Bandits2001
Bandits (2001)
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Movie Info
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Cast
as Joe Blake
as Terry Collins
as Kate Wheeler
as Harvey
as Darren Head
as Darill Miller
as Cloe Miller
as Claire
as Cheri
as Mildred Kronenberg
as Charles Wheeler
as Lawrence Fife
as Peggy Miley
as Sarah Fife
as Wildwood Policeman
as Phil
as Cloe Miller
as Billy Saunders
as Monica Miller
as Erika Miller
as Ralph
as Flamingo Clerk
as Debbie Day No.1
as Debbie Day No. 2
as Debbie Day No. 3
as Bend Bank Teller
as Policeman
as Policeman
as Desk Sergeant
as Detective
as LA Chopper Pilot
as LA Reporter
as Local Youth
as Local Youth
as Mexican Priest
as SWAT Commander
as Male Debater
as Female Debater
as Los Angeles Anchor
as Band Member
as Band Member
as Band Member
as Band Member
as Bank Teller
as Butler
as Bank Hostage
as Bank Manager
as Alamo Bank Manager
as Detective
as US Marshall
News & Interviews for Bandits
Critic Reviews for Bandits
All Critics (140) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (90) | Rotten (50) | DVD (12)
Thornton and Willis save the day with their performances.
I like movies that don't settle into a groove, especially if the groove is already well worn. But the different kinds of movies that make up Bandits are pretty worn, too.
It's just about impossible not to fall for the ingratiating trio, especially Thornton's Terry.
What started as cute becomes cloying and bloated.
The movie has a one-take feel about it, containing vast stretches where nothing much happens. The cinematography looks amateurish, often badly composed and poorly lit.
Levinson must think he's on safe ground morally by keeping Bandits bloodless, as if the absence of carnage somehow makes kidnapping and armed robbery wholesome.
Audience Reviews for Bandits
Of course, Bandits is not one of the best film ever, but presents a nice script, a good cast and a very good performance by Thornton. Bandits, also, most have not much material to present in 122 minutes, problem that could make the movie stay a little boring. Fresh.
Super Reviewer
Bandits is the story of two criminals who one day impulsively escape from prison and decided to embark on a series of bank robberies to fund their plan of retiring in paradise down in Mexico. Joe (Willis) is the more charismatic and cool one, while Terry (Thornton) is a neurotic, hypochondriac with a number of quirks and phobias, one of which (fear of antique furniture) is something Thornton deals with in real life. Joe and Terry enlist the help of Joe's goofy aspiring stunt man relative Harvey (Garity) to be their get away driver. It's not long before the criminals become media sensations dubbed the Sleepover Banditss due to their M.O. of putting the managers of the targeted banks on house arrest the night before the job. Things go fine enough until a chance encounter with a distraught, bored, and desperae runaway housewife named Kate (Blanchett) tags along, getting into an awkward love triangle with Joe and Terry that could threaten to really throw things off balance. PLotwise, there's a few nice little twists, turns, and touches that help the movie stand out a bit. Mostly though, it's just a little standard. The film tries to be a crime dramedy, but more often than not, it's seems unsure of what it really wants to be, becoming meandering, uneven tonally, and unfocused. Also, the film is structed as a flash back flashforward frame story, and, while it doesn't ruin the film, it doesn't keep it from getting bloated either. The plot device with the America's Most Wanted style show seems like it's aiming for satire, but mostly reminded me of Natural Born Killers which did the same sort of thing, and far better. I enjoyed this movie. It's fun, entertaining, has some decent location shooting in Oregon, good cinematography from veteran Dante Spinotti, and some solid performances from the likeable and talented cast. None of the work these people put in ranks among their respective bests, but they're all still solid nonetheless. I liked the quirkiness and the banter, but the movie seemed like it was trying too hard. Plus, I think Levinson had some really good ideas, but decided to use them all, resulting in a movie that should be tighter and more concise, but isn't. All in all, this is a flawed movie, but it's well meaning. I've seen far more derivative capers than this, and, even though this one has issues, thankfully the cnematogrpahy, locations, and performances are strong enough to carry it. This really could have been something quite terrific. Instead it's merely just "not bad". Still though, it's got enough good stuff to warrant a viewing.
Super Reviewer
Bandits is an action comedy/crime thriller/romance movie starring Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett in their funniest roles ever. The film takes a true story about unusual bank robbers and throws a silly romantic comedy twist on it with greatly entertaining results. Willis is a combination of daredevil and brooding loner; I can't see anyone else playing the role as well. Thornton plays the funniest, most neurotic criminal ever, and Blanchett provides the goofy, sexy center of this unlikely love triangle. The script by veteran Harley Peyton is clever but perhaps stretches everything too far. The direction by Barry Levinson is quirky like the film, channeling Woody Allen somewhat. In the media frenzy which envelopes the criminal trio, complications and hilarity of course ensue. How will their scheme play out? Who will Cate choose? It's a terrific surprise ending, and I won't tell, but you'll find yourself rooting for the "Sleepover Bandits."
Super Reviewer
Bandits Quotes
| Terry Collins: | You know the hardest thing about being smart? |
| Joe Blake: | No. |
| Terry Collins: | I always pretty much know what's gonna happen next. There's no suspense. |
| Terry Collins: | Ducks and Beavers |
| Terry Collins: | Ducks and beavers. |