WORLD PREMIERE OF
OCEAN'S ELEVEN
Photos and Text by ALBERT L. ORTEGA
December 5, 2001, Mann's Village Theater, Westwood, CA.
Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow presents the remake of the original "Ratpack" robbery caper brought to life by visionary director Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney.
All of campus town Westwood was in sheer delight as the cast of this modern day ensemble poured out of their respective limos and onto the platform for impromptu interviews. Heading up the up this wondrous cast was George Clooney along with his band of merry men consisting of Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Carl Reiner, Scott Caan, Casey Afleck, Bernie Mac, Eddie Jemison, Shaobo Qin and Elliott Gould. Rounding out this cast of scoundrels was villain Andy Garcia and in cameos playing themselves were Topher Grace, Joshua Jackson, Shane West, Barry Watson and Holly Marie Combs. Least we forget Julia Roberts as the ex-Mrs. Daniel Ocean and mol of mobster Terry Benedict.
George Clooney stars as Daniel Ocean the man with the brains for the most daring and profitable robbery in history. Stealing from not one, not two but three of the most wealthy casinos in Las Vegas, owned by the notoriously ruthless Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia). The best time to pull off this almost impossible task? During a time when most of Las Vegas won't be watching and when "the House" has the most cash in the vault, Fight Night at the MGM Grand.
He begins to assemble his crew by first recruiting his lieutenant Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt) found teaching actors how to play poker. Next they need someone with enough cash to bankroll the job, enter former competitor and now partner Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould) who would love to see Benedict robbed after he muscled out the old czar of Vegas. With the money in hand to pull off the job a A-list of operatives are needed, someone to blow the power and state of the art safe, Basher Tarr (Don Cheadle), someone to watch the watchers and control the electronics, Livingston Dell (Edward Jemison), someone to watch the inside operations unnoticed, Blackjack dealer Frank Catton (Bernie Mac), someone to make a diversion, conman Saul Bloom (Carl Reiner), someone to blow the safe, pick pocket Linus Caldwell (Matt Damon), someone to get into the safe, circus acrobat/contortionist Yen (Shoabo Qin) and two multi task men to aide in it all, the squabbling Malloy Bothers, Virgil (Casey Affleck) and Turk (Scott Caan). However the plan hits a snag when Daniel's obsession with his ex-wife Tess (Julia Roberts) threatens to jeopardize the entire operation...
Alison Eastwood daughter of tough guy Clint Eastwood is one lovely lady |
No one messes with casino owner Terry Benedict played with utter cool by Andy Garcia, seen here with his wife and daughters |
Barry Watson of the WB show 7TH HEAVEN plays himself in a cameo role |
Bernie Mac the inside guy at the casino dealing Blackjack |
The group's number 2 man, Brad Pitt holds the crew all together |
Carl Reiner is the group's seasoned con man |
Playing one of the bickering brothers was Casey Affleck with girlfriend Summer Phoenix |
Beautiful supermodel Cindy Crawford with husband Randy Gerber |
David Duchovny brought along his X-FILES nemesis Alex Krycek or rather Nick Lea to the caper flick |
Currently filming the Steven Soderbergh film FULL FRONTAL is actor David Duchovny with Julia Roberts |
Don Cheadle is the group's explosives expert, the English Basher |
Handling all computer, surveillance and electronics was Eddie Jamison as Livingston Dell |
Bankrolling the clan was Benedict partner/competitor Elliot Gould as the jaudy cigar chomping casino veteran |
Erika Christensen made an impressive performance in the last Soderbergh film, TRAFFIC |
Playing the good cop in the film TRAINING DAY was feisty young actor Ethan Hawke |
The man with the plan the modern day Cary Grant, the suave George Clooney brings back the flavor of the original Rat Pack |
James Caan was one of the first on screen wiseguys we loved like in the GODFATHER |
George Clooney makes his way through the photographers to talk with the fans |
The tantalizing beauty of former SPIN CITY star Jennifer Esposito |
Joshua Jackson is another of the poker playing celebs in a cameo role |
The ex-Mrs. Ocean played subtly by Julia Roberts |
Boxer Lenox Lewis was just himself in the film's titular robbery plot |
Pop princess Mandy Moore has made the transition to films quite easy with both BUBBLE BOY and PRINCESS DIARIES on her resume with more to come |
From pick pocket to master thief, Matt Damon is the rookie Linus |
Runway god Molly Simms of MTV'S HOUSE OF STYLE |
As the second part of the constantly arguing Malloy brothers, Scott Caan brings new depth to the white trash community |
Star of the ABC drama ONCE AND AGAIN's Shane West was also counting cards in the big cameo scene, here with pal Mandy Moore |
Shannon Doherty formerly of the witching series CHARMED hung out with her old costar Holly Marie Combs the only girl in the big poker scene |
Circus acrobat, Shaobo Qin was the group's "greaseman" able to squeeze himself into a money locker |
Rocking gal Sheryl Crowe |
Director Steven Soderbergh lets the audience have a good ol' time with an old fashioned heist film. Here steppin out with E! ENTERTAINMENT correspondent Jules Asner |
Hollywood's newest action star The Rock looking fashionable in his red sweater |
Topher Grace of THAT 70S SHOW rounds out the cameo kids in the now fabled poker scene |
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