“Best of” moments in Ocean’s 8

Surprisingly, my uncle showed up today and offered to take dad out to run errands and do odd jobs with him — half an hour before the last scheduled showing of Ocean’s 8. So I did get my last, impractical viewing of Claude Becker et al. in, entirely alone as I was the only person at the noon matinee. In honor of the film’s closing in my town, here’s a bit of a sendoff of some of my favorite moments after an embarrassing number of viewings.

Best unidentified shoplifted gift

Lou seems skeptical of Debbie’s gift.

I guess I’m not enough of a makeup maven, but since I’ve never shoplifted at Bergdorf Goodman (or even been in Bergdorf Goodman), I have no idea what it was and why Lou was so unenthused.

Best deer in the headlights moment

“What big eyes you have!.”
“The better to stun you with, my dear.”

She looks just a little bit dizzy.

Best use of historic NYC-area architecture

Concourse from the former TWA flight center.

This was mildly inspired, I thought.

Dumbest mobilization of a stereotype

Rose Weil bemoans her failed show.

Really? Nutella? Was this necessary?

Most obtrusive hint that they want to get George Clooney involved again

The camera focuses on a picture of Danny Ocean as Constance asks if Debbie is sure he’s dead.

But will he be cute enough after his accident?

Runnerup best cinematographic moment

Amita looks through her jeweler’s loop and sees Debbie upside down. I just thought that was neat. I also really liked both of their outfits in this scene.

Most polite refusal of mansplaining

Amita and Rose indicate their readiness to have “a much longer conversation” about the Toussaint.

I really loved this moment of polite insistence. (I also liked Rose’s sudden pulling it together to convince M. de la Rébroussard to lend them the necklace.)

Best MIB moment

Need I say more?

Best parody of an MIB moment

No caption needed here either.

Moment I need to spend the least possible time thinking about

Tammy explains chiggers to Eaddy Kiernan.

Realizing that Tammy had to infest the previous event planner with chiggers in order to get her job was the “crime” that bothered me most in the film. Not sure why.

Best scene in the film, drama-wise

Debbie and Lou argue about the decision to target Claude.

(This time seriously.) This is not a film with a lot of heavy meaning — but this scene comes closest and Blanchett and Bullock do a skilled job with it, keeping it from being overwrought but also making clear that this is an important moment in the two thieves’ relationship.

Bit part actor with whom I have the most sympathy

Whitney White as Cynthia.

We see her twice. In the first scene Daphne is abusing here, but in the second she has a ton of opportunity to act, i.e., to respond, but not too obviously, to the diamonds. Great actors in the room and Ms. White has to emote in the direction of a necklace. Sigh. She’s a graduate of a reputable acting program (Brown, MFA) and I hope that in ten years we’re looking at this screen shot and laughing after she’s gotten her first Academy Award nom. And I hope this at least paid her rent.

Best networked little sister

Did you notice all the antennae?

Laying aside that Veronica (Nathanya Alexander) saves the entire heist, did you notice how many weird electronic things are bolted to Veronica’s fire escape? This chick is most definitely up to no good.

Most obvious castration metaphor

Lou picks up her electric knife.

When asked for a gyro after the fake halal food cart has closed, Lou accedes to the request after initially refusing, but with a threatening wave of her knife. Do you think he got his gyro?

Best cinematographic moment

The poisoned soup makes its way to the table.

I love the winding, snaky path the ill-fated dish takes to the table and the way that the camera follows the waiter’s steps. #vegansoup

Best cinematographic moment, second runner-up

Loved this shot above the stalls in the women’s bathroom, showing Constance locking all the doors.

Are you confused about my ranking, now?

Best upcycled jewelry from the Toussaint

Nine-Ball exits the Met Gala.

Of all the jewelry pieces created by Amita (Mindy Kaling) on the fly, this was my favorite — the “hand harness” worn by Nine-Ball. In combination with Rihanna’s right hand tattoo, it’s an eye-popping look. (Not that Rihanna needed any more, what with that dress. Wow.)

Best sashay

Tammy exits the Met Gala.

Did anyone else love the way Tammy walks in her Met Gala dress?

Worst acting from a cameo celebrity

Zac Posen listens to Daphne’s anecdote about her encounter with the Queen of England.

Zac, you seem really sweet on Project Runway, but you would definitely be a candidate for the Daphne Kluger “I Know Bad Acting” Award.

Biggest ADR continuity fail

The lovebirds after the recovery of the fake necklace.

At the conclusion of the Gala, Claude says to Daphne, “feeling better?” It’s a great scene with eyelashgasm; however, Armitage says “feeling beddeR” and not what I think Claude would say: “Feeling BET-tah?” It’s a weird slip that also makes me wonder where Armitage’s own accent is at the moment. Are you spending too much time with Americans, Mr. Armitage?

Best Met Gala outfit from a thief not actually attending the Gala

Lou meets up with Debbie after the Gala is over.

Totally over the top, and I’m not sure why she needed to dress up anymore at this point, but I loved it.

Weirdest cliffhanger

Debbie crosses off the penultimate item on her “not a list.”

Is this a reference to the other films or something? I didn’t understand what any of these things referred to.

Scene most totally overwhelmed by a background more interesting than the dialogue

John Frazer interrogates Kyle McCallister (who, unsurprisingly, is real life Gideon Glick. This was a miscast to me, not that it matters much.)

Every tie I saw the film I found myself focused on the background.

Most annoying repeated characterization gesture

Daphne loves her job.

This move really grated on me after a few watches.

Moment most likely to make feel hungry

The heist after-party.

Something about that pizza made me want it every time. I haven’t gotten around to getting any so far, though.

Favorite silly story about where those diamonds came from

Mary Louise Wilson explains how she came by the diamonds. “Take these, my mother said. Now go.”

All these moments were fantastic, though.

***

I hope these have been fun. Did you have a favorite (or least favorite?) moment in the film?

 

~ by Servetus on August 3, 2018.