What was the (alleged) point of having the videotape of the mock vault vs. the actual one? Clooney, Damon, and the chinese dude were already in the vault. When Pitt calls Garcia to tell him he is being robbed and cut’s the fake video loop, why not just cut to those guys in the vault (with masks on)? The same purpose is served and there is no need for a fake vault.
I know “it’s just a movie” but that vault thing nearly breaks my already highly strained but willing suspension of disbelief. Is there some reason to have the staged vault that I’m not thinking of? Thanks in advance - KC
The staged vault is so that they can change into the guard’s/firefighter’s/paramedic’s uniforms (I can’t remember exactly which or what combination of uniforms they were wearing) and get the money into body bags while the cops and casino security think they’re doing the robbery a different way.
Plus, as I recall, Brad Pitt says something to Andy Garcia along the lines of, “As you can see, we’re only packing up half of your money…” when the boys in the vault are actually taking the whole load. They needed Andy Garcia to think that he was getting to keep some of his money, otherwise he would have just had them killed.
I like this movie! 
It’s been answered already, but I’ve got to say that the re-do kicks major ass on the original, in which the cast looked like they were hung-over or drunk in every scene.
The cast in the original “Ocean’s Eleven” looked hung over or drunk in every scene because many of them were according to reports about the shooting of that film.
The original was pretty much just a commercial for Las Vegas casinos. The latter was OK, but still not great.
I still wonder what was meant in the original film when a guard at one of the hotels is asked if everything is OK and he says something like “just like tubes in July”.
I keep watching the film to figure that one out. It’s one of life’s mysteries. When I find out what was actually said and what it meant, I can die happy.
However, I’m only 36, so don’t rush out to answer.
body bags? I thought they were swat guys and carried the suitcases of cash right threw the casino. Then again i was tired.
Believe it or not there was actually a thread about that. (Or some other bizarre phrase from the original.) I have no memory of what the answer was, I fear. It was quite some time ago though, so if you search for it, do it at 4AM when you’re least likely to break the board, haha.
My question about the movie: Where did all the fake money come from? I just watched it, and I didn’t see any bags of fliers moved into the vault.
Sealemon,
Thats a damn good question…just saw this movie tonite and I can’t explain it away. Ditto the bags and stuff.
Besides that fact, I liked the flick.
To the OP:
Of all the things that were far fetched, it really seems odd that you’d pick this one. While the fake video isn’t critical to the plan (and the storyline) it seems to me that its fairly logical. First off it offers plenty of extra time for the guys to get ready for the charade of the SWAT team and fake money bags. Second it sells it to Garcia’s character that its happening and that time is tight and he has a reasonable chance to feel a little confident in foiling the plan. Also, in the end it makes for a better punchline to the plot when it’s uncovered IMHO.
So why did the money cart holding the Chinese acrobat have to be airtight and require breathing apparatus? Is there any justification for that?
Sealemon88: I just watched the DVD with director’s commentary, and Steven Soderbergh (either him or the screenwriter; I got their voices confused a lot) admitted that the thing with the flyers appearing out of thin air is the one plot hole that can’t be accounted for. Personally I could list a few more plot holes, but I guess that’s the only one they’re willing to own up to. (Don’t get me wrong, I thought it was a great flick, I just didn’t think the plot was airtight.)
SmackFu: I always assumed that they were using an actual money cart from the casino, and that it’s airtight just because the actual money carts are airtight. I guess they could have created a mock-up that had breathing holes, but maybe there was a concern that somebody would notice the cart didn’t look quite right.