Bandits (2001 film)

This is about the film; Bandits as a general term refers to outlaws.

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Bandits
Directed by	Barry Levinson
Written by	Harley Peyton
Produced by	(multiple)
Starring	Bruce Willis Billy Bob Thornton Cate Blanchett
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Running time	123 min.
Budget	$80,000,000 (est.)

Bandits is a 2001 comedy/crime/drama/romance movie directed by Barry Levinson. It stars Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett. It helped Thorton earn a National Board of Review Best Actor Award for 2001.

Tagline: Two's Company, Three's A Crime.

Plot outline

Two friends and convicts, one charismatic (Bruce Willis), the other neurotic (Billy Bob Thornton) break out of Oregon State Penitentiary in a cement truck and start a bank robbing spree, hoping to fund a dream they share. They become known as the "Sleepover Bandits" because of their modus operandi: they kidnap the manager of a target bank the night before a planned robbery, then spend the night with the manager's family; early the next morning, they accompany the manager to the bank to get their money. Using a dim-witted would-be stunt man (Troy Garrity) as their getaway driver and lookout, the three successfully pull off several jobs that gets them recognition on a TV show about America's criminals.

When a housewife with a failing marriage (Cate Blanchett) decides to run away, she ends up in the hands of the criminals. Initially attracted to Willis, she also ends up in bed with Thornton and a confused love triangle begins.

Continuing their spree, the bandits hit the wall when the bank managers realize that they are non-violent and therefore no threat to them or their employees. This leads to one more big score at the Alamo Bank, where in the very opening scenes, things appear to go awry.

External links

• Bandits at IMDb
• The Curse of Homer & Eddie, an October 2001 review from Willamette Week