A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Bandits

Theatrical release: 2001

Details:

Bruce Willis

Billy Bob Thornton

Cate Blanchett

Troy Garity

Produced and directed by: Barry Levinson

Score: +

The Review: An insanely funny, very quirky, romantic comedy about bank robbers -- emphasis on insane. This is not to everyone's taste: I was rolling in the aisles while my spouse was staring at me soberly trying to figure out why (and where) I'd lost so many neurons. Well-balanced between soft-core crime -- i.e., sympathetic, nonviolent, polite criminals: as far as you can get from John Woo while still remaining connected with the genre -- comedic touches from some very odd matching of personalities, and a bit of romance. Clearly not a "chick flick," however, since the romance is decidedly non-canonical. Think of it as a cross between Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Cat Ballou, Bonnie and Clyde, and any "road picture" -- moved to the West coast.

Based very loosely on a real-life crime spree of a pair of Midwest "sleepover bandits," this outlines (in flashback) the history of a strange foursome: two inmates who escape from prison, one of their cousins, and an estranged housewife who starts off being kidnapped but soon decides to stay. Included in this gemisch are two gourmet cooks, a refugee from anger control therapy, and a wannabe stunt man. One of the endearing threads is a bit of fantasy that winds its way through the film: the waif-like, ethereal and angelic hitchhiker, always seen at a distance, who seems to cast longing eyes towards one of the trio on various encounters up and down the coast.

Occasionally driving score, and I promise you will never listen to Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in quite the same way again.

The DVD offers an alternate ending created by Blanchett which, in some ways, works better than the one that was selected for release. Also included is an entertaining "Making of.." segment.

(14-Jul-02)

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