Rooting for the bad guys (aka Ocean’s 11/12/13, The Italian Job, Entrapment, etc.)
First of all: it’s just a movie. I get it. I enjoy these films for what they are. But within the confines of the movie, there’s a lot of “iffy” stuff that really shows the main characters to be DEVOID of any real character or conscience. Why should we “root” for them? Or want them to succeed?
Let me focus on Ocean’s 11 (the Clooney remake, although a lot of this applies to the Frank Sinatra original). We are introduced to this professional thief, who is released from prison and immediately violates his parole. He sets about to perform the biggest heist of his career, and assembles this group of thieves/robbers/pickpockets etc. to simultaneously rob several casinos at the same time. They go up against the legitimate owner, Terry Benedict, who as far as we know has LEGALLY obtained his fortune, and is running a casino within Nevada law.
Now, let’s make this Casino owner a class-A jerk. Imply that he will cause you serious personal harm if you mess with him. Then show that he’s got the protagonist’s ex-wife (Tess, played by Julia Roberts), who we know still REALLY loves Danny Ocean deep down in her heart. So, Terry “has it coming.” Moral dilemma solved - the guy simply deserves it.
So, the set-up is to stick it to the man, the royal jerk, destroy his vault, tie up law enforcement on a wild goose chase, and take the cash. Steal an EMP generator from the University to do your dirty work, and cause an almost city wide blackout so you can get to the safe.
Forgetting that the EMP would have affected almost everyone in Vegas at the time with a pacemaker, and there are probably a few of those, right? Not to mention the local hospitals that would have been affected with ventillators shutting down, IV pumps suddenly switching off, operating room lights and anesthesia machines quitting in the middle of surgery, back-up generators failing, cars that suddenly stopped and lost control while trying to cross intersections, traffic lights fizzing out leading to multiple car pile-ups and injuries, etc. All in the middle of the NIGHT.
My point: The Ocean’s 11 team showed absolutely NO CONCERN for any of the true innocents that would have been affected, harmed, or even KILLED by there actions to rob Terry’s casino vault.
….but, YEAH! Terry got his! The team got a way with it! What a great caper! Crime pays!
It's even worse in Ocean's 13, when the team simulates an EARTHQUAKE, that shakes the whole casino from top to bottom, with thousands of guests still inside! Fortunately, it didn't topple over, killing thousands in the process.
OK, rant over. The movies are still fun.
First of all: it’s just a movie. I get it. I enjoy these films for what they are. But within the confines of the movie, there’s a lot of “iffy” stuff that really shows the main characters to be DEVOID of any real character or conscience. Why should we “root” for them? Or want them to succeed?
Let me focus on Ocean’s 11 (the Clooney remake, although a lot of this applies to the Frank Sinatra original). We are introduced to this professional thief, who is released from prison and immediately violates his parole. He sets about to perform the biggest heist of his career, and assembles this group of thieves/robbers/pickpockets etc. to simultaneously rob several casinos at the same time. They go up against the legitimate owner, Terry Benedict, who as far as we know has LEGALLY obtained his fortune, and is running a casino within Nevada law.
Now, let’s make this Casino owner a class-A jerk. Imply that he will cause you serious personal harm if you mess with him. Then show that he’s got the protagonist’s ex-wife (Tess, played by Julia Roberts), who we know still REALLY loves Danny Ocean deep down in her heart. So, Terry “has it coming.” Moral dilemma solved - the guy simply deserves it.
So, the set-up is to stick it to the man, the royal jerk, destroy his vault, tie up law enforcement on a wild goose chase, and take the cash. Steal an EMP generator from the University to do your dirty work, and cause an almost city wide blackout so you can get to the safe.
Forgetting that the EMP would have affected almost everyone in Vegas at the time with a pacemaker, and there are probably a few of those, right? Not to mention the local hospitals that would have been affected with ventillators shutting down, IV pumps suddenly switching off, operating room lights and anesthesia machines quitting in the middle of surgery, back-up generators failing, cars that suddenly stopped and lost control while trying to cross intersections, traffic lights fizzing out leading to multiple car pile-ups and injuries, etc. All in the middle of the NIGHT.
My point: The Ocean’s 11 team showed absolutely NO CONCERN for any of the true innocents that would have been affected, harmed, or even KILLED by there actions to rob Terry’s casino vault.
….but, YEAH! Terry got his! The team got a way with it! What a great caper! Crime pays!
It's even worse in Ocean's 13, when the team simulates an EARTHQUAKE, that shakes the whole casino from top to bottom, with thousands of guests still inside! Fortunately, it didn't topple over, killing thousands in the process.
OK, rant over. The movies are still fun.
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