The Italian Job, 2003

Director: F. Gary Gray

Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Donald Sutherland, Edward Norton, Jason Statham, Seth Green, Mos Def

Charlie (Wahlberg) brings master-thief safe-cracker John (Sutherland) out of retirement for one last job- to steal over $30 million in gold bricks. It all goes off without a hitch, until afterwards when Steve (Norton) turns on his friends and kills John. The others fake their own deaths, and Steve changes his name and starts to spend his money.

A year later, Charlie and the gang find Steve in Los Angeles, and after recruiting John's daughter Stella (Theron), who has inherited her father's ability to crack safes, they set out to get back their money. For John's sake; it's not about the money, of course!

I've said it before and I'll say it again: it's crazy how Hollywood can get you to cheer for the thieves! We're not supposed to be on their side! But we totally are.

This one is pure fun! Mini Cooper car chases, lots of explosives, Jason Statham being all charming, what more could you want?

How to Steal a Million, 1966

Director: William Wyler

Stars: Audrey Hepburn, Peter O'Toole, Eli Wallach, Hugh Griffith

"That's why...........Explain it to me again....."

Nicole (Hepburn) is worried about her father, a master forger of paintings, who decides to donate his Cellini "Venus" statue to a museum in their hometown of Paris. When the museum tells him that someone will need to authenticate it for insurance purposes (it will be insured for $1 million), both Nicole and her father know that disaster is looming, because of course the Venus is a fake, having been sculpted by Nicole's grandfather many years ago.

After catching a thief in their home, Nicole comes up with a plan to save her father from prison. She hires the thief (O'Toole) to steal the Venus before it can be authenticated. The only problem with this is the thief isn't exactly who he seems to be.

This is a fun heist film. It's hilarious and romantic. Bottom Line: You'll love it.

Peter O'Toole's eyes! Swoon!!

Ocean's Eleven, 1960

Director: Lewis Milestone

Stars: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis Jr, and many others!

Sorry, Frank. I liked George's version better.

I watched the original (this one) after I had already seen the remake (2001). I don't know how you could like this one better, to be honest. For the first 45 minutes, this one was truly lame. Nothing was happening. But when the guys finally got together to hear about Ocean's plan (literally about 45 minutes in- I am not exaggerating), things picked up and it got good! But I almost quit watching it in the beginning. Get through those lame 45 minutes, and it's totally fine.

Call me crazy, but I loved the ending. I would have loved it better if there was something the audience didn't know, like where the money really was-- but I did love it anyway.

I also adored Peter Lawford! Man, just his voice makes me feel weak in the knees! If he winked at me, I don't know what I'd do.

Note: Check out the sign behind Sammy at the very end. Cute.

Ocean's Twelve, 2004

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Stars: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Andy Garcia, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and many more!

The guys are back. This time it's an about art and in Europe. Fitting.

Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), owner of the three casino-hotels Ocean's eleven robbed three years ago, wants revenge. One by one, he finds them all, warning them they have two weeks to come up with his money- $160 million. Plus interest. How will they pull this one off?

Personally, I think it was a darn good sequel. It includes a cameo by Bruce Willis, a surprising ending, Eddie Izzard (my favorite comedian!!), and lots of fun throughout. I loved so many lines in the film! I just have to share some favorites.

Quotes:

"I totally phoned in that Dennis Quaid movie." (another Topher Grace cameo)

"Who would I talk to if you were all dead?"-Reuben

"I don't understand what happened! What did I say?"

"You called his niece a whore-"

"-a very cheap one."

"She's seven." --(Danny and Rusty, playing a joke on Linus)

"Great. So, we'll just eat room service, watch movies, and wait for Benedict to show up and kill us." --Danny

"Look- it's not in my nature to be mysterious, but I can't talk about it, and I can't talk about why." --Rusty

"Do I look 50 to you?" -Danny

"Yeah.....only from the neck up....."

(throwing around ideas for a job, speaking some kind of "thief" language)

"Hell in a hand basket?"

"No, we can't train a cat that quickly."

FACT: Despite the fact that they make fun of his age, George Clooney was only 43 when this film came out. He is 50 this year.

FACT: The whole scene with Rusty and Danny, watching Happy Days in French absolutely cracks me up! But that isn't my "fact". Danny makes a comment about Potsie, so I decided to look Potsie up just to see if there was some kind of significance there. I have no idea, but I did find out that Potsie's real name is Anson William Heimlick. Yes, THE Heimlick. He's related to Dr. Heimlick! Cool!

Ocean's Eleven, 2001

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Stars: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Julia Roberts, and MANY more

I love heists! Watching one just makes me want to steal something! This could spark a whole marathon of films.... and a life of crime.

I especially love the style of the film, and the cinematography. Not only is the content entertaining and the characters funny and memorable, it is also a beautiful movie.

Danny Ocean (Clooney) and Rusty Ryan (Pitt) assemble an all-star, eleven-man crew to knock over 3 casinos in Las Vegas. It is a remake of the 1960 Ocean's Eleven. And it's better.

What I love: 1) Pitt and Clooney. They're amazing together. Their dialogue -wow! 2) Before working on the heist, Rusty's job is teaching movie stars how to play poker! There is a brilliant multi-cameo scene with Topher Grace, Barry Watson, Joshua Jackson, and others. 3) Matt Damon! Mr. Action Hero/Jason Bourne/all around Tough Guy plays the new thief; the pick-pocket who wants a chance to be a part of something big. He's very gullible and very lovable, and not at all Jason Bourne, which just shows how great an actor Matt Damon is.

NOTE: The commentaries are very fun! Sometimes I absolutely love watching/listening to the commentaries, and these ones I really loved! I highly recommend them.

Bottom line: You'll love it.