Some people who I know thought I was crazy for going to the movies on the night of Cal Ripken Jr's last game.  What can I say, there isn't anything that I'd miss that I couldn't catch on the 11 O'Clock news.  A sneak preview is something that you just can't pass up.

      "Bandits" is about two guys who break out of prison to rob banks.  On their way they meet several people and have some fun.  Okay, so that's a pretty general plot summary and it could apply to virtually any movie, but that's because I don't want to give anything away.  I want you all to have the same experience that I had.  I went into the theater knowing hardly anything about this film-- just about the only things I knew about it was that it was directed by Barry Levinson and that it starred Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thorton.

      Speaking of Bruce Willis, he has a much different look, and I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't recognize him.  Okay, okay there's no way one could not recognize Bruce Willis no matter how long his hair is.  He and Billy Bob Thorton have some remarkable chemistry, and then you throw in Cate Blanchette and your off the charts.  Yes, there are charts.

      Then there's Troy Garity.  If that name sounds familiar, it's because he's the cousin of Bridget Fonda (the nephew of Peter Fonda and the daughter of Jane Fonda) and the grandson of Henry Fonda.  He's got great acting pumpin' through his veins, and yet while he doesn't steal the spotlight, he does clearly leave a mark.  It's difficult to upstage Bruce Willis, Cate Blanchette, or Billy Bob Thorton, and nobody should ever expect that, no matter how many great actors you're related to, but give Troy his props.

     Next up is the editing and cinematography-- both are done very well.  The pacing is fast when it needs to be fast, slow when it needs to be slow, and always lookin' cool in the process.  The images are clear, crisp, and sharp, and all around good looking.  As I was watching this, I was thinking to myself, "Damn, this movie is slick!".  I was in Candyland, and my eyes were splurging.

Recommendation: Again, I chose to see this movie instead of watching Cal's last game, and you all know how much I love sports, right?  You don't?  Well I do. That should be a big clue to how great this movie is.  Trust me on this, ok?

     -- James ( 4 out of 4 pops )

Talk about this film with other Popkorn Junkies

      Billy Ray ( 4 out of 4 pops )

      Let's get down to business--"Bandits" is the best film I have seen in six months and is one of the funniest movies ever.  Billy Bob Thornton is dead-on hilarious as Terry Collins, the hypochondriac bank robber who thinks he has a brain tumor because he can smell burning chicken feathers.  Bruce Willis is perfect as the macho, yet sensitive Joe Blake, the muscle behind the operation.  Also, Cate Blanchett is absolutely fabulous as the unhappy wife torn between the two robbers.  The movie progresses with tons of laughs and just enough action and the ending is fantastic, even though most people knew what was going to happen.  You don't get much better than "Bandits" in terms of acting chemistry.  Thornton, Willis, and Blanchett seems to always be having fun and deliver perfect timing with one another.  Director Barry Levinson has another winner on his hands and "Bandits" truly is one of the best movies of the year and certainly the funniest.  You are a fool to not see this film.

      Liz ( 3 out of 4 pops )

      A funny thing happened as I left the theater after seeing "Bandits".  A twenty-something guy proclaimed it one of the best movies he'd ever seen.  Moments later, on the escalator back to the real world, a retirement-age woman proclaimed it the worst movie she'd ever seen.  My guess: neither one of these people sees very many movies.  "Bandits" is tightly-woven and entertaining, if predictable.  I think that the best kind of endings are the ones where you are left thinking "Of course.  Of course that's how it had to end."  "Bandits" comes close to that -- except that the audience gets to the conclusion about three steps before the movie gets there.  Too bad.  The strength of this film is in its performances and its laughs.  It exists sometimes in a sort of dream-world, which is ok if you're prepared to accept a polygamistic relationship and a legal system which can't catch two guys wearing wigs and facial hair.  In short -- it's not the best movie I've seen, and it's not the worst.