All the women put together…

Nonika Singh

They are some team; beautiful, talented and undeniably the best in the business of entertainment. From Anne Hathaway to Rihanna to Cate Blanchett to Sandra Bullock… the ensemble cast is as stellar as lovely and with Indian origin actress Mindy Kaling in tow, as diverse; upholding the diversity principle all the way.

Only when the eight of them come together to pull off the 150 million dollar heist; you can’t applaud all the way. For a start the pace is a tad slow. Sandra as Debbi leads the way. The first few scenes introduce her as a felon. Straight out of the jail, she pulls off, as is her wont, a few cons, petty ones. Nevertheless, the way she swindles shopkeepers as well as finds a place in the lap of luxury bring a smile to your lips. And you send a mental salute her way.

 Soon her friend Lou (Cate) appears and the die is cast for the big moment. Others join in; each has a talent for something. Hacker, diamond-cutter (Mindy Kaling as Amrita), it takes all sorts to up the stakes. Only what unravels is not such a mind-blowing work of art as we anticipate from con artists, that too female of the species.

 Diamonds and women… never the twain shall part. No wonder the heist revolves around a million dollar Cartier necklace locked away in a vault. How fashion designer Rose Weil (Helena Bonham Carter) manages to get the prized possession out from the closet is rather refreshing and has its fun quotient. The backdrop Met Gala event too adds to the excitement. Yes dear ladies and gentlemen, the theft is situated in one of the most happening events of the world where the necklace shall adorn the ample bosom of Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway). Hathaway as the self-obsessed star is literally the wow factor of the film that otherwise is rather short on Oh My God moments. She is the highpoint literally and metamorphically and steals the show with her delightful expressions and equally endearing dialogues. But as she says; it’s attention to detail and notes that make the difference. Only here the footnotes are far too many and not all are oh so intriguing. 

Clearly this is not the most exciting heist ever seen on the silver screen, yet it’s interesting, especially with the winsome gals holding the fort. Coming in the wake of #MeToo movement ... here’s women power at the forefront once again. Even if thanks to predictable tropes (revenge and the twist is rather elementary) they don’t completely sweep us off our feet; it is sweepstakes for them.

In case, you are wondering if the film has anything to do with the previous Oceans, well Debbie is an Ocean too, related to Danny Ocean (George Clooney). The climax has her telling his grave; you would have loved it. How, we wish we could ditto the same sentiments. Sure you may like the sleight of hand and the way the game pans out for a while. But this is not the theft we would remember for a lifetime; at best good as long as it lasts.  

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