Many words come to mind when I think of the new film Ocean's Eleven, but cool is the best description for this entertaining piece of hip storytelling from the ultra talented Steven Soderbergh.

Although the picture has an all star cast, it is the considerable talent of Soderbergh that really had me excited about seeing this movie. This is a film maker that changed the face of independent cinema with the groundbreaking Sex, Lies and Videotape. He followed it up with a string of fantastic endeavors (King of the Hill, Kafka etc.) that, while critically acclaimed, failed to connect with audiences. After a rather lengthy hiatus, he returned with the fantastic Out of Sight and the subtle The Limey, but it wasn't until last year that he took the film world by storm with the one-two punch of Erin Brockovich and Traffic.

Now, he returns in what is easily his most breezy film. Ocean's Eleven has no interest in making any kind of statement about society. This is strictly entertainment. And while this is essentially a remake of the Rat Pack classic, Soderbergh has added his own distinct flavor.

George Clooney is Danny Ocean, a likable thief who wants to pull off the ultimate heist. Following a lengthy stint in prison, Ocean plots to rob three Las Vegas casinos. Obviously, this isn't a one-man job, so he sets out to round up a crew of elite professionals. These band of well drawn characters are portrayed respectively by; Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Carl Reiner, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Don Chedle, Bernie Mac, Eddie Jemison, Shaobo Qin, and Elliot Gould. Each one brings something unique to the table, and while all these individuals get their own moments, it is veteran Reiner that really steals the movie as an old time pro that seems destined to be a professional criminal for the rest of his life. Oh yes, did I fail to mention that Julia Roberts is in this picture as well? While she lends her star power to this ensemble, she rarely captivates in the role of Ocean's ex-flame. I was also a bit underwhelmed by the usually dependable Andy Garcia. His casino owner wasn't nearly menacing enough, and there really wasn't quite enough tension between him and Clooney.

Ocean's Eleven is extremely well crafted. Soderbergh is able to juggle numerous characters with the greatest of ease, and he seems to be having fun every step of the way. While the film does have sluggish moments, I marveled at how likable these characters are, despite the fact that they are all bad men. This is a picture cast to perfection. Clooney's suave demeanor is perfectly captured here, while Pitt is fun as a brash thief. Again, Reiner impresses the most as does a hilarious Gould as a wealthy businessman always looking to burn his enemies.

Ocean's Eleven has an old fashioned sensibility. It's full of savvy dialogue, movie star performances, romance and sure-handed directing. And while I wouldn't call this a perfect movie, it is solid entertainment. I believe this is the third high profile heist picture in the last six months (The Heist and The Score are the other two) and with it's light touch, I'd have to say it's my favorite.