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Dapper Danny Ocean (GEORGE CLOONEY) is a man of action. Less than 24 hours into his parole from a New Jersey penitentiary, the wry, charismatic thief is already rolling out his next plan. Following three rules - don't hurt anybody, don't steal from anyone who doesn't deserve it, and play the game like you've got nothing to lose - Danny orchestrates the most sophisticated, elaborate casino heist in history. In one night, Danny's handpicked 11-man crew of specialists - including an ace card sharp (BRAD PITT), a master pickpocket (MATT DAMON) and a demolition genius (DON CHEADLE) - will attempt to steal over $150 million from three Las Vegas casinos owned by Terry Benedict (ANDY GARCIA), the elegant, ruthless entrepreneur who just happens to be dating Danny's ex-wife Tess (JULIA ROBERTS).
Like so many terminators, they are relentless. They can't be reasoned with, can't be bargained with, they don't feel pity or remorse, or fear. And they absolutely will not stop. It's their job, after all, to be everywhere and be everything, to bring joy to the masses and profits to the few, to appear in movies (of course), on tv, in magazines, in newspapers, in shopping malls. Okay, so maybe they're not always happy about such promotional excesses - all those talk shows, all those Entertainment Weekly and Premiere covers - but yet, they soldier on.
And in doing so, they earn the thanks of a grateful nation. For, as a nation, we want access. It's a thrill to see famous people expose themselves to you, to appear "as themselves. This is why you read magazine interviews and watch talk shows, watch MTV Cribs or ET . Why you watch those chats with Barbara Walters and Katie Couric, Leno and Letterman, even Pink , for MTV (a lovely and nearly convincing trick, in which the young celebrity interviews the established celebrities, and makes you believe she, Pink, is nervous, like you would be.
It's why you pledge money when movie stars ask for it, or feel an indescribable patriotic union with them. Movie stars do their bit for the cause: they put themselves out there, take public emotional risks, earn your trust.
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