BANDITS

BUENA VISTA

RELEASED 30 November 2001

Friends Joe (Bruce Willis) and Terry (Billy Bob Thornton) escape from prison and decide to take up their old hobby of robbing banks. Using comically ridiculous disguises, they become known as the ‘sleepover bandits’, non-confrontationally taking the bank manager hostage at his own house in the evening, and then making the morning journey into work with him, helping themselves to as much booty as possible. When a bored housewife (Cate Blanchett) tags along, the pair are both attracted to her and their successful partnership comes under threat.

I didn’t see a more disappointing film in 2001. A talented cast have to work with an uninspired script, which is neither funny nor original. Willis comes across as stiff and subdued, Thornton is annoyingly soft, and Blanchett just gets to play robbery-nobbery with the boys. The direction is dull, the ‘surprise’ ending is signposted before the half-hour mark and it’s hard to believe this comes from director Barry Levinson, the same man who directed Rain Man and Good Morning, Vietnam.

TWO OUT OF FIVE