«Ocean's 8», funny and effective

Cinema Wednesdays - Hélène Lavoyer

After five years in prison for a theft she didn't even commit, Debbie Ocean (played by Sandra Bullock) is finally granted parole. But Daniel Ocean's deceased sister has hustling in her genes. Just hours after her release, this vital, viral need drives her to put into action a plan she thought through to the last detail during her time in prison.

Little by little, and with the help of her friend Lou Miller (Cate Blanchett), five other women, all former thieves and masters of their particular techniques, are recruited: Amita (Mindy Kaling), a diamond cutter, Constance (Awkwafina), capable of stealthy pickpocketing, Tammy (Sarah Paulson), who secretly operates as a fence, Nine-Ball (Rihanna), who excels in computer hacking, and Rose Weil (Helena Bonham Carter), who has become a seamstress.

Together, they prepare to carry out their plan: to steal one of the necklaces in Cartieret’s possession, estimated to be worth over 150 million dollars. The plan is simple: during the annual M.E.T. Gala, Rose Weil will be responsible for retrieving the famous «Toussaint» from its vaults so that it can be worn by the actress Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway), whom she is styling.

Everything—from the preparations to the possible twists and turns, right up to the very outcome of the investigation conducted by a private detective—had been thought through by Debbie. Each playing her part, the seven women work together and manage to collect an unexpected haul, which they must, however, share with the cunning Daphne, who had uncovered the deception as early as the preparations for the gala.

A delightful blend of humor and surprise

While it doesn’t set out to be a grand epic brimming with unexpected twists or originality, the feature film holds its own thanks to its often sharp and direct humor, as well as its surprising, daring, and defiant ending.

Gary Ross, who also directed’The Hunger Games, has created here one of those films that are «a pleasure to watch» and «don’t overcomplicate things.» Indeed, viewers emboldened by the reflections and questions raised after watching the film will find in Ocean's 8 not much to think about—though, we'll see.

Yet he will find it surprising, and he’ll find himself chuckling and even laughing out loud as he listens to the lighthearted dialogues, which are full of the attitude—so confident it borders on haughtiness—of the eight protagonists.

Feminism on Screen

There is, however, one issue that must be addressed when discussing a film with a cast composed almost exclusively of women: the presence of a certain kind of feminism on screen, the way it is portrayed, and the images of femininity presented in the film.

Since the revelations of sexual abuse committed by producer Harvey Weinstein, women in the United States seem to be speaking out more freely, particularly through the success of the famous #MeToo movement. As a result, American cinema is also evolving; the norm is shifting from male to female, from the hero to the heroine.

Eight women—with different styles, different skin colors, and different social and cultural backgrounds—headlining a show with not a single man in sight? Today, that seems like a rather unremarkable event, all things considered. But it’s up to us to recognize major changes as they first begin to emerge and to ask questions about them.

But what kind of feminism are we talking about?

The real concern here is the image—or rather, the images—of femininity presented by American cinema. Star Wars, The Awakening of the Force, The Hunger Games, Annihilation or even Tomb Raider,In recent years, Hollywood has invited its audience to admire women—their strength, determination, capabilities, and beauty.

Something that, unfortunately, leaves a bad taste in our mouths. Not because actresses shouldn’t be given the chance to be heroines, but rather because American cinema leaves little room for diversity and, under the guise of a feminine appearance, they ultimately end up mimicking the hero’s behavior.

Just like d’Ocean's 8, a spin-off of films with all-male casts, in which the women conform to current beauty standards, subjugating men to their will, taking revenge on them, and mocking their suffering. It’s worth noting, however, that the eight female thieves each possess a strong, distinct personality, as well as their own unique physical features.

Give in or resist?

In the face of the United States’ imposition of a certain image of women and other groups—that of Black people (Black Panther), the rebel (Lady Bird) and, of course, humans (Fifty Shades of Gray) – Should we organize a total boycott, or keep filling the movie theaters?

This is a thorny issue, and there is no unanimous consensus on it. In any case, not every movie is bad simply because it is American, and the portrayal of an unconventional hero—one who is absent from typical storylines and casts—should not be dismissed; on the contrary.

Above all, the challenge is to maintain a diverse film landscape, ranging from major to small-scale productions, from simple storylines to more outlandish ones, keeping in mind the multitude of roles and categories through which a person can be described, as well as the risks of expecting people to conform to an imagined image, one that has been pre-constructed by actors’ performances.

Write to the author : helene.lavoyer@leregardlibre.com

Photo credit: © Warner Bros