when the director actually listens to feedback

#directing #cinemastix #videoessay
// Support me on Patreon: / cinemastix
Follow my journey on Instagram: ...
Ocean's Eleven is a "fun" heist movie. Director Steven Soderbergh never intended for it to be anything terribly more deep than that. But part of the reason it's captivating and successful is because of the way the film prioritizes character and character interaction over pure plot. The macro editing of Ocean's Eleven was all about good pacing and making sure we spent enough time just hanging out with the characters to really develop a fondness for what they got up to. Today I'll take a look at some of the important decisions Soderbergh made to ensure the rhythm and release throughout Ocean's Eleven was the best it could be, even if it went against some of his initial instincts as a director.
Written & edited by Danny Boyd

[@CinemaStix]

Soderbergh. No matter how many times I’ve listened to it said-no matter how many interviews and award shows-my whole life I’ve always pronounced it wrong. Always. Its crazy. But something I’ll keep on working on, because names are my absolute kryptonite. Anyway, it’s Soderbergh like “soda”, not like “sawdust”. I appreciate all of you who have brought it up. And to Mr. Soderbergh, as a tremendous fan: I am sorry. :) -Danny

[@cinder7258]

Maybe it's because you are thinking of soldering/sodering.

[@TheJonnyEnglish]

Tbh he’s probably watched some of your videos

[@jcb3393]

Sounds like how Matt Damon pronounces it when imitating Matthew McConaughey: kzbin.infohSBHoAyF-AE

[@johnnotrealname8168]

Who the @~?£ reads that name as sawdust?

[@sLw1337]

who the hell are you anyways your not a movie expert

[@jcb3393]

It wasn't just that the movie was a fun heist caper or that it had good dialogue and banter between the characters. The movie has style. I don't just mean the setting or the wardrobe (although the clothing was so on-point!). I mean the movie itself, like a living being, had style. That carries across the years.

[@eyespy3001]

Yeah, I agree. _Style_ was the big thing in the 90’s, with a lot of music video directors transitioning to movie-making and bringing their visual bag of tricks with them. I think Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven was the peak of that style-forward filmmaking and it kind of died moving into the mid aughts afterwards. It really died out with the MCU and the movies-as-products era of film franchises. However, there are some contemporary filmmakers that keep the candle lit, and hopefully we’ll see a return to this…style..of filmmaking.

[@PillageMontage]

Yes exactly. It almost made you want to act and live like the characters in real life. Very stylized. Loved the pacing and storytelling. Damn good

[@ShnizelInBag]

It's a shame that many movies nowadays lack it. Style is what makes Fincher so great.

[@granitetile]

'[you]got style, you got brio"

[@AdityaWaghmare]

I think a similar movie would be Baby Driver

[@Lawrence_Talbot]

I think what’s amazing is that this movie literally has 11 main characters that the audience quickly A) likes, B) sees their value to the job/importance to story and C) gives them unique personalities. There are so many movies that maybe have half that number and the audience still won’t like each character or find one or two useless/ a throw away. That just goes to show how great the writers and actors were in this movie.

[@CocoonCast-Rebekah]

This series is probably one of my favourites, and the first film is just iconic The acting, the editing, the dialog is just ICONIC

[@r3dr4te963]

Yeah, I found myself more interested in their personal life and motivation than the heist itself

[@wrenboy2726]

Even with as good as the M:I movies have been as of late I always feel as if any hacker/tech guy could do the job of Benji and Luther. It's impressive how well realized every member in Ocean's is.

[@brianhum8765]

And it's exactly these reasons that Oceans 8 was a total failure; learned almost nothing about any of the characters, had almost as little to like about any of them, had no idea why they needed a number of the characters. I can't think of another movie that did as good a job of creating as many unique, memorable and different characters as the Oceans movies.

[@whitey138]

Rebel Moon put in a lot of effort to make me not care at all about the distinct characters as they were introducing them. Everyone was unique and somehow still completely interchangeable.

[@TrevorCopter]

Saul’s Quiet Moment scene emphasizes the acting these characters go through. Their con is one big theater piece, so adding that brief pause before cutting to the MGM and the fight announcers is like the lead actor taking that moment of breath before entering the stage. It also adds a bit of tension to Saul’s collapse later on, where you don’t 100% know it’s a ruse until Rusty shows up as the doctor

[@KCBCollier]

I’m still never 100% sure if Saul was really feeling fine all day, or actually had a condition that maybe came on him in spells and that he just used it to their advantage. (The best lies are sandwiched between truth.) I have to assume he was always fine based on how it all played out, but he was so convincing “backstage” that I maintain a degree of worry for him on every rewatch.

[@pawacoteng]

@@splitdimension8414 I really don't want to be that guy... but it's segue. From Italian, which ultimately was from Latin.

[@Ramboost007]

​@@KCBCollierDuring his con, he was routinely taking pills or lozenges. I assumed he was taking those to help feign a sickness (my guess is salt tablets because they make you sweat a lot, and he was sweating a lot).

[@treytison1444]

I agree, I think that small moment is great.

[@spdcrzy]

@@Ramboost007 but that's the point! Even though the audience is let in on the macro details beforehand, the micro details towards the end, and the very twist or two at the climax, the best movies IMO always have those ambiguous moments where things aren't cut and dried.

[@ellicel]

Thank you so much for breaking this down. For those of us who don't know anything about cinematography, editing is only really noticeable when it's awful. When it's great, you're too caught up in the enjoyment to understand how you're being moved by the craftsmanship. Seeing video essays like this adds so many layers to the experience. I am excited to revisit this film and see it with fresh eyes!

[@CinemaStix]

:D

[@brookeg5979]

Bad editing is definitely eye opening where great editing is a joy you feel but don't see. the Folding Ideas channel has a couple of great 'bad editing' vids on The Snowman and a handful of others that are terrific to watch.

[@katelights]

when you do things right, nobody will know you did anything at all

[@hallow6763]

@@katelightswell said!

[@llmkursk8254]

I've heard the same thing about audio. Not just music, but sound effects and dialogue. You rarely notice good sound editing, but when something is missing or flat you really notice.

[@SilverHeist]

I liked the gang going their own way at the fountain scene. Movie could have ended on that high note.

[@CinemaStix]

Apparently Soderbergh didn’t tell any of the actors what order to stand in or what order to leave in. It was all up to them to just do what felt natural, and then he designed his coverage around it. In fact the entire conception for the scene didn’t even come about until the day of when they got to set.

[@paul-scanlan]

@@CinemaStixthat really sums up the brilliance of those movies’ ensembles perfectly

[@Faceplantz123]

i just watched this and that scene stuck out to me. it really ties the movie together, and it does so only with clever editing. really sticks out from the rest of the movie, which is that very witty, snappy dialogue

[@TheJonnyEnglish]

@@Faceplantz123and with classic Debussy ✨

[@tobiasmyers3505]

​​@@TheJonnyEnglish But, you should never finish on Debusey. Always finish on da Bache. (I actually listened to some Debusey earlier.)

[@Nthsey]

As much as I agree that the final edit of the opening sequence is better without the shot reverse-shot, I’m happy there exists a canon Danny answer to that question, even if it’s just a witty retort.

[@albertmartinez2539]

My only disappointment with that bit is that though they cut it from the film, they did use that line in the trailer, so I was looking for it in the film and felt let down when it didn't show up.

[@prointernetuser]

irl Danny wouldn't be out on parole if he said that lmaoo. "Alright, you still think you're better than me because you are good at stealing. No remorse. Back to the cells you go."

[@BillPeschel]

@@prointernetuser Agreed. Plus, his silence lets the audience enter the film by answering it for him.

[@amyshaw893]

i always liked how it was like "what are you gonna do if you get out" "well, why dont i show you? :P"

[@johnnye87]

​@@amyshaw893 You can imagine the entire film being Danny's imagine spot after being asked that question. Snap back to "reality", he gives the smartass answer, parole denied 😂

[@HIR0SE]

I can't get enough of how you make movies I love into something so valuable. It'a like having your grandma's cooking dissected by a chef. They go from: "this movie is fun, I enjoy watching it every time" to "here's why you're actually watching a masterpiece".

[@CinemaStix]

Hehe. Thank you! But also, yes. A movie being mainstream (while also not a superhero movie) doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve to be looked at for what makes it enjoyable! :)

[@crenshawshank]

This gave me so much more appreciation for what is already one of my favorite films. The alt cut examples were a super clever way of illuminating Soderberg's intentionality, and how much the actors made deleted scenes so engaging they became free pickups. This is some peak CinemaStix work here my guy!

[@CinemaStix]

:D

[@z50king29]

My favorite, too!

[@henvisch]

I always have the feeling many people forget about the oceans trilogy when they list their favourite movies. Maybe because they aren't movies with big emotions of any kind. But they master the art of being fully logical till the end. Every little smalltalk that you see seems like simple chemistry building for the group at first but has a deeper meaning in the end and was actually a foreshadowing of the plot. Also the chemistry between every character in the movie is so believabile that it seems real. Also maybe the best feel good movies that aren't comedies.

[@deepaksrinivasmondal]

Guilty as charged!

[@nemtudom5074]

Its because they are subtle movies. Subtlety is quality, but it does nothing to make it be on people's minds. One of the reasons why they are they are doing big bombastic action setpieces, is because it sticks in people's heads for a while, that is called 'mind share', and when a thing is on a lot of people's minds, they talk about it a lot. Its a form of guerilla marketing.

[@davidschmidt5507]

O11 is my favorite movie :)

[@lukesanten9431]

Oceans 12 always comes to mind pretty quick when I think of my favorite movies. It’s not good. It’s scene after scene of contrivances that scratch just a little too incessantly at your feeling of disbelief. I think the twist is good, but there are just a few too many threads that all meet at that one point. And the less said about Julia Roberts, the better. But my god. The editing. The camera work. The score. That movie is a MOOD, and everything - almost without exception - either enhances that mood, or purposefully takes us out of it so we feel it when it dives back in. The comedy lands too. It’s dry, and everyone is the straight man. It works so well with everything else I love about it. Except that one scene, of course.

[@Lawrence_Talbot]

Well doesn’t help that Oceans 12 is the black sheep of the trilogy. I still consider 11 and 13 some of my favorite movies and it’s a toss up as to which I like more. 11 is more serious while 13 is more fun/gets a little wackier especially with Matt Damon’s fake nose lol.

[@reeddixon5758]

Ocean’s 11 is my favourite movie. It’s just so easy to watch. Not to mention a satisfying ending and plot progression.

[@bararobberbaron859]

Only thing imo they could have done better would be to actually hire an attractive woman to play Tess, don't think that's out of bounds to ask for how many handsome men they hired. And imo would have aided the realism in willing to risk all of that over the girl if she seemed worth it. We see very little of her personality, so then we have to go by aesthetics, and that's where it crumbles for me. I would share my umbrella with Julia Roberts but she ain't borrowing it, and I feel Georges ex should have been someone worth giving up your umbrella for.

[@tmbthe1425]

@@bararobberbaron859 I agree but I think there is a huge population that find Julia Roberts attractive. I have seen some of her films where she plays a character that doesn't suit the way she looks, for example Pretty Woman. So maybe it's just us that find her not physically attractive. I even agree with the personality side of your opinion where we just hadn't explored the character enough to care about her, especially with the fact that the protagonist robbed 3 casinos for her.

[@Extracredittttt]

​@@bararobberbaron859Julia Roberts is like one of the most famously attractive women in the world even if she's not to your taste

[@KlaraElmgren]

@@bararobberbaron859 you know she’s pretty famous for being very pretty, right? Like just because YOU don’t find her gorgeous doesn’t mean no one does. Also, is that really the ONLY way these movies could’ve improved?

[@stefanstenroos6344]

The late 90s to the early 2000s was like a second Golden Age. So many great movies drawing from the classics of the 30s and 40s. Oceans 11 sits near the top of the pile.

[@bobgruner]

It's like a comedy version of Michael Mann's "Heat". That movie was 2 hours, 50 minutes because he spent so much time with all the characters, but that's what made the movie so engaging and great. As others have said/implied, you need connection to the characters to make the plot matter.

[@BillPeschel]

When a movie is really good, length doesn't matter. My wife and I watched the Russian version of "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" (called "Poirot's Failure"). Five episodes, over five hours long, watched over two nights, and the time just flew.

[@silverXnoise]

“Heat” is a classic. Also, it features the best sound design and audio engineering I’ve ever heard in a film. The sound of the big shootout at the end makes it feel so much more visceral, like you’re there in the middle of it, feeling the bullets echo off the buildings.

[@darkmasterjake]

Meh, I'd argue Heat is actually not the best example of great editing.. There's a lot of dead space and shots that linger on for much longer than necessary iirc. I remember watching it a few months back and was taken aback by how jarring some of the editing was. That movie is still fantastic in spite of it though. The characters and action really carried it, imo.

[@archerpool]

It’s how the characters relate to the plot that’s important and unfortunately so many blockbuster films these days prioritise plot over character. If you spend time with the characters you care about what drives them or understand what drives them. You relate to them, you root for them. Prioritising plot means losing humanity and without humanity you lose connection to the audience. Character should always come first and studios should stop cutting important character beats in favour of a streamline plot.

[@leafyishereisdumbnameakath4259]

Amen to that

[@stackels97]

Absolute facts. Plot that isn't connected to or driven by character is so damn empty and forgettable.

[@bencaldwell6032]

he mentioned the pool scene not really moving the plot forward... but even on a mechanical level, the story is about to shift into fast mode with multiple characters interacting in important ways. So the pool scene allows the audience to get comfortable with who does what, and the caper can unroll without losing the audience, or having to pause every other minute to remind/clarify the audience. Outside of the emotional connection with the audience (which is so important and is so often overlooked), just on a functional level that interaction of character and plot helps give the story its clarity and ease.

[@Selrisitai]

Ideally, you should interweave characterization and plot, and Ocean's 11 mostly does this, with a few "beats" for pacing or feel or style.

[@tacofop600]

Ocean's Eleven is so good that it doesn't just make you love it, it makes you love movies in general. It's so masterfully executed, with such heart and style, that watching it gives you an appreciation for what movies can be when they're done this well. Most viewers aren't going to be consciously aware of all of the macro and micro elements, but they all come through so strongly on a subconscious level (particularly the wealth of invaluable character moments that you highlighted) that it ends up feeling instinctively satisfying.

[@bekaz13]

This is my favorite movie of all time, and the sequence of character intros is just immaculate. The pacing and rhythm are so specific I can basically quote the whole thing from memory. The editing in the Ocean's series (particularly 11 and 13) doesn't get nearly enough attention, so thanks for taking some time to highlight it!

[@imatalkinglandslide]

"Snatch," starring Brad Pitt had such a mind-blowing intro. How everyone was related and what through, the perfect crash course.

[@nikilragav]

11 and 13 are my faves too

[@bekaz13]

@@nikilragav 12 has its moments (the alarm prank comes to mind), but overall the vibes just aren't there

[@CinemaStix]

I definitely encourage anyone with the bandwidth to do so to click the gear icon and select ‘4K’ or ‘2160p’ while watching the video. Doesn’t matter what kind of display you’re using, it’ll give you a much, much less compressed image (on mobile it’s the gear icon and then “advanced”. Let me know if you have any questions. :) -Danny

[@TheTuttle99]

You got it chief

[@tr3vk4m]

Might I add that for a very compressed image indeed, simply select 144p! As is my preferred way to watch the video.

[@CubeBizz]

is compression the same as bitrate? sorry for noob question

[@salty_deez]

Me who watches in 360p on mobile 😅

[@Sir_Jimmothy]

@@CubeBizz Compression is how much data you're willing to lose between similar frames for the sake of file size, which is definitely related to bitrate but for KZbin, bitrate is usually tied more to resolution.

[@sanjanaparthasarathy7807]

I love it when you make essays on my favourite films! Ocean's was one of the first franchises I really fell in love with and watched several times. It was, for my 10 year old self, the first movie that really made me pay attention to more than just the plot. It was the first time I was invested in characters' success.

[@CinemaStix]

:D

[@adexterwolfe]

People have been sleeping on the whole Oceans trilogy but 11 is particularly masterful. A treat from start to finish. So of its time, so timeless. Love it. Another belter from you as always, Danny!

[@fvtown]

Ocean's 11 is infinitely rewatchable

[@creepinwhileyousleepin]

Loved this since it came out. 12 is also a masterpiece I think. I really miss this kind of old school class and charm of 90's early 2000's stuff. Besides the dynamite cast and great lighting they kept any pop culture or current events out of it, which just adds to the appeal. I had no idea about the editing decisions, which apparently saved and transcended Oceans 11.

[@codename1176]

Which in many ways is why they are timeless classics. When you bring in politics of the day it dates the film.

[@spdcrzy]

12 is HIGHLY underrated. An homage to classic thief vs cop stories.

[@Grizzlox]

George Clooney and Brad Pitt worked so well together, I'd watch a 2 hour special of them acting together with no cuts.

[@superglue46]

Hands down, Soderbergh's Ocean's 11 is in my all-time top 5. Love this movie. Time to watch it again.

[@jippehiemstra]

some of the scenes are so well cut and shot that you feel like its one big live painting, seeing the different angles at a high pace but with enough time to know whats going on, simply amazing

[@Opno]

I think the most shocking thing about the story of this movie is that test audiences changed a film for *good*. We alwaya hear these stories about movies not sticking to a directors original intent, but theres a reason that they show movies to people first and then make edits.

[@Xprimentyl]

When I got laid off in 2009, I went to a used DVD store, and bought this and several other movies on a whim to burn up time and my substantial severance package. Never saw it before, but I loved it so much, I literally watched it every day for a month. I could never quite put into words why it grabbed me the way it did, but this video nails it; it's the characters. Danny and Rusty make for the perfect duo, and the rest of the cast are no slouches either. It's just such a great film! Despite owning the DVD, a digital copy, AND near encyclopedic knowledge of the film, if it ever happens to come on TV randomly, welp, I know what I'm doing for the next two hours...

[@cacsims3]

Thank you for talking about this film in great regards. I grew up on repeat watches of Ocean's 11, still remains one of my favorite films of all time, oozes cinematic character and style/rhythm. Prime excellence of heist film.

[@1rotzy]

Ocean’s 11 and 13 are perfect films to me. The music, the cinematography, the character interactions, there is no problem I can find in these films. Maybe I’m biased, but everything comes together so smoothly that I don’t want to find faults. I have seen it a million times, and I will watch it a million more.

[@pac1841]

Really puts into perspective how much skill goes into making any movie.

[@CreamyPesto505]

This movie is so character and dialogue driven, that the regular use of silence is so powerful and always says so much. It's actually brilliant.

[@ElDapperCaballo]

Lately I've felt like my own editing at work has become a bit stale, and this is just the kind of video I needed to think more about how to use cuts to do more than just tell the story, but to help build interest in characters. Amazing video Danny, you knocked it out of the ballpark with this one! Now I need to go back and rewatch Oceans 11 for the nth time

[@CinemaStix]

:D

[@joelsorge]

Such a great essay. Thanks for the excellent work you’re doing to inspire and educate aspiring filmmakers and cinephiles!

[@CinemaStix]

I’m just having a good time. Thank YOU for watching it and engaging with it!

[@Kritacul]

I kind of feel that developing characters in the movie is more sensual than the plot. But at the same time, it also leaves the door open for a sequel or even two because you start to learn the characters and you get to know them, so that gives more of a emphasis to find out about them in future endeavors or their past.

[@seabrin]

Great video! My respect for Soderbergh has increased.

[@CinemaStix]

I’ve got another video on him planned for some point in the future that will hopefully increase it even more. Thanks for watching!

[@LordPhantomWolfe]

The Oceans trilogy has a style I just haven't felt in any other movie I've seen. The rhythm and release analogy makes so much sense. The movies all flow like a song. Everything happens on beat and at the right time. Nothing overstays it's welcome unless it's supposed to . Everything has so much style. It feels so fresh every time. Also probably my favorite use of A Little Less Conversation by Elvis ever put to film.

[@Ryan.of.the.Valley]

I just love so many things about how this film was made. The interesting shots, the timing of certain lines, the expressions on people's faces, the random scenes that don't need to be there but just make it feel more real... It's such a fun movie to watch and notice things.

[@102ss1]

Oceans 11 is just a damn cool film. Worth a rewatch every year.

[@david.mcmahan]

The parole board scene ending with the unanswered question followed by Danny sliding up the escalator hooked me on the film from the very start. Amazing transition!

[@chriswakefieldmusic]

Soderbergh has such an incredible and eclectic mix of films, and more recently television series, he’s really something.

[@pragmatik5305]

Sooo weird, my wife and I literally watched Oceans 11 TWO days ago, the same day you posted this, and I haven't seen it in at least 15 years. The movie has some big plot holes, and odd decisions, but seeing it broken down like this, you really appreciate the filmmaking a lot more.

[@danielguy3581]

Is it weird? You are one of eight billion.

[@TheCanonite]

wow.... dude.. you just made me realize that I may the fan-buying the series.... movies with obvious plot holes make me mad. but I love oceans 11. the pace and every point about the directing, that this KZbin video highlights. It's been a while since I've watched the film. What are some of the plot holes?

[@bikramarora1819]

Imagine giving a shit about plot holes while watching a movie as cool as ocean’s 11

[@SeveralOnions]

What an absolute treat of a video! I I just happened to watch Oceans 11 with my mother a few days ago, and it's crazy to see just how different it could have been had the original version been released. I'm sure this vid will make for a fun rewatch with her

[@CinemaStix]

:D

[@0That_Guy0]

This is easily one of my favourite movies, and up there with my favourite trilogies as well! I'm apparently not alone in being more invested in the characters than the plot, so that was funny to hear! It is such an awesome gang to follow through the story, and I never tire of watching the movie at least once or twice each year! Keep on rocking, Danny; as always it was a joy listening and watching your video essay! :D

[@CinemaStix]

:D

[@sumit2658]

Oceans Eleve and the Sequels.are my favourite movies for a reason. Thanks for making this Danny! These masterpieces aren't talked about enough.

[@CinemaStix]

:)

[@Sir_Jimmothy]

I've watched this movie so many times, and I'm really interested in seeing someone analyse the opening scene where Danny expertly manipulates the parole board into asking the questions he has the most disarming answers to - this scene is expertly written and nobody seems to have talked about it.

[@mattyisnice]

Wow awesome breakdown as usual Danny! I had no idea about adding in a scene to let the movie breathe before diving into faster-paced scenes, and not repeating cuts to make it feel quicker! I knew there were reasons I love the Oceans movies, and once again you've explained perfectly why! Such great content

[@CinemaStix]

Isn’t that fascinating? Every single thing we experience watching a movie is a decision that had to get made, good or bad. And some are just sooo subconscious in their impact. Thanks so much for watching!

[@stevewill3572]

This and the second are absolute gems, the photography, dialogue, shots, location, soundtrack, it’s all so damn good. It’s funny, it’s sad, it’s exciting, it’s beautiful, it’s soderburgh

[@alexgonzo5508]

This film is one of my all time favorites; i can watch it multiple times and it feels just as good as the first time i watching it. I miss movies like this.

[@findmestudios]

This is one of my favorite films ever. To me it is the most entertaining film ever made. The style, cast, story, dialogue. Everything. I could watch this film anytime it’s on.

[@PaleoEdits]

Best film analysis channel I've seen. Thank you so much for making these!

[@JMenitta]

Ocean's Eleven is without a doubt my favorite movie but I could never really pinpoint exactly why. Whenever I think of Ocean's, I think about the setting, the heist reveal, the music, and the characters. This really shows how the movie highlights the characters through its pacing and editing. Fantastic video!

[@arturofletcher]

Fantastic video! I'm learning so much about the art of film with your videos. They're increasing my ability to appreciate movies, and growing my love for them even more (and that's coming from a person that's a huge movie buff)

[@CinemaStix]

:D

[@faizrosli9154]

Ocean’s Twelve brings all these things to the next level. Watched that film more than 20 times. Pure art.

[@bearrnabas]

I want to add that I just watched Guardians of the Galaxy 3, a blockbuster Marvel movie, which could very easily have leaned into plot so hard. But even with the first movie, Gunn decided to stick to character more. Because each of them has their own agenda and they can rarely stick to a plan, Gunn decided to help us understand that part. I think MOST Marvel movie lovers back in 2014 were surprised by how much they loved Guardians--- they didn't know how much they wanted extensive character work, humor, music. Marvel films after that film incorporated all of those elements going forward. I think we know character dev would be great, but videos like yours help us know HOW to create those scenes, and allow them to be free from having to carry so much plot load. They give the viewer/reader breathing space just to be with the characters... GotG3 was so satisfying as a character dev and character arc finale of a trilogy. It was more concerned with helping you understand the characters--- and committed to giving them each an extended ending that supported them and the viewers' love of them.

[@rogerkincaid931]

When other blockbusters imperiled the world or the universe, GotG Vol. 3 decided to put one of the main characters at stake, making it all feel more personal.

[@Lordlasagnaa]

Oceans just has a aurora to It, creates a feeling that you want to partake in. Plus the soundtrack is amazing.

[@kiiroshidori4296]

IT’S SO GREAT, I LOVE IT!!! The music, the filter, the acting, the comedy, the emotions, just, really everything! Despite having so many characters, they manage to make you like all of them, and even be able to remember them afterwards. Everyone has a motivation and a purpose, a certain set of skills, all very well introduced, and then the music! Love it, love it.

[@dumont_69]

"to let the movie breath..." THIS is paramount. This is the reason that my favorite part of most most movies is the intro/backstory bit. I could watch the first Harry Potter until he gets to Hogwarts over and over, same with all my favorite movies. The discovery phase is my favorite part.

[@stevewill3572]

That pool scene with Ruben is exposed so nicely looks like we went back in time matches his character so well.

[@AdamKlownzinger]

Probably my favorite movie ever and it’s for something I hadn’t even realized until you mentioned it. Yes the movie is clever and funny, but the way that each shot was creatively framed cut to cut to cut to cut to cut made every part of the film that much more novel and fast paced and grand.

[@alexkasper5029]

I also think the way Soderbergh uses David Holmes' score makes all of the scenes you mentioned even more dynamic and layered. I love in the opening how that piece of David Holmes music is almost the film's response to the parole board question "what do you think you would you do if released?" It suggests Danny's plans through music. And Soderbergh does that with the music in so many scenes in the film. I think one of the things that makes the film so immersive as a whole is the music, it keeps you in this world that is high stakes and dangerous and fun. Before David Holmes did film scores he was known for being a DJ in the 90s who was a contemporary of people like Fatboy Slim and Moby. He was so perfect for this film bc he was known for mixing genres in really new and exciting ways. So he was able to compose a score that captures the swagger of the rat pack original version of the film but make it totally current and unique to Soderbergh's vision. I think it is a brilliant example of how the composer and director can use music to enhance the impact of every scene, which makes sense since I believe David Holmes does the score for almost all of Soderbergh's films.

[@bencaldwell6032]

thank you! i'm mad i didn't think about that before, but that bit of music was totally a line of dialogue (or narration) on its own. damn.

[@Psychadelico]

I think this is one of my most rewatched movies ever and I really think it's due to the fact that I feel that no second of my time is being wasted. Every scene is either fun, intsresting, or moving the plot forward, most of the times, the three combined

[@madddyb]

Incredible video essay; Ocean's Eleven was the perfect showcase for what you were going for!

[@CinemaStix]

Unexpectedly so, but absolutely!

[@TheOtherKine]

It also helps that he shoots his own films a lot as he did on this film, which means he can do all the planning and have a complete pre-vis idea of how he would stylise and edit movement while he's shooting that he doesn't need to relay to the DP to get done, which he can also convey to the actors during the initial group reading and pre-production stages on how things are going to move and be edited, giving the actors some room to do various versions of scenes and also ad-lib on the fly. It's not that he focused on the characters so much, you're belying a bit of how the stylisation of the cinematography and production values plays into how the actors are able to move and express themselves in those shots because they know what the camera is doing and WHY, for the edit, throughout the whole film. I don't think it's so much the character being prioritised. Without this stylisation and pre-visualisation and camera movements - say, if it was shot more like a Michael Bay film, even with the exact same dialogues and movements from the characters but were all done with slash-bang action edits may be like Die Hard or Speed, you wouldn't say the same thing at all

[@Crosroad]

I love how these videos all have a title which i can only describe as "youtube short quality" but are good little videos about filmmaking

[@EpicGammingCrew]

5:00 showing how stiff those two scenes would be back to back made me legit say “oh wow” out loud

[@alucardhellsing5466]

This is my favorite movie of all time so I enjoyed this analysis a lot it really speaks to some of the many things in this film that make me enjoy it so much. Thank you for this and I am adding it to my favorites

[@Willp4139]

Danny, with the quality of work you do on this channel, you’ll be at 1M subscribers in no time! Excellent!

[@CinemaStix]

Hehe, thank you! One can certainly dream.

[@Ride420Dirty]

Never been to film school, but you've named a few tricks I do in my editing when I dabble. Great video, thank you!

[@itscaptainterry]

I grew up with these movies and have watched them more times than I can count. This is such an excellent analysis of what makes it so engaging. Crazy how much difference small details in editing can make.

[@tyrannicpuppy]

You made me go and watch it again. Such a great film, but such precise and clever editing that I'd never really noticed most of it before. Too busy just enjoying the movie. Those real long takes also show the chops of the actors as well. When a director knows he can pull back and keep a trio in shot for minutes long takes knowing that every time they'll hit the notes and deliver the performance. That first scene at Reubens really nails it home. Once the guys get up from the table, you forget how long that moment goes on compared to most conversations in a big budget movie. But you are right that it really helps the scenes that follow it by being a simple long take.

[@chilidrummer8333]

The Ocean’s trilogy are still some of my absolute favourite movies ever. So smooth and very much entertaining, funny and with a exceptional choice of casting.

[@thejman3489]

That ending at the fountain and the music, just perfection! There are movies I like way more than Oceans Eleven, but this is my favorite movie ending.

[@NerdFiction]

I feel like I finally after all these years, found a channel that feels like a true spiritual successor to Every Frame a Painting. Loving your work dude. Glad I got you in my recommended finally.

[@CinemaStix]

That’s pretty much the highest honor :) I’m so glad, too! Tonnns more to come. -Danny

[@joshuawiedenbeck6944]

One of the best aspects of this movie is that is leaves a lot of information unspoken. So many modern films force-feed you the exact information they think you need, most often with bad dialog. This film leaves a lot of random information out. This lack of information allows the viewer to fill in the information themselves, and now they're invested.

[@n8_b_h]

One of my fave movies ever. Ever rewatchable. Something about it. You nailed so much of this in your analysis. Thanks. Magic in a bottle. Truly.

[@AbrahamBenno]

It honestly really surprises me how the Ocean’s trilogy isn’t more well-known, especially considering how definitive it was for heist films and how star-studded the cast is. Eleven and Thirteen are easily in my Top 5 favourite films of all time.

[@jtmacon]

Really great breakdown, one thing: Soderbergh pronounces his last name with the long O as in soda or potato :)

[@CinemaStix]

If you can count on me for one thing, it’s to mispronounce people’s names. Thanks for this. As soon as you said, something clicked in my brain. But yeah, that’s my bad.

[@biotopic1123]

i appreciate the great editing in this video. im inspired!

[@CinemaStix]

:D

[@frostbound]

Every so often I come back to your channel, usually because it's a movie I love, and you never disappoint. Ocean's Eleven might just be my favourite movie and this gave me such a larger appreciation for it.

[@RandomCarrot2806]

I believe on the directors commentary track on the DvD that Soderbergh says that one of the reasons why Brad and George is so often in frame together playing out scenes is that he discovered early that the two of them had a willingness to share the frame that you don't find with a lot of leading men. That willingness and generosity really sells the tone and rhythm of the piece from the very start. Also, this was a good excuse to go rewatch what I'm pretty sure is my most rewatched film. Putting it on always feels like spending an hour or two with an old friend.

[@MrRayMac1963]

The original Ocean's 11 was one of my favorites. I didn't think they could match the rat packs magic, but they did. This is a excellent diagnosis of how everything came together. It wasn't just a great cast. The direction and pacing usually doesn't get the attention it deserves. Thanks for this great analysis.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Soderbergh (however one pronounces it) is absolutely fantastic when it comes to "finding the fun"--and rhythms--in the edit. :) And let's be honest here... the music, sound, acting, and lighting are a HUUUGE bonus when it comes to great edits as well.

[@simonoosthuizen184]

I love this channel so much, thank you for introducing me to the brilliance of Steven Soderburg!

[@CinemaStix]

Thank you for watching and be here! Won’t be last you hear of him from me, believe me :) -Danny

[@simonoosthuizen184]

@CinemaStix looking forward to hearing more about him! Loved your video on his desaturated version of Raiders, went and watched it after your video, and honestly feel like it was the best lesson in blocking and faming ever!

[@TaylorMcRae]

STILL one of my favorite movies. The pacing is absolutely incredible from start to finish. Thank you for putting this video together!

[@davidvolpov9247]

Verdict: Sometimes the screenwriter knows better than the editor

[@benbunch4159]

I could probably recite this movie line for line. The pace and editing make it so rewatchable and I’ve rewatched it many times.

[@MightySheep]

Before this video if you asked me what made Oceans 11 a great movie id have said the script and the cast but I guess I didnt really appreciate how well edited and directed it is to be entertaining.

[@swg2002]

I appreciate one of my all time favorite movies even more now because of this video. Great job with the different edits to prove just how crucial each interaction is in the flow of this movie. I think I'm going to give it another watch now.

[@tylerh4757]

ocean's 11 is one of my favorite movies of all time. this video has added to my appreciation of it. thank you so much!

[@brzk_]

makes me wanna watch that movie again. now that i think of it this is probably one of my all time favourite movies.

[@JayFingers]

As a writer, what I’ve found frustrating is that notes often dictate that those great character moments be cut from the script before a single frame is shot. Soderbergh has the luxury of including these moments. A nobody screenwriter such as myself is forced to eliminate them. So frustrating. 😩😭😭

[@CinemaStix]

This was indeed a very special instance. Ted Griffin, who wrote the film, was very close with Soderbergh and shadowed him through the entire shoot to prep for his own directing career. So there was a constant dialogue between them.

[@reedr7142]

I remember when I first saw this movie, with next to no info on what I was about to sit down for. That character intro montage gave me a wonderful idea of the cast of thieves, in a way that was easy to understand. I may not have remembered all their names the first time around, but I definitely knew their nuances. Fantastic job!

[@gonnahavemesomefun]

I absolutely adore these films. I mean REALLY adore. It's one of the view movies you can literally never tire of. And we get three of them! I hadn't quite appreciated the editing until watching your breakdown. I think you've just made Oceans even sexier 👀

[@grutarg2938]

The advice to pause and take a breath before diving into action, especially the final action, is such good advice for writers.

[@plumbthumbs9584]

Danny, I just can not express how much I enjoy your work. You are an intelligent and talented dude, thank you.

[@b29ak2007]

As someone who puts on this movie too often... i really appreciate this video cause i have some of the editing arrangemts stuck in my mind

[@MrDrProfessorPurple]

Soderbergh is one of if not my absolute favorite director. David Lynch is a master of dreams, Scorcese can make an epic feel not long enough, Tarantino is a library of mastery, but Soderbergh just makes good movies. His films are so tight and precise. They're like rollercoasters, fun as hell, quicker than you're used to, and once its over, you just wanna jump back on and feel that exhilaration you just fell in love with.

[@trilltron2885]

This has "every frame a painting vibes" in the best way. Nice video!

[@Laarrrieeee]

Man, if ever there was a movie that encapsulated the feeling I get when watching your videos it would be Ocean's 11. The similar vibes and crisp effort.

[@chrisburns514]

Wooo. The best movies. How about that short Italian romance film in the middle of 12?

[@180_S]

This is fantastic! Never knew how much was taken off the cutting floor. One of the movies I can watch over and over.