steven soderbergh's OCEAN'S THIRTEEN (2007)

i've read a lot of offhand dismissals of Ocean's Twelve in the press surrounding its followup, which surprises me. it was convoluted, sure, but it also branched out stylistically with balls and bravado while holding onto the first film's simple pleasures, and in that sense Thirteen does it one better, grainily gliding on air for two hours, threatening to float away at any moment. unfettered by love interests, danger and/or intrigue, the story itself is a minimalist, good-natured revenge flick populated solely by charisma and clever mischief, but that's no strike against it given its swaggering escapist gait. there's really a lot to be said for charming, star-studded vanity pictures when they're made with sufficient spirit.