Movie Notes: Bandits

April 3rd, 2008

= 2 stars

Starring Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Cate Blanchett
Directed by Barry Levinson

Synopsis

Criminals Joe Blake (Bruce Willis) and Terry Lee Collins (Billy Bob Thornton) escape from prison and launch a crime spree. Dubbed the “Sleepover Bandits” for some odd pre-heist behavior, they’re joined by distressed runaway Kate Wheeler (Cate Blanchett). An odd love triangle develops.

The Good

1. Willis, Thornton, and Blanchette all make the most of the lackluster material. Joe (Willis) is a moody cowboy type, Terry (Thornton) a hypochondriac, and Kate (Blanchett) both flighty and insane. Her character’s introduction, with barely any dialog, is a mesmerizing meltdown as she moves from lip synching in her kitchen to sobbing in a car upon hearing Total Eclipse of the Heart.
2. Amusing costumes.
3. One completely improvised bank robbery.

The Bad

• The plot isn’t rich enough to support these usually fine actors. It’s actually quite heartbreaking to watch scenes with the three, struggling to make the material work. During one scene in a bar with Terry lying on the floor, I nearly switched to The Partridge Family.
• The so-called-romance between the three main characters was limited to discussions of favorite songs and wishes to “get in the car and drive, drive, drive.” It just didn’t work, and it pained me to see adults acting like imbeciles.
• The bank robbing becomes oddly danger-free, removing much of the tension, and the climactic “big heist” feels like nothing of the sort.
• The final scenes provide no resolution to the love triangle, as if the writers to lacked the guts to go anywhere difficult.

Conclusion

Certainly an interesting premise, but the film is too long, and the gutless screenplay doesn’t have the guts to ask the hard questions or resolve the big conflicts. Not recommended.

IMBD: Bandits
Wikipedia: Bandits
Rotten Tomatoes: Bandits 62%