Ocean's Thirteen

Enough already? Lots of big stars - way more than 13. Some great lines. The sights and sounds of Vegas. What could go wrong? Its been done before, twice, and not just by these guys.

Yes, it keeps you guessing, and yes it is interesting. But it is also predictable and follows the formula set back in 2001. Professional cons, grifters, and thieves with seemingly endless means pull off impossible jobs. Change the characters and it's really still the same story.

Don't get me wrong, I liked this, but the first one is still the best of the bunch.

Good to see the old and the new here. Elliott Gould and Carl Reiner still know how to spin a story. Casey Affleck and Scott Caan do their better-known family members proud. All the regular guys are up to par. Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin are the marks this time around and both are great.

For those who know Vegas well this can be a fun watch to see the familiar and the imaginary. For those who don't know the difference, it's also a fun movie. Vegas is a place of make-believe and false advertising. This movie lives up to that standard.

Watch this with someone who remembers who all the old characters are.

Soul Men (2008)

Definitely NOT the Blues Brothers, but certainly a couple of brothers WITH the blues. Very funny road trip kinda buddy movie kinda redemption pic. And the music is pure Motown. If you can get past the language and the occasional sex scenes, you should enjoy this movie. If not, those things will most likely ruin it for you.

I have said it before and this movie proves it again, Samuel L. Jackson can DO comedy - well. So what if he plays all his characters just a little bit the same? It works. Take his work in Black Snake Moan and compare it to something like his work in Pulp Fiction. Two opposite characters played almost the same way. And it works.

I can't help but think this role was made for the late Bernie Mac. This guy was funny 12 ways from Sunday no matter what he did. He meant it when he said he gave 150% every time he was in front of an audience.

I mentioned the Blues Brothers earlier and there are some clear similarities in the story but it does not interfere with the telling and only die hard fans will see them.

Watch this movie with someone who wants one more shot at stardom.