‘Ocean’s’ crew cavorts, but seriously ...

Don Cheadle is Matt Damon’s favorite aphrodisiac, Andy Garcia “had to sleep with Oprah” and George Clooney still isn’t getting married. Those were among the more salient points to emerge during the sometimes ribald, sometimes giddy and once-in-a-while serious news conference for “Ocean’s Thirteen,” which premiered here Thursday night.

Reporters turned up two hours in advance to jockey for position for the conference, by far the most eagerly anticipated of the festival. On the dais sat Cheadle, Garcia, Ellen Barkin, director Steven Soderbergh, Clooney, producer Jerry Weintraub, Brad Pitt, Damon, Elliott Gould, Scott Caan, Eddie Jemison and Shaobo Qin (along with his translator).

New addition to the “Ocean’s” gang, Al Pacino, was not present because he was taking part in an AFI tribute, noted Weintraub, who added, “When he arrived on set, he asked me, ‘What do these guys think of me?’ So I said, ‘What did you think of Brando on “The Godfather”? That’s how they feel about you.’ ”

Other cast members joked that “Al settled in after a few weeks” and was “good about taking notes.”

On a slightly more serious note, a Hong Kong reporter said that the Chinese are not thrilled with the way in which Qin’s character, Yen the grease-man, has been portrayed throughout the series. Soderbergh was visibly shocked when the reporter asked why he is made to seem like a “clown” and why a joke is made of him only speaking Chinese.

“I think we’re an equal opportunity offender,” said Soderbergh. “The joke is that everyone can understand him. It’s like Chewbacca. He talks and everyone acts like they know what he’s saying. I think if you get to the point where you have to explain comedy you’re in trouble. But I’m really sorry.”

When the reporter asked Qin what he thought, he responded through the translator, “It’s just entertainment.”

The film is without a doubt the hottest ticket in Cannes this year. One festival representative called it “bigger than ‘Star Wars.’ ”