How Oceans Eleven and Nine Queens Are Able to Transform a Genre

The crime genre has evolved throughout cinematic history to not only portray the exploits of conmen, but to integrate other generic traits as well. Many recent crime films have included elements of comedy, romance, murder, drama, and suspense. By meshing traits of crime films with others, film makers are able to reveal alternative motives than the rewards of the crime creating a much deeper story line and connection with the characters. Steven Soderbergh’s 2001 Hollywood blockbuster, Oceans Eleven, alters the traditional stereotypes of a crime film. The film is more of a comedy film revolving around a crime, but nonetheless, there are all the traditional elements of a crime thriller: money, an elaborate scheme, and a well-crafted team of thieves. It is the story of a life-long criminal, Daniel Ocean, and his eleven-man team’s quest to steal over $150 million from three Las Vegas casinos. The aforementioned traits are not only present in Hollywood films, but foreign ones as well. Fabien Bielinsky’s 2000 Argentinean film, Nine Queens, follows the newly-formed team of two conmen, Marcos and Juan, who are handed the opportunity of a life time. After a morning of swindling on the streets of Buenos Aires, the men seemingly luck into a scheme to rake in hundreds of thousands of dollars by selling a counterfeit stamp set (Nine Queens) to a Spanish businessman. At the heart of the crimes in each movie lie similar alternative motives of love and revenge established through using a hybrid genre and unconventionally driven main characters (Juan and Daniel Ocean).

Despite its label as a crime film, Nine Queens, is much more than the tale of a swindle. It is a unique film that can be funny at times, teach lessons, thrill the viewer, or even criticize Argentinean society. To truly understand the depth of the film’s transcendence it is necessary to further analyze both the characters and the plot. Following a “chance” meeting between Marcos, a lifetime thief who thinks of himself as a legitimate businessman who is better than the swindlers around him, and Juan, a rookie conmen with all the right intentions and a very likable personality, comes an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They are presented with the opportunity to cash-in on fraudulent stamps by selling them to an aggressive collector. Along the way, the men encounter unanticipated challenges such as Juan’s apparent mistrust of the situation, the theft of the fraudulent stamps, having to purchase the originals from a widow (Marcos uses his savings to buy them), and Marcos’ eventual decision to prostitute his sister (Valeria) in order to complete the sale. The challenges speak as to how far each man is willing to go. Not only is Marcus willing to risk his savings, but he is also sacrificing his barely-there relationship with his family for his benefit. Meanwhile, Juan goes along for the ride, albeit with a hesitant attitude, yet he keeps his morals in tact throughout the scheme. Eventually they complete the sale with a payment via cashiers’ check that proves to be invalid following the Argentinean financial collapse, resulting in Marcos’ loss of thousands of dollars. Yet, in the end it is Juan who reaps the biggest prizes in the end: love and revenge. In fact, Juan was behind the scheme the whole time, as revealed by Bielinsky’s final scene showing a gathering of every player in the scheme and an exchange of both love and money between Juan and Valeria. Critic Roger Epert uses the following synopsis to explain the beauty of the film:

[It is] a con within a con within a con. There comes a time when we think we've gotten to the bottom, and then the floor gets pulled out again and we fall another level. Since nothing is as it seems (it doesn't even seem as it seems), watching the film is like observing a chess game in which all of the pieces are in plain view but one player has

figured out a way to cheat. (Epert)

His summary refers to the use of twists and turns to get the revenge on Marcos. Additionally, it supports the idea that Nine Queens offers much more than a typical crime film, it offers an ever-changing array of events that morph into a genre of its own that should be valued across the world.

Oceans Eleven has much more to offer the viewer than just an exciting narrative about the plights of Daniel Ocean and his men. The film is very much a crime movie, but it is also to make the viewer laugh, admire the charismatic Ocean, and most notably incorporate Ocean’s romance and quest to win back his ex-wife (Tess). Following his release from prison Ocean rendezvous with an old companion, Rusty, to reveal his scheme to rob three Las Vegas casinos. The duo proceeds to round up nine others to carryout the intricate duties involved with the robbery. Once thoroughly involved in the plot, “Rusty sees the casino owner with a woman he recognizes-Tess Ocean, Danny's ex-wife. "Tell me it isn't about her," Rusty begs Danny. Of course it is. Ocean wants to steal from his ex-wife's current lover and get her back again” (Ebert). Eventually, the men successfully steal all $150 million from the casinos, but more importantly, Danny regains his ex wife by forcing her to witness her casino-owner boyfriend’s desire to have his money rather than Tess. Throughout the course of the film are comedic elements that help to downplay the seriousness of stealing millions, yet emphasize the strengths and flaws of each character. By downplaying the gravity of the crime, Oceans Eleven is able to focus on Danny’s primary motivation to get back with Tess. Due to the comedic elements, Danny’s conquest to regain his lost love serves as the lasting memory of the film, rather than the intricate scheme to achieve wealth. Soderbergh’s unique blend of comedy and suspense are able to make the viewing experience of Oceans Eleven unique in a sense that it reminds the viewer there is much more to life than money.

By conveying modern conventions of the genre, both films are influential sources for those attempting to morph the typical crime film. While Oceans Eleven leaves the audience laughing and rejoicing in Daniel Ocean’s ability to flawlessly steal millions as he wins back the love of Tess, Nine Queens leaves the viewer with an astounding shock as the truth of the whole situation are revealed. The symbiotic relationship between the use of alternative motives and the mending of the genre create unique films with different impacts and intentions for the audience. Nine Queens has the power to deliver subtle criticisms of Argentinean society such as the amount of crime, financial crisis, and effects of capitalism while Oceans Eleven is able to provide an enjoyable escape from daily life for the audience.

As crime films both directors reveal a darker (yet some may argue glamorous in the case of Oceans Eleven) world. This world focuses on not just the ability of the main characters to commit their crimes, but their flaws and motivations as well. Daniel Ocean deceives those around him to believe the scheme is solely for the money, yet “unlike many leaders who are motivated to achieve goals because of their high need for power, Ocean’s motivation is mainly to get Tess back. His motivation reflects a persuasive character”(Obeidah). Ocean’s role as a leader whose goal is more important than money is the film’s attempt to break the typical criminal connotations of the genre and provide a much deeper character that drives to achieve true happiness rather than material wealth. In the case of Nine Queens, Juan is the character that breaks the mold of the criminal that Marcos so well represents. Bielinsky presents Juan as a sort of saint sent to put Marcos in his place by beating him at his own game; “The identification with Juan is clear. He has taken on the role of avenger, the task of ‘slaying the dragon’, an identification that legitimizes his mode of revenge by giving it a divine quality in the absence of earthly justice”(Copertari). Juan’s role in the film justifies Nine Queens’ position as more than just a crime movie, but rather as a tale of revenge and a message that betrayal of family, traditional values, and backstabbing has no place in Argentinean society, and for that matter, in today’s world. While the films have dissimilar messages, both films use the main characters to demonstrate the transformation of the crime genre into an expression of personal emotions and the varying values of humanity.

The use of alternative motivation within the films is able to teach valuable lessons that can transcend national boundaries. These lessons include the idea that money is not everything (Ocean’s goal to get back Tess) and that people will get what they deserve in the end (Marcos being betrayed by everyone around him). Each film has a role as a hybrid film that can provide an unexpected movie-going experience, criticize society, and modify the typical associations within a crime film. Viewers an laugh at the exploits of Ocean and his men in Hollywood’s combination of comedy and crime, while they are left on the edge of their seats watching Bielinsky’s twists and turns in his Argentinean thriller that surpasses the any negative connotations associated with foreign films.