In the history of film, there have been many great female characters to grace our screens, big and small. Of course TV has its own breed of amazing female characters that is its own subject so I’m just going to focus on film.
Years before the announcement that there was to be an Ocean’s Eleven spin off or new version with women, I had been saying for years that if you swapped every male cast member for women the only thing you’d need to change is she instead of he. The setting, the dialogue, the skills they all bring, they are suited to just men, the entire cast could be female and it wouldn’t change the plot or dialogue.
However when it was announced, along with cast and story, I have to admit I was slightly disappointed that the women would be stealing jewellery and at the MET Gala too, the most fashion concentrated event of the year (so they say). It seemed that diamond heist was very female centric. However, over looking this slight too cliche story choice, the film looked and sounded like any other ‘fun’ heist film. Sandra Bullock as Debbie Ocean and Cate Blanchett as her right hand woman, Lou headed up the star spangled cast. With nods to the previous Ocean’s films with a cameo from Elliot Gould and a surprise cameo from another member of the previous team. Danny is dead but Debbie is not convinced, but this is dwelled upon and mentioned a few times by other as they offer condolences. This is Debbie’s show. This the women’s show. Unlike Danny’s crew, not everyone in the gang is actually a criminal. But to be honest, it doesn’t matter. Every woman on the team has their own reason for being there, the weakest member of the team having the weakest reason, but less on her later.
The crime caper, heist film, light action, is usually loose on many characters details and concentrate more on the main character and their personal problems. Debbie is has a story and like her brother it was a romantic one, but unlike him, her’s is about revenge. So, not only this film have an amazing female line up BUT there is no romantic attachment, just a bit of revenge on the side. As romance seems to creep into most stories (think about it) I like to value the fact the films that don’t have this element, especially when its seamless and doesn’t feel on purpose. Another aspect of the heist film, when a woman is involved, a seduction must take place. Although there is, sort of scene like this, its not by the original team member. None of the of the women have to seduce anyone in any part of the heist and THAT is unbelievably satisfying. In spy, crime, special agent films, there is always a bloody seduction scene and its boring. Thank you Ocean’s 8 for (sort of) subverting the mould.
Every woman in the film (apart from Hathaway) is undeniably cool. They way they act, the skills they have and of course their own styles. I wanted to wear everything Blanchett worse in the film, her outfits were so cool and that's what I kept yelling every time she was on screen.
Films where crime is ‘glamourised’ are fun to enjoy but if they take themselves too seriously, it almost feels like a promotion. Luckily the film jokes about being a criminal and how they shouldn’t being this heist for themselves but for an 8 year old girl somewhere who is dreaming of being a criminal. The women of the film are undeniably cool. They are exude a coolness even when under pressure. They are organised and they know their end goal, to most of them, this is just another job, but they’ll be damned if they’re not having fun with it.
For those, like me, who end up having to wait for films such as Ocean's 8 in order to see, yes Hollywood can sometimes produce something that isn't making a statement, even though it does and can get behind an ace cast which is predominately female and doesn't dwell on romance, having a family, having a career crisis (well Helena Bonham Carter's Rose is kind of) or 'trying to have it all'. No one makes a huge deal if a film has all men in the main cast, but the fact its so damn rare to have a cast like Ocean's 8, everyone sits up, takes notice and usually tries to tear it down (just look at Ghostbusters). But not this time, in my eyes, these cool AF women can't be torn down. Unless they pretend to in order to nick your cash, but that's another story.