I love this movie so much

Such a frustrating disappointment

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Bandits (2001) is a movie of many genres. It's got some comedic material, action, romance, and some drama too. It's about 2 infamous bank robbers and a woman who they meet along the way. It stars Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett. The film is done very well overall. Good writing, very good performances all around, and good chemistry between the three leads. The romance comes into play as a sort of love triangle between Blanchett, Willis, and Thornton. It's interesting because the characters are developed well, they have a certain depth to them. If you think this movie will be all action because it's about bank robbers and centers on crime, then you've got it wrong. The action aspect of the movie doesn't make up a lot of time, it's mostly a character based movie, it focuses on these pretty damaged people and tells their story as robbers and what all they go through. The film is very entertaining and it definitely keeps your attention the entire way through. If you want a film that focuses on well developed characters, has a little romance, and crime mixed in as well... then you'll probably like this one. 8/10 for Bandits.

Bandits (2001): Dir: Barry Levinson / Cast: Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Cate Blanchett, Troy Garity, January Jones: Title represents Cate Blanchett and the irony that nobody knows what she is really doing. Flashbacks narrate as Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton are surrounded by police in a bank where hostages are taken. Upon escaping from prison they rob banks using a magic marker. They take bank managers hostage the night before and rob the bank the following morning. This has the media tagging them as the "Sleepover Bandits." They meet Blanchett, a dysfunctional housewife who feels unappreciated by her workaholic husband and bratty children. She joins the bandits for excitement but media see her as a victim. This leads to a very violent climax. Director Barry Levinson plays off the humour effectively. His resume contains such titles as Rain Man and Wag the Dog. Willis and Thornton are well cast with Blanchett in fine comic flair. Blanchett will end up in a romantic triangle with both parties but it is the deception that eventually wins out that keep this film from greatness. Troy Garity plays a brainless stunt guy who acts as their getaway. The big downfall is the idiots they attempt to rob who play off the media. While special effects are familiar, the film points out destructive nature of particular lifestyles as well as the media's ability to exaggerate it. Score: 5 ½ / 10

Here is what I remember thinking after having watched this. Had they just cut out (or at least cut way shorter) the romantic bullcrap, this would have been heaps better.I see this movie like this. 3 parts. 1 part entertaining bandit-movie. 1 part boring romance. 1 part entertaining bandit-movie.Romance messing up movies is super annoying. We don't need no silly romance! I give a lot of extra cred to movies that skip romance all together.Anyway, I don't have a long in-depth review of this, I just remember enjoying the non romance parts of it. I liked both the Bs', Billy Bob Thornton and Bruce Willis. Bandits is also way too long. Again, because of the romantic crap.

I loved everything about this movie. It is uniquely funny, the plot surrounding the sleepover bandits is hilarious, & the character dynamic supports the film & gives it its own feel. My favorite part by far though is the polyamorous relationship that develops throughout the film. It's very rare to see a triad relationship at all in a movie, let alone one that has a happy ending & is portrayed in a realistic light. It isn't all drama, it isn't all sunshine & roses. It's like how a real polyamorous trio would potentially develop.(minus the bank robberies & faking your own death to go live in Mexico). I would recommend this film to all my poly friends, as well as to anyone else with a sense of humor.