Clooney plays Danny Ocean, a recently released big-time thief, who has big aspirations of knocking over the owner of three big Las Vegas casinos, Terry Benedict. Terry is not only a major a-hole with plenty of enemies, but also happens to be sporting Ocean's former wife on his arm, which makes him an illustrious target in Danny's eyes. Danny pulls together a gang of ten other players, each with their own skills which are needed to bust in the high-security vault which hold the millions taken in by the casinos.
Soderbergh squeezes more juice than one could have thought could be had from the material, and the actors provide oodles of chemistry and amiable performances which make Ocean's Eleven one of the hippest and most fun films of 2001. With grainy film stock, a hip funk-jazz score, well-choreographed camera movements and segues, plus good use of Las Vegas scenic locales, it's a treat for the mind as well as the funny bone.