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Tom's Guide
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
'Ocean's Eleven' just arrived on Netflix and it's my favorite heist movie of all time — worth watching for George Clooney and Brad Pitt alone
"Ocean's Eleven" just arrived on Netflix this month, and I've already queued it up to play once since it arrived. Nearly 24 years later, it's still my favorite heist movie ever, and might be my favorite Steven Soderbergh movie ever, even if I'll admit he's made better movies both before and since. Soderbergh was already one of the hottest directors out there by the time he directed "Ocean's Eleven." He had won a Palm d'Or at Cannes for his debut film "Sex, Lies and Videotape" and two days into filming his now iconic heist movie, he was nominated for Best Director twice at the 73rd Academy Awards, first for "Erin Brockovich" and again for "Traffic," which ultimately won the Oscar. As incredible as those award-winning movies are, though, it's "Ocean's Eleven" I find myself watching time and time again. A remake of a 1960 movie starring Frank Sinatra, this movie featured a deep ensemble cast led by George Clooney and Brad Pitt, both of whom were entering the peak of their stardom. This creates an interesting juxtaposition within the movie that makes it stand out all these years later. On its face, "Ocean's Eleven" is an ensemble movie, and to be clear, that ensemble is still maybe one of the best ever assembled in terms of the end product it produced and on-screen chemistry. But the movie and everyone in it exist in Clooney and Pitt's orbit. They're ultimately the driving force behind what makes this movie great, and while with a lesser ensemble cast, parts of this movie may fall flat, it simply wouldn't have worked at all without the chemistry between Clooney and Pitt. If for some reason you've never seen "Ocean's Eleven" — which, given its $450.7 million box office and subsequent prevalence on cable TV, would be impressive — here's the lowdown on this heist comedy. As previously mentioned, the movie has a deep ensemble cast. But it starts with just professional thief and con-man Danny Ocean (Clooney), who is freshly released from prison and already planning his next score. To do his heist, he needs a team, and he needs his former partner Rusty (Pitt). When Danny reveals the mark — three Las Vegas casinos owned by Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia) — they go to the one guy who hates Benedict more than anyone else: Reuben (Elliott Gould). Once Reuben learns they're going after Benedict, he agrees to bankroll their operation. Now a trio, they bring in eight thieves, con-men and grifters with connections to their collective pasts — a cast of characters played by a murderer's row of actors that includes Matt Damon, Bernie Mac, Don Cheadle and Carl Reiner. If you've seen the movie before, you know I've left off a key member of the cast: Julia Roberts as Tess, the current girlfriend of Benedict and the one person who could ruin the entire plan. Why could Tess throw a wrench in everything? Well, the reason is portrayed as a twist in the movie, so even though it's in the trailer, I won't spoil it here. But it doesn't matter anyway. As important as she is, Clooney and Pitt are the reason to watch this movie, and their scenes together alone are worth the price of admission. Don't believe me? Just watch the short clip above. While Pitt doesn't say a word the entire time, he and Clooney are having a full conversation, loaded with context of their collective backstory. You don't even need to mine the scene for subtext. It's all right there on the screen, and you don't need a critic to see it despite the lack of dialogue on Pitt's part. So go ahead. Open up Netflix and hit play on "Ocean's Eleven." Whether it's your first time watching it or your hundredth time (I'm somewhere in between), it'll be a great time well worth the two hours you spend watching it. Stream "Ocean's Eleven" on Netflix now Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made. Here's what he's been watching lately:
Malay Mail
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Weinstein sex attack accuser tells court he ‘humiliated' her
NEW YORK, April 30 — Miriam Haleyi told jurors at Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault and rape retrial yesterday that the mogul 'humiliated' her and reduced her to tears, recounting to the court her ordeal, the disclosure of which fired the 'MeToo' movement. Haleyi previously worked for Weinstein and her testimony was key to his conviction in 2020, subsequently overturned by an appeals court triggering the retrial at which she began to testify yesterday. She will take the stand again today. The former Miramax studio boss is charged with the 2006 sexual assault of former production assistant Haleyi and the 2013 rape of aspiring actress Jessica Mann. He also faces a new count for an alleged sexual assault of a 19-year-old in 2006. Ahead of 48-year-old Haleyi's evidence, her lawyer Gloria Allred told journalists: 'It is a big sacrifice for her to return to New York in terms of time, emotionally, to have to relive again what she alleged happened to her many years ago in 2006.' 'But she's willing to do it. I'm very proud of her. She's doing it for only one reason—because it's for the cause of justice,' Allred said. Assistant District Attorney Shannon Lucey recounted Weinstein's alleged attacks in graphic detail during opening statements, saying all three women had begged him to stop, but that he had 'all the power... He made all these women feel small.' Prosecutors have described how Weinstein pestered Haleyi with multiple requests for massages and sexual favors before she found herself alone with him in an apartment one day in 2006. They detailed how Weinstein then forced himself on Haleyi, performing oral sex on her despite her pleas for him to stop. The award-winning movie producer, who was brought into the Manhattan criminal court in a wheelchair and wore a dark business suit, looked somber at times during the proceedings. Accusers describe the impresario as a predator who used his perch atop the cinema industry to pressure actresses and assistants for sexual favors, often in hotel rooms. But Arthur Aidala, Weinstein's defense attorney, has argued that the jury would hear no evidence of the use of force or a lack of consent. Presentation of the evidence in the retrial is expected to last five to six weeks. Weinstein's 2020 convictions over Haleyi and Mann were overturned last year by the New York Court of Appeals, which ruled that the way witnesses were handled in the original New York trial was unlawful. The 73-year-old has said he hopes his case will be judged with 'fresh eyes.' Weinstein is already serving a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted of raping and assaulting a European actress more than a decade ago. The producer of a string of box office hits such as Sex, Lies and Videotape, Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love, Weinstein has battled health issues. He has never acknowledged any wrongdoing and has always maintained that the encounters were consensual. — AFP
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Weinstein sex attack accuser tells court he 'humiliated' her
Miriam Haleyi told jurors at Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault and rape retrial Tuesday that the mogul "humiliated" her and reduced her to tears, recounting to the court her ordeal, the disclosure of which fired the "MeToo" movement. Haleyi previously worked for Weinstein and her testimony was key to his conviction in 2020, subsequently overturned by an appeals court triggering the retrial at which she began to testify Tuesday. She will take the stand again Wednesday. The former Miramax studio boss is charged with the 2006 sexual assault of former production assistant Haleyi and the 2013 rape of aspiring actress Jessica Mann. He also faces a new count for an alleged sexual assault of a 19-year-old in 2006. Ahead of 48-year-old Haleyi's evidence, her lawyer Gloria Allred told journalists: "It is a big sacrifice for her to return to New York in terms of time, emotionally, to have to relive again what she alleged happened to her many years ago in 2006." "But she's willing to do it. I'm very proud of her. She's doing it for only one reason -- because it's for the cause of justice," Allred said. Assistant District Attorney Shannon Lucey recounted Weinstein's alleged attacks in graphic detail during opening statements, saying all three women had begged him to stop, but that he had "all the power... He made all these women feel small." Prosecutors have described how Weinstein pestered Haleyi with multiple requests for massages and sexual favors before she found herself alone with him in an apartment one day in 2006. They detailed how Weinstein then forced himself on Haleyi, performing oral sex on her despite her pleas for him to stop. The award-winning movie producer, who was brought into the Manhattan criminal court in a wheelchair and wore a dark business suit, looked somber at times during the proceedings. Accusers describe the impresario as a predator who used his perch atop the cinema industry to pressure actresses and assistants for sexual favors, often in hotel rooms. But Arthur Aidala, Weinstein's defense attorney, has argued that the jury would hear no evidence of the use of force or a lack of consent. Presentation of the evidence in the retrial is expected to last five to six weeks. Weinstein's 2020 convictions over Haleyi and Mann were overturned last year by the New York Court of Appeals, which ruled that the way witnesses were handled in the original New York trial was unlawful. The 73-year-old has said he hopes his case will be judged with "fresh eyes." Weinstein is already serving a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted of raping and assaulting a European actress more than a decade ago. The producer of a string of box office hits such as "Sex, Lies and Videotape," "Pulp Fiction" and "Shakespeare in Love," Weinstein has battled health issues. He has never acknowledged any wrongdoing and has always maintained that the encounters were consensual. arb-gw/mlm
France 24
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- France 24
Weinstein sex attack accuser tells court he 'humiliated' her
Haleyi previously worked for Weinstein and her testimony was key to his conviction in 2020, subsequently overturned by an appeals court triggering the retrial at which she began to testify Tuesday. She will take the stand again Wednesday. The former Miramax studio boss is charged with the 2006 sexual assault of former production assistant Haleyi and the 2013 rape of aspiring actress Jessica Mann. He also faces a new count for an alleged sexual assault of a 19-year-old in 2006. Ahead of 48-year-old Haleyi's evidence, her lawyer Gloria Allred told journalists: "It is a big sacrifice for her to return to New York in terms of time, emotionally, to have to relive again what she alleged happened to her many years ago in 2006." "But she's willing to do it. I'm very proud of her. She's doing it for only one reason -- because it's for the cause of justice," Allred said. Assistant District Attorney Shannon Lucey recounted Weinstein's alleged attacks in graphic detail during opening statements, saying all three women had begged him to stop, but that he had "all the power... He made all these women feel small." Prosecutors have described how Weinstein pestered Haleyi with multiple requests for massages and sexual favors before she found herself alone with him in an apartment one day in 2006. They detailed how Weinstein then forced himself on Haleyi, performing oral sex on her despite her pleas for him to stop. The award-winning movie producer, who was brought into the Manhattan criminal court in a wheelchair and wore a dark business suit, looked somber at times during the proceedings. Accusers describe the impresario as a predator who used his perch atop the cinema industry to pressure actresses and assistants for sexual favors, often in hotel rooms. But Arthur Aidala, Weinstein's defense attorney, has argued that the jury would hear no evidence of the use of force or a lack of consent. Presentation of the evidence in the retrial is expected to last five to six weeks. Weinstein's 2020 convictions over Haleyi and Mann were overturned last year by the New York Court of Appeals, which ruled that the way witnesses were handled in the original New York trial was unlawful. The 73-year-old has said he hopes his case will be judged with "fresh eyes." Weinstein is already serving a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted of raping and assaulting a European actress more than a decade ago. The producer of a string of box office hits such as "Sex, Lies and Videotape," "Pulp Fiction" and "Shakespeare in Love," Weinstein has battled health issues. He has never acknowledged any wrongdoing and has always maintained that the encounters were consensual.
Int'l Business Times
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Int'l Business Times
Prosecutors To Make Case Against Harvey Weinstein At Retrial
Prosecutors will begin to make their case against disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein to a majority-women jury on rape and sex assault charges Wednesday as opening statements begin in his retrial. Weinstein's retrial began last week, forcing survivors who helped spark the "#MeToo" movement against sexual violence to prepare to testify against him once more. His 2020 conviction was overturned last year by the New York Court of Appeals, which ruled that the way witnesses were handled in the original New York trial was unlawful. Judge Curtis Farber said he expected presentation of evidence to last five to six weeks. "I am hopeful the trial will be over by the end of May," he said. Jury selection took just over a week and was concluded after many members of the jury pool indicated they could not give Weinstein a fair trial because of what they knew of the highly publicized case. Those prospectives were excused, and a full jury of 12 panelists and six alternates was seated Tuesday with seven women and five men picked -- more women than found him guilty at his first trial. The onetime Miramax studio boss was charged with the sexual assault of former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006, the rape of aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013, and a new count for an alleged sexual assault in 2006 at a hotel in Manhattan. Haleyi and Mann testified in the earlier trial, sharing graphic accounts of their interactions with Weinstein. Weinstein, 73, has said he hopes the case will be judged with "fresh eyes," more than seven years after investigations by the New York Times and the New Yorker led to his spectacular downfall and a global backlash against predatory abusers. Weinstein is serving a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted on separate charges in California in 2023 for raping and assaulting a European actress a decade prior. The producer of a string of box office hits such as "Sex, Lies and Videotape," "Pulp Fiction" and "Shakespeare in Love," Weinstein has battled health issues. "It'll be very, very different because of the attitude of New York City, New York state and, I think, the overall country," his lawyer Arthur Aidala said ahead of jury selection. Weinstein has never acknowledged any wrongdoing and has always maintained that the encounters were consensual. Accusers describe the movie mogul as a predator who used his perch atop the cinema industry to pressure actresses and assistants for sexual favors, often in hotel rooms. Since his downfall, Weinstein has been accused of harassment, sexual assault or rape by more than 80 women, including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lupita Nyong'o and Ashley Judd. In 2020, a jury of New Yorkers found Weinstein guilty of two out of five charges -- the sexual assault of Haleyi and the rape of Mann. But the conviction and the 23-year prison sentence were overturned in April 2024. In a hotly debated four-to-three decision, New York's appeals court ruled that jurors should not have heard testimonies of victims about sexual assaults for which Weinstein was not indicted.
