Ocean's 11 (the movie)

I've just seen Oceans 11 with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Robers, Carl Reiner, and about 20 other "superstars".


I have two points that brought up questions in my mind that I've been pondering.


POINT/QUESTION #1


Have you seen the scene in which Brad Pitt's character is "teaching poker" to a bunch of stars?


The scene was absolutely terrible from a technical standpoint. They were playing 5 card draw high and doing the same old "I see your 500" (while splashing the pot) and then (string raising) "raise you 2000 more".


At the point where the "Ocean" character came into the game Pitt's character says (after a large $500 raise into a small pot) "This early in the game, he must be bluffing to bet that much"(paraphrased). After the re-raise came from one of the suckers, Ocean makes the $2000 string raise and Pitt says (again paraphrasing) "Now he has to try to over bet to make it look like he has strength" (at this time the pot was OVER 2000).


Why can't they find someone with just a LITTLE MORE poker knowledge and technical skill to advise poker scenes in movies? This was filmed in LV for God's sake. Damon plays, couldn't even HE have said something to the director?


POINT/QUESTION #2


Besides the (obvious) product placement, why would The Bellagio want to be portrayed as being run by a vindictive thug rich guy and let the world believe their vault was easily robbed?


Just some thoughts about the movie.


Rick "DaVoice" Charles

rick@voiceofpoker.com