Ocean's Twelve
A Deep Dive into Heist Cinema's Sophisticated Sequel
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The Intricate Plot
The Debt
Four years after their successful heist in Ocean's Eleven, Danny Ocean's crew finds themselves targeted by Terry Benedict, the owner of the Bellagio casino they robbed. Benedict demands the return of the $160 million stolen, plus $38 million in interest, giving them a mere two weeks to repay the debt under threat of severe consequences.
European Gambit
With their funds depleted, the crew relocates to Amsterdam to plan a new heist that would operate outside U.S. jurisdiction. An informant, Matsui, tips them off about the location of the first stock certificate ever issued. However, their plan is complicated when they discover the certificate has already been stolen by a mysterious and highly skilled rival thief known as the "Night Fox."
The Rival and the Detective
Europol detective Isabel Lahiri, an ex-girlfriend of Rusty Ryan, is assigned to the case. Recognizing Rusty's modus operandi from their past relationship, she deduces his involvement and warns the crew that they are outmatched by the Night Fox and his mentor, Gaspar LeMarc. The Night Fox is revealed to be Franรงois Toulour, a wealthy French baron who orchestrated the exposure of the crew's identities to Benedict and their recruitment by Matsui, all to challenge Danny Ocean's reputation.
The Fabergรฉ Egg Challenge
Toulour challenges Danny Ocean to steal the Imperial Coronation Fabergรฉ egg from a museum in Rome. If successful, Toulour promises to pay off the crew's debt. The crew devises an elaborate plan involving holographic replicas and a diversionary tactic, but Toulour anticipates their moves, tipping off Lahiri and leading to the apprehension of most of the crew.
Meta-Narrative and Resolution
In a surprising twist, Tess Ocean poses as Julia Roberts to gain access to the egg. The plan is further complicated by the appearance of Bruce Willis, playing himself in a meta-narrative subplot. Ultimately, the crew is released by the FBI, and Danny reveals to Toulour that they had already stolen the real egg, tipped off by LeMarc, who is revealed to be Lahiri's father. The crew repays Benedict, and Toulour concedes defeat.
The Ensemble Cast
The Core Crew
The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast reprising their roles from Ocean's Eleven, alongside new additions.
Key Newcomers & Cameos
New characters and notable cameos add layers to the narrative and meta-commentary.
Production Insights
Development & Scripting
Following the success of Ocean's Eleven, Warner Bros. greenlit a sequel, with Steven Soderbergh returning to direct and most of the original cast confirmed. George Nolfi penned the screenplay, shifting the narrative to a European setting. Notably, the script underwent revisions when Julia Roberts became pregnant, leading to her character, Tess, playing a meta-narrative role as herself.
Global Filming Locations
Principal photography spanned multiple continents in 2003. Key locations included:
Critical & Commercial Reception
Box Office Performance
Released on December 10, 2004, Ocean's Twelve debuted at number one in the US, grossing $39.2 million in its opening weekend. It achieved a worldwide total of $362.9 million, making it the tenth-highest-grossing film of 2004. While not surpassing its predecessor's financial success, it was considered a commercial triumph.
Critical Assessment
Critical reception was mixed. Rotten Tomatoes reported a 55% approval rating, with critics noting a divergence between those who found it a "fun, glossy star vehicle" and others who deemed it "lazy, self-satisfied and illogical." Metacritic assigned a score of 58/100, indicating average reviews. The film received the lowest critical scores within the Ocean's franchise, though director Steven Soderbergh later expressed it as his personal favorite.
Accolades & Recognition
Key Nominations
The film garnered nominations across various categories, recognizing its ensemble cast and technical achievements.
Musical Score & Soundtrack
Composed by David Holmes
The original score was composed by David Holmes, who also contributed music to Ocean's Eleven. His work for Ocean's Twelve earned him a BMI award. The soundtrack album was released by Warner Bros. Records on December 7, 2004.
Franchise Continuation
Ocean's Thirteen
The narrative arc of Danny Ocean's crew concluded with Ocean's Thirteen, released in 2007. Directed again by Steven Soderbergh, it featured most of the original male cast, with Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin joining the ensemble. Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones did not return for this installment.
Spin-off: Ocean's 8
A spin-off film, Ocean's 8, was released in 2018, featuring an entirely new, all-female ensemble cast, continuing the spirit of the heist genre established by the Ocean's series.
References
Source Citations
The information presented here is derived from the cited sources within the original Wikipedia article.
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References
References
- Puig, Claudia (2004). "Forecast for 'Ocean's': Splashy and very cool"
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