Ocean's 8: Feminist Trailblazer or Failed Attempt?

How feminist is the new ‘Ocean's 8’ film? Does it signify a positive movement for women in film and female empowerment? Or does it still portray women as petty man obsessed people without a life outside of boys?

[Contains Spoilers]

Ocean's 8: released 8th June 2018

As female remakes of films gain popularity, the Ocean's franchise is one of the latest to get involved with the release of ‘Ocean's 8’. It focuses on Danny Ocean’s estranged sister Debbie who, after recently being released from prison, plans an impossible heist at the Met Gala. Debbie assembles an all female group to execute the heist which she has been planning for 5 years while serving her sentence in prison.

Debbie assembles an all female group to help her execute the heist.

With an all-star cast of strong, powerful and successful women in Hollywood, the film gained a lot of press and attention before its release as a film with a strong feminist message to audiences and Hollywood itself. As a fan of many of the women in the film including Sandra Bullock, Helena Bonham Carter and Cate Blanchett I had high hopes for the film as one in which women portrayed their strength, power and abilities. However, unfortunately I left the cinema feeling rather disappointed due to its distasteful ending.

At the end of the film we find out that Debbie Ocean frames the heist on Claude Becker, her ex-boyfriend and con artist, who is the reason she ended up in prison. Claude Becker framed Debbie for a crime when they were together which led to her 5 year prison sentence. Therefore, Debbie Ocean had devoted all her time in prison to planning a heist which would frame her ex-boyfriend, meaning the reason she wanted to execute the heist was simply for revenge; is it not possible for women to have motivations beyond male involvement?

Debbie and her ex-boyfirend Claude Becker.

Although most of the film portrayed its female characters as powerful, successful and intelligent, for me, the ending ruined the feminist messaging of the film. Debbie Ocean devoted all her time and effort for the heist simply to frame her ex-boyfriend, not for her own personal fulfilment as initially mentioned. Why do women’s actions always have to be the influence of a man? Does this not take away from the feminist message of women as strong and independent? Women should be portrayed within film as people who are independent, not hung up on men and who have a life outside of romantic relationships. Instead of the film being a portrayal of women’s intellect, their ability to complete an impossible heist and a positive representation of female friendship the film was stripped of these elements due to an ending which made the whole mission about a man.

Star stunned female cast of Ocean's 8.

What’s next? How can we improve female representation and storylines in Hollywood? In the future when creating female empowering feminist films women should be more involved in directing and writing the films themselves. Ocean's 8 was directed and co-written by a man who may not fully comprehend the implications of certain aspects of the film. Having more women involved in writing and directing will enable women to tell their own stories and share their experiences. In addition, despite the popularity of female reboots such as ‘Ghostbusters’, new original films written by women about powerful, intellectual and independent women would give rise to new voices, messages and will show people that women can be just as successful as men when given the opportunity.