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Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Cate Blanchett, Troy Garity, Brian F. O'Byrne ... see more see more... , Stacey Travis , Bobby Slayton , January Jones , William Converse-Roberts , Richard Riehle , Peggy Miley , Micole Mercurio , Mildred Kronenberg , Azura Skye , Scott Burkholder , Anthony Burch , Sam Levinson , Scout LaRue Willis , Tallulah Belle Willis , John Evans , John Harrington Bland , Cindy Goldfield , Heather Mathieson , Erin-Kate Whitcomb , Kim Bogus , Michael X. Sommers , Rich Sickler , Michael Birnbaum , Joe Unitas , Richard Shuster , Jennifer York , Jose G. Garcia , Alfred De Contreras , Peter Weireter , Kerry Kilbride , Jane Velez-Mitchell , Mia Lee , Louis LeRay , Peter Hutchinson , Maya Rossi , Joan Palmateer , Giulio Magnolia , Rose Aispuro , Carrie Casano , Jaye K. Danford , Darryl D. Stewart , Greg Wilmarth , Heather Mathieson (II)

Director Barry Levinson follows up the low-budget An Everlasting Piece (2000) with another comedy, this one of the homegrown variety from former Twin Peaks (1990) TV series writer Harley Peyton. Bruce... read more read more... Willis stars as suave bank robber Joe, who has escaped from prison with his hypochondriac buddy Terry (Billy Bob Thornton). Together, the two men have devised a clever scheme to take a bank officer hostage the night before a heist, then simply escort the executive to work early the next morning when they clean out the vault. Their ingenious methods have led to the men becoming media darlings dubbed "the Sleepover Bandits," but all Joe and Terry want is to make a nice pile of money before crossing the Mexican border to a life of freedom and legitimacy. Their quest gets more complicated when Terry is struck by a car driven by Kate Wheeler (Cate Blanchett), a bored housewife who's then forced to join their crime spree. Soon both Joe and Terry are in love with Kate and she with them, realizing that the two friends put together pretty much equal the perfect man. Bandits co-stars Troy Garity, son of actress Jane Fonda. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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56% liked it

57,212 ratings

Critics

65% liked it

139 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 2 min.

Directed by: Barry Levinson

Release Date: October 12, 2001

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DVD Release Date: April 2, 2002

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Flixster Reviews (1,777)

  • fb100002359227440
    March 20, 2012
    fb100002359227440
    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.
  • cosmo313
    October 17, 2011
    cosmo313
    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,... read more 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.
  • clintervin
    June 15, 2011
    clintervin
    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 res... read moreults. 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."
  • SirPant
    August 31, 2010
    SirPant
    Barry Levinson used to be a good director, I think Bandits was the beginning of his demise. Visually it's a good film, the story is solid and the editing is rather clever, it just lacks direction. The acting is not great, in fact the performances are really bad and quite annoying... read more and the supporting cast are just plain awful. A real wasted opportunity I feel and definitely one to cross off the CV for everyone associated!
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    February 7, 2009
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "Two's Company, Three's A Crime."

    Two bank robbers fall in love with the girl they've kidnapped.

    REVIEW
    Bandits is a fun film high on average laughs and low on most other things, although I thought Cate Blanchett's performance was pretty good, and act... read moreually Billy Bob Thornton was hilarious. Bruce Willis does his usual cool act. The story isn't too deep, so don't watch this if you want something thats going to make you think, but it is definitely an amusing premise, and the odd clever moments serve well enough to raise extra smiles. The direction from Barry Levinson is interesting, but really it's just average stuff, no bounderies are pushed, nothing too daring is attempted. Overall there isn't really much to this, but who cares? It's just for fun. Kick back after a hard days work and just enjoy this entertaining flick.
  • garyX
    January 18, 2009
    garyX
    Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton stage a jailbreak and go on a bank robbing spree. This comedy-thriller from Barry Levinson is from the "armed robbers are just a bunch of cuddly, lovable rogues who don't really want to hurt anyone and are just doing one more job before they re... read moretire" school. It starts OK, and there's some chemistry between Willis and Thornton, although the neurosis schtick seemed like a bit of an excuse for cheap laughs. Then their driver appears, who is played like Forrest Gump's dumber brother followed by Cate Blanchett's forced kookiness and the laughs just get cheaper and cheaper culminating in hilarious comedy disguises and silly wigs. By this point my patience was exhausted so I switched off, but if the twist is as obvious as it seemed to be I doubt there's anything in the last 45 minutes that warrants elevation from a mildly irritating 2.
  • sanjurosamurai
    July 11, 2008
    sanjurosamurai
    really good robbery flick, clever ending
  • allan913
    May 28, 2008
    allan913
    An outragiously funny comedy. A brilliant, slick, stylish and terifficllay fun film. Well developed chracters and plot. Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thorton are fantastic. Their a great team. Their chemistry shines throughout showing they make all the right moves. One of the best b... read moreuddy comedies in years. A wonderful movie.
  • 76Majikat
    May 27, 2008
    76Majikat
    A funny unlikely action comedy. I thought at the beginning I may have found my first film where Billy Bob wasn't too great, but soon changed my mind, when he became more and more humourous throughout.

    This is the first time I have seen Cate Blanchett in a comedy role and th... read moreink she did equally as well as her more serious roles.

    Very entertaining and a really enjoyable film.
  • ironclad1609
    May 3, 2008
    ironclad1609
    Two modern Robin Hoods, one charming and handsome, the other hypochondriac but smart, becoming famous bank robbers through big media coverage. With a housewife becoming their hostage, accomplice and love affair things get complicated, of course. There is a great chemistry between... read more Willis and Thornton, their dialoges flow pretty well and Cate Blanchett is just fantastic as gorgeous Bonnie-Tyler-singalong. Sadly, the conclusion seemed a bit obvious to me especially for such an easy-going movie but still was kinda neat. However, most of the movie is really entertaining and while not entirely new or exciting still worth checking out for fans of heist movies or the stars.

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Critic Reviews

Jeff Strickler
November 6, 2002
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Thornton and Willis save the day with their performances. Full Review

Peter Rainer
January 22, 2002
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

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. Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 6, 2002
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

It's just about impossible not to fall for the ingratiating trio, especially Thornton's Terry.

Peter Travers
October 18, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

What started as cute becomes cloying and bloated.

Peter Howell
October 12, 2001
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

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. Full Review

David Edelstein
October 12, 2001
David Edelstein, Slate

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. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
October 12, 2001
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Bandits isn't any better than a good formula picture -- it isn't incisive or memorable, just light and amusing -- but it's different. Full Review

Joe Baltake
October 12, 2001
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Even though it has a framework that gives the impression a solid story is being told here, conceptually Bandits is unformed, which is just the right touch that this particular movie calls for. Full Review

Jay Boyar
October 12, 2001
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

Bandits is a more nuanced film than the goofy previews make it out to be. It's funnier, for one thing, and more lyrical.

John Anderson
October 12, 2001
John Anderson, Newsday

A screwball comedy in the best tradition, it's easily the best-written mainstream film to come out this year. Full Review

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Bandits Trivia

  • In Home Alone 2 what title does Marv give Harry and himself to replace the WetBandits from Home Alone?  Answer »
  • What movie is this from? " And if this makes it to the front page, we're the sticky bandits, that's S-T..." "I!" " oh yeah! I-C-K-Y..."  Answer »
  • In Home Alone, what does Kevin's dad pick up off the floor at the end of the movie?  Answer »
  • In which hilarious movie did a unique duo/trio of robbers kidnap the manager of the bank the night before the robbery, earning the nickname "The Sleepover Bandits"?  Answer »
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