Why heist movies like Oceans 8 motivate you

Why heist movies like Oceans 8 motivate youWhy heist movies like Oceans 8 motivate youTo motivate myself enough to start writing this piece, I put on Oceans 11.Not that it was my first choice. Between us, I originally sought out The Godfather - but then I discovered Netflix Canada had taken it away, so I went with Oceans instead. To be clear, I in no way, shape, or form want to be Michael Corleone. But the mans work ethic is something Im jealous of, and Danny Oceans comes pretty close. And for better or worse, watching both of these masterminds at work gets me fired up - because thats what good heist movies do.Id like to be someone whose productivity doesnt zurechtge on living vicariously through fictional criminals, but the success of movies and TV series that revolve around them has led me to believe its fine. Throughout the 2000s, we all congregated around Walter White and Tony Soprano, defining and re-defining terms like anti-hero to water down the fact that we were, against ou r better judgment, rooting for them. From there, we went on to debate the ethics of characters like Star Wars Kylo Ren, Gone Girls Amy Dunne, and even Scandals Olivia Pope to remind ourselves that most of us dont fall into ethical categories of black or white, but, far more often, into shades of grey. True to form, this is how I plan to justify over-romanticizing Oceans 8 (out this weekend) in the same way I embraced its 2001-era predecessor. Because sure, it may be illegal to rob the Met or hit a casino, but goddamn It sure takes a lot of work ethic and effort to do it.Stories about people who work hard are great. But stories about people who work hard, together, to achieve a common goal that none of us could emulate alone unless we were genius millionaires (or had financial backing) are even better. Oceans 11 may be a good film because of its characters, dialogue, and general execution, but itd be heartbreakingly empty and pointless without the collective dynamic of its leads. Ima gine two hours of George Clooney, by himself, just, like, trying to charm Julia Roberts while simultaneously trying to rob one of the biggest casinos in the world. It would be startling, itd be pathetic - and itd be a lesson in how notlage to live ones life. It wouldnt be a tale about pulling off something cool with a bunch of like-minds, itd be a movie about some dude who was completely delusional and super weird.Instead, Oceans 11 - and good, decent, heist films like it - give us the opportunity to be delusional and weird. We dont watch these movies and think about the real-life consequences of being caught, or that the only place we would ever see a cast of characters so exciting, funny, and colorful come together is on-screen. Nor do we think about how characters like Tom Hanks FBI werber in Catch Me If You Can are the real heroes, and that we should be actively rooting against Leonardo DiCaprio. (As if I would, but I hear youre supposed to.) Instead, were given a chance to w atch the art of outsmarting in action, and to take the side of the bad guys/gals. And when a character is likeable, and the outsmarting is done well, its impossible not to cheer for them and to root against whoevers trying to ruin everything.Which isnt to say anybody here wants to knock over a casino or to snag a bunch of diamonds that dont belong to us. (So dont start spreading anything about me.) Instead, these movies, these stories, and these characters offer a buffet of choices from which to inspire ones self. I dont romanticize Rusty in Oceans or Michael Corleone because I want to do what they do - I romanticize the traits they exhibit that I can apply to my own life, hopefully without destroying it in the process. Ambition, intelligence, drive, work ethic - all of these are awesome things. The key is to use them without ruining somebody elses life (within reason) or, you know, doing something very illegal and going to jail.What I like in these heroes (or villains, whatever) are things Ive yet to fully embrace in myselfPlus, theres that element of fun to it all. (Something I think weve all become unfamiliar with, but lets give it a whirl for a couple of hours.) Because who isnt going to see Oceans 8 and not wish we were any of its leads? Who isnt going to sit there, mentally tallying the pals theyd join forces with to pull off a job thats impossible outside of a scripted film or show? Who isnt going to leave the theater asking, What would Eight tanzabend do? or hoping they have a fraction of the confidence of Cate Blanchett asking Sandra Bullock why shes doing one last job? Who isnt going to feel inspired in some strange, inexplicable way, and then search maniacally for a place in which they can assert this new dose of ambition? Who isnt going to wonder if they can do a version of this remarkable thing in their own lives?Which gets at the root of why heist movies are so damn inspirational I may be sitting on my couch watching 2001-era Brad Pitt and Carl Reiner and writing, but if this beautiful, perfect, motley crew can coordinate long enough to screw over Andy Garcia, then I know I can focus long enough to deliver something thats relatively readable.Because what I like in these heroes (or villains, whatever) are things Ive yet to fully embrace in myself. Heist movies, then, are a much-needed reminder that its OK to be a little calculating, or to dream big, or not to cower in the wake of confrontation. Its OK to reassure myself that Im allowed to be colorful while existing in the realm of grey, and to find friends that bring out the best in me instead of those I cant plan and plot with. Again, within reason. For the record, I dont want any of us to rob anything. I just want us to feel inspired enough to know that we could if we really wanted to.Until the next film, at least.Anne T. Donahue is a writer and person from Cambridge, Ontario. Her first book, Nobody Cares, will be out in September 2018.This article was originally publish ed on Shondaland.com.