Daylight robbery (Bandits (DVD))

Member Name: TJ-Mackey

Product:	Bandits (DVD)
Date:	04/12/01 (236 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great cast

Disadvantages: Mediocre script

There's a great scene early on in Bandits, in which the two bank robbers, having broken into the house, sit and eat dinner with the bank manager's family. It's a moment of pure comedy in a film that isn't entirely sure what it wants to be. There are touches of humour throughout, as well as attempts at romance, drama and suspense, but ultimately it falls short in every department. We all know Barry Levinson can do comedy - 'Wag the Dog' was almost an exercise in satire - but he disappoints with this film, despite a couple of great acting performances.

Following an unbelievably easy jailbreak, Joe (Bruce Willis) and Terry (Billy Bob Thornton) embark on a spree of bank robberies so they can realise a dream of finding 'paradise' in Mexico. Each time they rob a bank, they take the manager hostage in his home, spend the night there, and then take the money before the customers arrive the following morning. This unusual and highly successful method of robbery earns them the name 'Sleepover Bandits' in the media and they soon become national celebrities.

All of this is going pretty smoothly, until the introduction of unhappy housewife Kate starts to upset the balance. Originally taken as a hostage, Kate (Cate Blanchett) soon starts to help with the robberies and before long, both the protagonists fall for her... but the end result may not be as predictable as you'd imagine.

The performances here essentially save the movie. Bruce Willis has definitely been better, but he is reasonably good in his role, despite not having much to do. The moments of comedy he has handled so well in his previous films are hinted at here, but I didn't really think he was suited to the character. When he's charming a cute bank teller, you can't help but notice his dodgy wig, and how George Clooney was so much more believable in 'Out of Sight'.

Billy Bob Thornton, on the other hand, is more impressi
ve as a highly neurotic hypochrondiac, and gets most of the best lines throughout. Some of the slapstick humour is a little hit-and-miss, but his character has so many funny mannerisms you can't help but laugh. Thornton really is a great actor, and after serious performances in 'A Simple Plan' and 'Sling Blade' (both of which earned Oscar nominations), he also shows he can do comedy.

Cate Blanchett, though, steals the show. The only previous film I'd seen her in was the disappointing 'The Gift', so I was pleasantly surprised by her performance here. Despite her character being something of a cliché, Blanchett brings real emotional depth to the part, and shines whenever she's on screen. Her flaming red hair is certainly noticeable, but it's her introduction under a deep blue light that sticks in the memory. That, and her singing manically along to Bonnie Tyler's 'Holding Out for a Hero'.

Interspersed with the action are a number of clips from the TV show, 'Criminals at Large'; following the team's exploits and eventually gaining an exclusive interview with Terry and Joe. These segments provide us with some pretty unnecessary exposition, and perhaps if the screenplay had stayed focused on the central characters, it would've made for a better film. It's for this reason that I find it hard to understand comments that the script is tightly written, as I'd certainly say the plot takes a back seat to the characters. This wouldn't be a problem if the story was well written, but there are just too many moments that drag on for too long. I almost fell asleep two thirds of the way through (that's no exaggeration), and it's amazing how the film can be so funny one moment, and boring the next.

If you're looking for a comedy, there are better around. If you're after a heist movie, there are much better ones out there. And a romance? There've certainly bee
n more believable ones. What's most disappointing is that there's actually a pretty decent 90-minute comedy hidden in there, but the extra half an hour brings it down to average. I'm sure the film was fun to make - you can tell the cast were enjoying themselves - but it's a shame their enthusiasm wasn't rewarded with a better, more polished script.

Aside from a couple of great scenes, Bandits is almost entirely forgettable.

Summary: