Film Reviews

Bandits

• Rating:
• Director: Barry Levinson
• Starring: Billy Bob Thornton
• Details: US / 123 mins / (12PG).

Terry Collins (Billy Bob Thornton) and Joe Blake (Bruce Willis) are a couple of good hearted bank robbers who bust out of jail and continue their work in order to fund their dreams of retiring to Mexico. Along the way, they hook up with a trophy wife (Cate Blanchett) who leaves her husband and accompanies the men on their dramatic robberies. Thanks to the interest of a veteran crime reporter, Terry and Joe's robberies capture the attentions of the nation, and soon the pair are the most sought after thieves in the United States. Although it's billed as a comedy drama, there's little evidence of either in Barry Levinson's latest film. Underwritten and overly long, Bandits, despite the presence of a talented cast, doesn't carry enough weight or humour to make it a truly enjoyable or memorable outing. Of course, there are some good moments, (most courtesy of Thornton) but it should have been so much more. A missed opportunity.

Review by Garreth Murphy