Val Kilmer reported to be a top contender, though just days after Keaton dropped out, Kilmer was cast. Kilmer took the role without even knowing who the new director was and without reading the script. Released in June 1995, "Batman Forever" was a success at the box office, despite receiving mixed reviews from critics. There was debate about Kilmer's performance: some critics, like "The New York Times" Janet Maslin, thought Kilmer was a poor successor to Keaton in the part; while others, such as Roger Ebert, had kind words for Kilmer. "Batman" creator Bob Kane said in a "Cinescape" interview that of
George Clooney filmography Empire Award and Satellite Award nominations. In 2001, he teamed up again with Soderbergh for the star-studded caper film "Ocean's Eleven", alongside Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and many others. The film was followed by two sequels starring Clooney, "Ocean's Twelve" in 2004 and "Ocean's Thirteen" in 2007. He has also appeared in "Solaris" (2002), "Welcome To Collinwood" (2002), "Intolerable Cruelty" (2003), "Syriana" (2005), for which he was rewarded with a Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, "The Good German" (2006), "Michael Clayton" (2007), "Burn After Reading" (2008), "Up in the Air" (2009), for the latter earning an Academy Award nomination.