Bandits

Stick 'em up and hand over yer wife

In the fourth installment of "Die Hard," Billy Bob Thornton takes the president of the student council hostage with another sling blade. John Ritter doesn't return. (Thank God!)

Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton team with director Barry Levinson (director of "Wag the Dog") to bring together this humorous crime comedy. One day, Bruce and Billy Bob decide to escape from prison and start robbing banks. This duo robs banks a little differently than most fictional bank robbers, however: they kidnap the bank manager, sleep at their houses that night, and then mosey on over to the bank in the morning to clean 'er out. Along the way, they meet Cate Blanchett, a moderately-insane and lonely housewife who tags along with these two. Together, they become "The Sleepover Bandits" who plan to rob banks until they earn enough money to open a bar in Mexico! (Hey, that sounds like a good idea! Where do I sign up?)

I must say that Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton work great together. In fact, they're the true devices that makes this movie so enjoyable! Still, I have to give some credit to the script which contains some real great laughs.

The story involving the love triangle between Willis, Thornton, and Cate Blanchett could have been more believable. Because, ya know, Cate Blanchett is kinda hot, and I don't want to see Willis OR Thornton getting her (she's mine Hah haaah!) Well, then again, she's 31 and I'm 18. Hmmm... maybe I should start chasing somebody else for a while... I elect Bruce Willis to get Cate Blanchett because Billy Bob is married to Angelina Jolie. Ahem. I don't want to get into that topic any further.

Anyway, getting back on track, I felt that the "love triangle" subplot was not done well even though it did result in a couple good laughs. It was all very interesting (Cate Blanchett fell in love with Bruce Willis, the gruff type, for completely the opposite reason she fell in love with Billy Bob Thornton, the neurotic type) but I was not bought into it. In "Bandits" I would have rather seen more crime and less romance because it didn't quite seem to work. I don't hate romantic movies either, in case you were wondering!

Putting that plot discrepancy aside, I have to stress the fact that this film is a thoroughly entertaining comedy. It is by no means perfect, however. Although, Willis's and Thornton's acting is alone worth the ticket! They are, indeed, the only reason to see this movie. They were both equally great! I worship the ground Bruce and Billy Bob walk on! Okay, I won't go that far.

FINAL VERDICT: B

Great acting by Willis and Thornton makes "Bandits" a fall film that you have just got to see!

Movie reviewed by Michael Lawrence

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Starring:

Bruce Willis, Cate Blanchett, Billy Bob Thornton, Troy Garity, January Jones, Rocky LaRochelle, Jaye K. Danford, Anthony Burch, Azura Slayton, Stacey Travids, and all their friends!

Directed by:

Barry Levinson

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2001 crime/comedy

Rated PG-13.

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Don Ignacio's score: B

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