Bandits [DVD] [2001]

I liked this 2001 crime comedy. It is not a masterpiece, but a very entertaining thing. I spend a nice, relaxing moment watching it. Below, more of my impressions, with some limited SPOILERS.Joe Blake (Bruce Willis) and Terry Collins (Billy Bob Thornton) are two convicts, serving time in Oregon State Penitentiary. Blake is a tough, strong, menacing heavy and a man of few words when Collins is a neurotic, talkative, extraverted hypochondriac, but they are still nevertheless best friends. We never learn why they went to prison in the first place, but it is certain that they serve a rather long stretch, even if they don't have blood on their hands. One day they escape and as they don't have any money they decide to rob a bank. It turns out that they are good at it... Then they meet Kate Wheeler (Cate Blanchett), a wealthy housewife, who hates her life and her husband - and then things will never be the same again... I will say nothing more about the story.This film is a comedy, which can be even watched in family, as there is no real violence, no sex and no strong language. It is the story of a gang of bank robbers who don't actually hurt people - which means it is pure fiction. There is a lot of humour, based mostly on dialogs. The film is never vulgar - jokes fly definitely higher than in most recent films. Actors are excellent, with Billy Rob Thornton giving an especially strong performance - his character of absolute hypochondriac was probably a prototype for Melman the giraffe from "Madagascar" (just shorter)... Cate Blanchett gives a great show, including a great kitchen dance and a singing moment which will live in infamy (Kate Wheeler is convinced she can sing - but she is wrong...). Bruce Willis is just being Bruce Willis and he is also doing a great job.The reason why I give this film only fours stars is that things get a little bit weaker in the last 15 minutes and the ending of the last big heist is really entirely artificial and forced. However, it is still a very entertaining thing, which I enjoyed a lot and I can guarantee that it will give you a lot of merry laughs. I think I will keep the DVD for another viewing in the future. ENJOY!

DVD arrived safely and on time.I bought the movie because it is one of my favorites on Netflix and I wanted to hear the commentary track and see the deleted scenes.The commentary starts very good but ends up being just actors giving compliments to each other. There are also lot of pauses where you almost forget you are listening to commentary track. I found the screenwriter's comments very interesting and he talks a lot about the decisions how to make the story work and how you can never tell how the director might shoot the scene. The movie doesn't have subtitles for the commentary track, which is shame, but understanable because this is from the era when DVDs started to hit off in the market.The deleted scenes don't add anything to the movie and were cut for a good reason. They would have made the movie even longer and loose a focus from the story. The "Whose baby is it" deleted scene is unnecessarily promoted in the DVD, it isn't special in any way or really change anything in the movie.The DVD includes also the trailer and advert for the movie's soundtrack.Overall, the movie is great and extras in DVD are okay.

An entertaining film, with lots of talking. Violence is limited, but a lot of fast talking. It may not be a piece of literary art, but it is tongue-in-cheek, light, and has a clever idea for robbery.Bruce and Bob play well off eachopther, although they don't seem to gel. But that is the point, they are so opposite. Cate is yet again so different, but sweet. Her character does not fit the part of a robbery assistant, but that is the excitement she needed to get out of er dull marriage with an unappreciative bugger. It is a good film, with good music, touching and fast.

Bandits is a hugely enjoyable and well-paced action comedy.Bruce Willis is his usual laconic self, Billy-Bob Thornton is very amusing as the hypercondriac sidekick to Willis and Cate Blanchet brings an entertaining, and at times lunatic, quality to the movie. The scene where Cate runs into (literally) Billy-Bob will, I guarantee you, have you laughing out loud.The whole story is kept moving by Levinson at a good pace, and the action scenes are well shot without any need for excessive violence and gore.Well worth watching, give it a try.

very good film

It's good for me thanks u for it & the film is bad for me thanks u for it

Loved this movie! Lots of fun and great acting. Really loved how the story moved along and that it was based in part on a true story. Crime never gets old! And having a little Bonnie Tyler playing in the background of the story helps too.Great work by all on the production!

i love this movie - very quick delivery etc and great condition. Its a classic bank robber film with a twist and excellent performances from willis and billy bob thornton...one of my favourite cohen brothers films.