“˜Bandits’ proves worthwhile; Thornton outshines co-stars

  Bruce Willis (right) and Billy
Bob Thornton star in the comedy “Bandits.”

By Kelsey McConnell
Daily Bruin Contributor

“Bandits” is brain candy under the pretense that it
is something more. The film strives to be funny with an underlying
message about what people really want, but it only achieves the
being funny part.

Billy Bob Thornton is in a less homespun role than usual, but on
and off the screen exudes the charm of an Arkansas good ol’
boy and the warmth of cornbread. The man is on a comedic rampage
and in “Bandits” he just can’t do wrong. He is at
his best in every frame he is in, be it cracking wise to
Willis’ tough guy character or flopping on the floor after
what he fervently feels was a stroke. The wigs he wears are a laugh
in themselves making, Thornton look like the strange offspring of
Neil Young and David Letterman.

Willis is typecast as the tough guy with softer edges and he
plays the role adequately. What he does best, however, is provide
fodder for Thornton’s wit.

Cate Blanchett has been amazing in some of her previous roles.
But in “Bandits,” she is too screechy and her acting
too melodramatic. And the fact that she isn’t a sympathetic
character, or a particularly lovable one, does some damage to the
veracity of the plot. However, the contrast of her red hair to the
blues of the movie is truly lovely.

The Oregon countryside fading into L.A. urbanity was nicely shot
and the various bank and hotel scenes are carefully built to look
both real and interesting. Dante Spinotti, director of photography,
provides a truly beautiful stage.

When the soundtrack swells with the likes of U2 and Five for
Fighting, one could wonder why a movie billed as being
unconventional chose to use ultra-conventional pop songs. But there
is also a great Bob Dylan tune and fun original music by
Christopher Young.

On the whole, “Bandits” certainly isn’t great,
but it also certainly isn’t bad. Bruce Willis is trying to do
something new by not taking the easy road to action star heroism
and Thornton and Blanchett play done characters in a way that is
yet undone. It’s a movie worth seeing in the theater if you
have the money, or as a rental if you don’t.