Tag Archives: matt damon
My Favorite Scene: Ocean’s Twelve (2004) “Lost in Translation”
Ocean’s Twelve is probably the least regarded of the Ocean’s Trilogy, and while it does get a little too self-aware (having Julia Roberts play Julia Roberts who actually ISN’T Julia Roberts…yeah), it’s still more fun than most movies that ever get made. If the ensemble from the first one was star-studded enough, the sequel added Catherine Zeta Jones, Bruce Willis, Jared Harris, Robbie Coltrane, and Vincent Cassel to the cast. The heart of the fun, and the reason why the Ocean’s films are so rewatchable, is the real-life friendship between Clooney, Damon, and Pitt translating so well onscreen. In terms of their characters, the Ocean’s movies are elaborate heists that give Clooney and Pitt a chance to screw with Damon. Linus is trying so hard, and Rusty and Danny appreciate it, but it’s not really a heist if they can’t work him into a panic. One of their best “scare Linus for kicks and giggles moments” is when they meet with Robbie Coltrane’s character in a bar to set up what they need, and all three begin talking in complete nonsense phrases leaving Linus scrambling to try to work out to say…and that just goes very badly.
Matt Damon’s 10 Best Movies
Matt Damon burst onto the Hollywood scene when he and his friend Ben Affleck (whom you may also have heard of) came out of nowhere with a script they co-wrote and starred in: Good Will Hunting. One of the best Oscar moments in recent memory is the two of them going bezerk after winning Damon’s only Oscar to date for the film’s screenplay. Damon has gone on to be one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in The Bourne movies, Ocean’s trilogy, Saving Private Ryan, The Martian, Interstellar, and more than a dozen other huge hits. Post-The Martian, Damon has been in a bit of a slump, and it remains to be seen how much his career will be hurt by his ties to disgraced Hollywood mogul and sexual predator Harvey Weinstein (Damon has admitted he knew of Weinstein’s atrocities and did not come forward). On-screen, he’s one of the most versatile and talented actors of his generation. Time will tell what his sins of omission will do to his career going forward.
Ocean’s 8 Trailer #2 (2018) “Having This Much Fun Is a Crime”
In Summer 2018, the tide will turn as Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) attempts to pull off the heist of the century at New York City’s star-studded annual Met Gala. Her first stop is to assemble the perfect crew: Lou (Cate Blanchett); Nine Ball (Rihanna); Amita (Mindy Kaling); Constance (Awkwafina); Rose (Helena Bonham Carter); Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway); and Tammy (Sarah Paulson). Matt Damon will cameo (presumably as his character Linus Caldwell from the other three films), James Corden will play an insurance investigator, and Dakota Fanning also has a role. Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Anna Wintour, Adriana Lima and Katie Holmes will have cameos.
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Gary Ross (The Hunger Games, Seabiscuit) is directing from a screenplay he wrote with Olivia Milch, with Steven Soderbergh and Jon Kilik producing, Michael Tadross, Susan Ekins, Sandra Bullock, Diana Alvarez and Bruce Berman executive producing, and Milch co-producing.
Ocean’s 8 debuts in theaters on June 8, 2018.
Ocean’s 8 Trailer #1 (2018) “Every Con Has Its Pros”
My question about Ocean’s 8 is: is there any other reason for its existence other than a gender swap? This ensemble has a stellar cast of some of the best actresses alive, and is the best Hollywood can do is to write them a gender flopped version of something that worked really well with guys (this IS related to the Ocean’s franchise, though Matt Damon’s part in the film is now in jeopardy given his involvement in what we’ll call for brevity “The Weinstein Vortex of Ick”)? Apparently, from the trailer at least, yes, all Hollywood has the brains to do is make an Ocean’s film with actresses and not deviate even a little from that template. I hope it’s better than the first look, because these women are better than hand me downs. Ocean’s 8 will open June 8, 2018.
