Bandits

Bandits

Following a spur-of-the-moment escape from an Oregon prison, macho ladies man Joe Blake (Bruce Willis) and sensitive, hypochondriac Terry Collins (Billy Bob Thornton) become the best-known thieves in the country. Deemed "The Sleepover Bandits," Joe and Terry add a twist to conventional bank robberies by taking the bank manager hostage the night before the heist and accompanying him/her to the bank first thing in the morning. With the help of Joe's cousin, Harvey J. Pollard (Troy Garity), a simple, aspiring stuntman, "The Sleepover Bandits" rob their way down to southern California with hopes of making it to Mexico. Joe and Terry's partnership and friendship is tested, however, when they each fall in love with Kate Wheeler (Cate Blanchett), an unhappy, unappreciated housewife who deems herself their hostage and ultimately finds herself attracted to both men. Directed by Barry Levinson (DINER, RAIN MAN, WAG THE DOG), this somewhat quirky comedy features fine performances from Willis, Thornton, and Blanchett and is a nice departure from the average buddy film. Levinson's framing of the story through the reports of a true-crime show is particularly interesting.