| BANDITS |
 2001 – USA
Director: Barry Levinson - Reviewed by Dan
Cate Blanchett amazes with her chameleon-like transformation into Kate, a poor little rich girl who is starved for attention and affection by her self-absorbed workaholic husband. Blanchett communicates Kate's suffering and inner dialogue beautifully. She's simultaneously funny and adorable, and while the decisions her character makes aren't always the best, it's clear what motivates them. Kate is so realistically flaky that it's difficult for me to believe she's portrayed by the same woman who brought Queen Elizabeth to life with such dignity. Blanchett is hands-down amazing. Bruce Willis is Bruce Willis playing Joe, one half of the so called "Sleepover Bandits". A proud graduate of the John Wayne school of acting, you either like his smirking cult-of-personality style or you don't. I happen to like Bruce and enjoyed watching him portray a quiet strength and sensitivity in Joe—the same strength and sensitivity that we've seen in several Die Hard movies, The Sixth Sense and Twelve Monkeys, but this time for intentional comedic effect. Billy Bob... what can you say about the inimitable Billy Bob? He plays Terry, a hypochondriac and the neurotic brains behind the bandits. It's difficult to tell where Billy Bob ends and Terry begins, although it doesn't really matter. He's a hoot. If anyone receives an award for this film, it ought to be the casting director. This may be the breakout film for Troy Garity. He plays the sweet-natured buddy who drives the get-away car and longs to hook up with the gorgeous blonde that keeps distracting him during the heists. He's not altogether bright, but that's probably why you know he'll be integral in saving the day. The plot plays second fiddle to the interplay of the characters. Although it's really too much believe, the ending is satisfying, glorifying the "bad" guys and reassuring us that it is possible to break the law and get away with it. Phew! Be sure to take impressionable small children to this movie. Bandits is great fast-food cinema. It's got likeable characters, a few good laughs, some tear-jerking moments... Levinson is the chef concocting the sauce we dip our cinematic McNuggets in. Go, have a good time, burp and be done with Bandits. |
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Director Barry Levinson's best movies are driven by strong performances. While Bandits isn't the best movie of the year (or of
Levinson's career) it is warm-hearted, entertaining, and full of likeable, well-formed characters that eventually feel like friends.
