Gaming Commission to have enough cash on hand to cover all their patrons' bets, the three predict that, on the upcoming night of a highly anticipated boxing match, the Bellagio vault will contain more than $150 million.
Ocean and Ryan recruit eight former colleagues and criminal specialists, including Linus Caldwell (Matt Damon), a young and talented pick-pocket thief. Also recruited are Frank Catton (Bernie Mac), a casino worker and con man, Virgil and Turk Malloy (Casey Affleck and Scott Caan), a pair of gifted mechanics, Livingston Dell (Eddie Jemison) an electronics and surveillance expert, Basher Tarr (Don Cheadle) an explosives expert, Saul Bloom (Carl Reiner) an elderly con man, and "The Amazing" Yen (Shaobo Qin) an accomplished acrobat. Several of the team members carry out reconnaissance at the Bellagio to learn as much as possible about the security, the routines and behaviors of the casino staff, and the building itself. Others create a precise replica of the vault with which to practice maneuvering through its formidable security systems. During this planning phase, the team discovers that Ocean's ex-wife, Tess (Julia Roberts), is Benedict's girlfriend. Ryan urges Ocean to give up on the plan, believing Ocean incapable of sound judgement while Tess is involved, but Ocean refuses.

When the plan is put in motion, Ocean goes to the Bellagio in order to be seen by Benedict, who, as expected, has him locked in a storeroom to be beaten by a bouncer called Bruiser. Ocean, however, knows Bruiser, and he allows Ocean to leave through a ventilation shaft, to meet with his team in the vault. Linus Caldwell poses as a gaming commission agent, and reveals to Benedict that Ramon Escalante is actually Frank Catton, an ex-con. Caldwell and Catton stage a faux confrontation to allow Linus to steal Benedict's access card. Yen is smuggled into the vault by the Malloy brothers, to assist in triggering the explosive from the inside. Saul Bloom sneaks explosive into the casino vault by posing as an international arms dealer needing especially secure safekeeping for his valuables, and then stages a heart attack that was treated by Ryan posing as a doctor.

The team activates a stolen pinch device to temporarily disrupt the casino's electrical power, allowing them to breach the vault undetected. As Benedict attempts to restore order following the power outage, Ryan anonymously calls him on a cell phone that Ocean had earlier planted in Tess's coat. Ryan tells him that the vaults are being raided, and that all the money will be destroyed if Benedict does not cooperate in loading half the money into a van waiting outside. Benedict observes video footage of the vault that confirms Ryan's claims, and complies in moving the money, but orders his men to follow the van after it departs, and calls a S.W.A.T. team to secure the vault. The S.W.A.T. team's arrival results in a shootout which causes the incineration of the half of the money left in the vault. After assuring Benedict that the casino is secure, the officers depart.

Benedict's men following the van discover that it is being driven remotely, and that, instead of money, it contains duffel bags full of flyers advertising prostitutes. Terry realizes that the vault video feed was faked as the vault floor in the footage lacked the Bellagio logo, which had recently been installed. A flashback reveals that Ocean had used the vault replica to create the fake video Benedict had seen; the rest of the team posed as S.W.A.T. officers, and took all of the money in the vault when responding to Benedict's call for police assistance. Benedict then returns to the room where he left Ocean and finds him still there, leaving him with no way to connect Ocean to the theft. As Tess watches via security surveillance, Ocean gets Benedict to say he would give up Tess in exchange for the money. Ocean then says he "knows a guy", but Benedict tips off the police. Tess leaves Benedict, and exits the hotel just in time to see Ocean arrested for violating parole. When he is released, he is met by Rusty and Tess, and the three drive off, closely followed by Benedict's bodyguards.

Cast

Ocean's Eleven

In order of recruitment:
George Clooney as Danny Ocean
Bernie Mac as Frank Catton
Brad Pitt as Rusty Ryan
Elliott Gould as Reuben Tishkoff
Casey Affleck as Virgil Malloy
Scott Caan as Turk Malloy
Eddie Jemison as Livingston Dell
Don Cheadle as Basher Tarr
Shaobo Qin as "The Amazing" Yen
Carl Reiner as Saul Bloom
Matt Damon as Linus Caldwell

Others
Andy García as Terry Benedict
Julia Roberts as Tess Ocean

Cameos
Five television actors make cameos as themselves, being taught how to play poker by Rusty:
Holly Marie Combs
Topher Grace
Joshua Jackson
Barry Watson
Shane West
Steven Soderbergh as one of the bank robbers with Basher
Siegfried and Roy as themselves
Wayne Newton as himself
Henry Silva and Angie Dickinson as themselves (both appeared in the original)
Wladimir Klitschko as himself
Lennox Lewis as himself
Jerry Weintraub as a high-roller gamble

Reception

Critical
The film holds an 81% "Certified Fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes. People magazine called the film "pure fun from start to finish," and included it in its end-of-year Best of Screen list.

Newsweek said Ocean's Eleven "bounces along with finger-snapping high spirits," and said that while Soderbergh has "made deeper films, ...this carefree caper movie is nothing to sneeze at.

Time magazine's reviewer Richard Corliss criticized the film, saying it "doesn't offer much." In a poll during November 2008, Empire magazine called Ocean's Eleven the 500th best film on The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time. For Don Cheadle's role in this film, he needed to learn to speak with a cockney accent, which was slaughtered by critics and is recognised as being one of the worst accents in film. Don Cheadle commented on his accent, saying "My British friends... tell me [it's] a truly terrible London accent in Ocean's 13. You know something, I really worked on that accent. Went to London, spoke to people, got to know it... my agent said it was fine, so I'm stuck with this thing. Even though everyone laughs at me. So I sacked her, of course".

Entertainment Weekly put "The Ocean's Eleven heist scene" on its end-of-the-decade, "best-of" list, saying, "Featuring three impregnable Vegas casinos and 11 ring-a-ding criminals, Steven Soderbergh's 2001 roll of the dice provided the most winning robbery sequence of the decade."

Commercial
Ocean's Eleven had a budget of about $85 million. On its opening weekend, it grossed an estimate of $38 million and was the top box office draw for the weekend. The film grossed $183,417,150 in the United States and grossed $267,311,379 overseas leaving a worldwide gross of $450,728,529. (Credit: Wikipedia)

George Clooney

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George Clooney Hollywood Star To Speak In Sydney Australia Next Week - 5th December 2011

He's one of the hottest actors in the world, right up there with Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Tom Cruise, Samuel L. Jackson and Australia's own Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman. Some will argue he is the hottest.

Whatever the case and how you rank Mr Clooney, he is very successful and we've also learned he's quite the humanitarian and astute businessman.

For his outstanding work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award. Clooney is also noted for his social activism and has served as one of the United Nations Messengers of Peace since January 31, 2008.

Clooney, adding to his ultra impressive accolades, is tipped to win the Best Actor Oscar for his latest film, The Descendants.

The majority of media think 2001 was a stand out year for Clooney, at least for commercial success in film. His fame skyrocked that year with the release of his biggest commercial success, Ocean's Eleven, the first of a profitable film trilogy, a remake of the movie from 1960 with the members of The Rat Pack with Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean. Stealing from a casino is pretty cool, and Clooney pulls it off beautifully.

Down under (and most of the world) just loves George, so its little wonder there's a considerable ticket price attached to enjoying his 'An Exclusive Audience with George Clooney'. Some tickets are apparently selling for up to $1100 AUD (no misprint).

So, just how much moolah for tickets for the man who needs no introduction? That depends upon who you speak to - think $1000, at least at this stage of the game.

We've obtained some media blurb from International Events - a speakers event arm of Max Markson's Markson Sparks!, and it reads like this:

An Exclusive Audience with George Clooney

George Clooney is a two time Golden Globe Award and Academy Award winning actor, presenter, director, producer and screenwriter who‘s made over fortyt films. In 2007, George cofounded the Darfus aid organisation Not On Our Watch and began serving as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, receiving a UN Summit Peace Award with fellow actor Don Cheadle.

For the last five years, George Clooney has been focused on leveraging his celebrity to get people to care for something mor important that celebrity - in particular the issues of Southern Sudan. His last project is the Satellity Sentinel Project (SSP) which provides and early warning system to deter mass atrocities by focusing world attention and generation rapid responses on human rights and human security concerns.

In a rare public appearance, George will discuss how collaboration, negotiation and compromise have been critical to his success in business and his humanitarian work. Clooney will discuss how we all use our circle of influence and personal power to make a difference to the issues that matter in our professional and personal lives. This is not to be missed - a true bucket list opportunity!

The lunch time event will be held on December 12th 2011 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour.12 noon lunch will be followed by a photograph with Mr. Clooney and the event will culminate with a talk from 1.30pm - 2.30pm ‘The Power of Collaboration‘, including a question and answer session moderated by Ellen Fanning.

Ticket Information:
Tickets are priced at $1100 in GST or $11,000 for a table of ten, including a two course lunch a photo with George Clooney.

Only 100 guests on 10 tables of 10 will be able to attend so book now to guarantee your seat!

Dates and Times:
December 12th, 2011
Location: Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour

The Late News...

We understand that at this stage no media is invited to the event. Will Mr Markson and the powers that be change their mind in the coming days, should they see enough benefit in working with and / or collaborating with a range of Australian media companies (to raise awareness and to help sell more tickets?) Or, will Max and friends go it alone, believing that they will get the numbers they require make money on Clooney's exclusive speaking engagement in 'Sin City' Sydney? Time will no doubt tell. Yes, we're interested to attend of course, and talk about a positive news story.

Mr Clooney kindly shared some of his thoughts with news media recently regarding the working lives of his fellow actors, and this is gold...

"I cut tobacco for a living in Kentucky. That was hard work. I sold insurance door-to-door. That's hard work. Acting is not hard work.

"I've known a tremendous number of talented actors who didn't get opportunities. It's long hours, but nobody wants to hear you complain."

"I remember I was selling women's shoes at a department store, which is a lousy job."

In the interview with Hollywood Reporter magazine, he added: "I don't find (acting) difficult. I find it challenging, and sometimes I'm very bad at it, but I don't find it hard."

Will George's Main Squeeze Come Down Under Too?

That's the million dollar question. If you didn't already know, George has been hanging out with former WWE Diva Superstar Stacy Keibler (once known by such colourful names as "Miss Hancock" and "The Legs of the WWE" (because of her extremely long legs). Keibler was the only WWE Diva who ranked many times in the listed of Maxim's Hot 100. Either way, Ms Keibler nor Mr Clooney need not play second fiddle to anyone, so if they come to Australia together, it will of course be a huge bonus to media and fans.

Thanks to our friends at E! we learned the following. Ms K opened right up to the celebrity media heavyweight: "We're going to be having a lot of friends and family going together this year, so it will be fun" speaking about a Yuletide vacation with her parents—which, for the first time, will be feauturing a very special guest appearance by her Oscar-winning boyfriend. It's top secret if any of the family clan will be visiting Australia.

No word yet if Clooney will be making any public appearances, but you can bet he will be welcomed with open arms if he does.

George, thank you for visiting Sydney, Australia, and we hope to cross paths with you soon one way or another, and with the AussieWood - Hollywood connection, we think we've got a pretty good chance. You have to back yourself in life and business, and that's exactly what we're doing.

Quotes by George Clooney...

After doing One Fine Day and playing a pediatrician on ER, I'll never have kids. I'm going to have a vasectomy.

America can't beat anyone anymore.

As you get older and ease your way into being a character actor you have to be comfortable with where you are in life and career, and I'm very comfortable with what I'm doing - working on projects I'm proud of.

But I'm kind of comfortable with getting older because it's better than the other option, which is being dead. So I'll take getting older.

I bought a piano once because I had the dream of playing As Time Goes By as some girl's leaning on it drinking a martini. Great image. But none of it worked out. I can't even play Chopsticks. But I've got a nice piano at my house!

I don't believe in happy endings, but I do believe in happy travels, because ultimately, you die at a very young age, or you live long enough to watch your friends die. It's a mean thing, life.

Media Man does not represent George Clooney