Bandits

Bandits

source: Bandits

start to finish. Billy Bob shines as the excessive/compulsive (reminiscent of Woody Allen), and Cate Blanchett is perfect as the love interest. The entire cast sparkles. Barry Levinson's got himself another hit.

By some quirk of coincidence, the last three movies I've seen have been heist movies released in 2001. First, I saw Heist, the The Score, then Bandits. Despite the excellent casts of all three movies, each one has been a bit worse than the last one I watched. Bandits was just plain boring until the last 8 minutes or so (despite exactly two moments when I laughed out loud). I think the only way this movie could score a high rating is if a viewer leaves the movie remembering only the cool ending and forgetting the monotonous, seemingly-endless hour and a half that went before. The movie's self-conscious borrowing from Bonnie & Clyde and Natural Born Killers and other similar pics doesn't make it cool--it just makes it old and tired. If it's on cable, and you really have nothing better to do, watch it. But don't pay money to rent the video. I don't know--buy a comic book or something. 4 out of 10

I had never heard of this movie. But I found myself enjoying it quite a bit. Bruce Willis was OK in it. Cate Blanchett was very good and quite pretty. Billy Bob Thornton, though, really made the film. I had only seen him play retarded guys and psychopaths. Plus there was all of the public weirdness with Angelina Jolie. So, I never liked him much, largely because he was playing unlikeable characters. I'm aware that those are hard characters to play well, so I knew he was a talented actor. But I thought he totally stole the show in "Bandits". Check it out.

This movie did have its moments, and there were some funny lines in it, but overall I wasn't terribly impressed. I found the atmosphere in the film to be somewhat banal, and I found myself wanting and aching for something better than what the film delivered. The performances were decent though. ** out of ****

(Flash Review) Much like eating mac & cheese, the powder cheese kind, it fills the tummy while being satisfying yet is far from a tablecloth restaurant. This is not a quality movie yet is slightly enjoyable and at least isn't afraid to own its peculiar mix of genres. Is this a bank robbery AND a chic flic with a comedic undertone? That's a unusual combo. The plot revolves around a couple of bank robbers dubbed "the sleep over robbers" because their approach is to hold bank managers hostage at home and sleep over at the house so they can go into the bank with the manager before it opens to rob it while avoiding the alarms. Then an unhappy married woman enters the scene and enjoys the ride the guys are on as she is finally able to feel alive. Cue 'light' love triangle humor and drama. Will the dual love interest compromise the bank heists? Which one will land the lady? This is mildly entertaining, mildly humorous, mildly clever and mildly memorable.

This movie is soo good.... bank robbers with a great plot.... the first time i watched it, i was glued to the tv... amazing performances by billy bob thorton, cate blanchet, bruce willis.. a must see

This is definitely one my favorite movies of all time. It was intelligent and hysterical. It wasn't boring for a second, but it wasn't too fast-paced. I suggest that if you haven't seen this film you go out and do so right away! :-)

14 November 2010. In a lighter flare than BONNIE & CLYDE (1967) and a much more sizzling intellectually pungent dynamic than BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969) with Billy Bob Thornton's renditions of lofty cynical humor, the script of BANDITS is a Hannibal Lector without the sinister element and perhaps even reminiscent of CHARADE (1963) in its wry humor in a crime caper. BANDITS also has some derivative suggestions from the earlier PULP FICTION (1994) style but also with the edgy nature. The playfulness of this movie is involving as a relational, comedic romantic crime genre. The flavor of this movie was later captured by TROOPER THUNDER (2008) in a much more extravagant fashion on a larger action canvass and suggestive of MATCHSTICK MEN (2003) and THE MATADOR (2005).