Posted: 10/14/2001

Bandits

(2001)

by Hank Yuloff

I truly had a great time watching this movie and wondering how come this hasn’t happened in real life.

A sucker punch, an impromptu jailbreak, a bank robbery, two car jackings, a home invasion and a couple of high school kids making out on the couch. That’s just the first 5 minutes of director Barry Levinson’s new film, Bandits, an action movie that will both keep you at the edge your seat and giggling out loud for a good two hours of entertainment.

I’m not saying this will be on my much vaunted top 10 list for the year, but I truly had a great time at the theater watching the movie and wondering how come this hasn’t happened in real life. Bandits is the story of how two escaped convicts begin robbing banks to save enough money to buy a hotel in Mexico. Their method is unique: they go to the bank presidents’ homes the night before and spend the night in order to open the bank with the president the following morning when there aren’t as many people to foil their efforts.

We begin the movie with Joe and Terry taking a chance opportunity given them and breaking out of the state penitentiary in a cement mixer. Then after “borrowing” a car from a passerby, they rob a bank to get some traveling money. The ensuing chase brings them into the weekend parent-free home of a teenager and her boyfriend giving them time to decide on their next move, which evolves into them becoming the “Sleepover Bandits.”

One of my favorite actors, Bruce Willis (Unbreakable, Frankie Goes to Hollywood) plays Joe, a convict who is struggling with his anger management but feels the need to leave hospitality of the State of Oregon’s penal system. It’s a character very much like Jimmy The Tulip from last year’s Whole Nine Yards.

Billy Bob Thornton (Pushing Tin, Frankie Goes to Hollywood) plays his partner Terry, a way over the line hypochondriac who feels that in the world of guys, he is the type that women leave, not leave for. If you’ve ever known anyone who knew too much about medicine without being a doctor, you will relate to Terry. He’s very smart but his mind runs just a little off center. Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth, Pushing Tin, The Gift) is the love interest, completing a triangle which keeps us occupied between scenes of the boys’ bank robberies. She is a completely under appreciated housewife who has many talents she needs to share.

One other acting kudos go to Bobby Slayton (The Rat Pack) who has made a name for himself as a stand up comedian and as a guest on several LA radio stations. He plays the part of a TV anchor for one of those “Real life crime dramas.” Not over the top like, say, the idiot reporter in the Die Hard series, but a believable and credible character playing the straight man to the other actors.

Barry Levinson has directed five of my favorite movies: The Natural, Good Morning Vietnam, Rain Man, Wag the Dog and Tin Men. If you liked Levinson’s style in those movies you will probably like Bandits. The pacing is generally excellent and makes for an enjoyable night at the movies.

PS: What’s with you folk that actually went to see Corky Romano this weekend? Do you feel ripped off, or what?

Hank Yuloff owns an advertising company in Los Angeles and is tickled to find movies that live up to hype caused by their trailers.

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