Bandits (2001)

REVIEW
Sporting a head of hair and a toothy grin, Willis has a glorious time in playing Joe Blake, an escaped convict who finds his 15 minutes of fame as a "gentleman bank robber." However, what his two costars, Thornton and Blanchett, are up to amounts to nothing less than grand larceny. A highly enjoyable caper comedy that's as smart as it is funny, Bandits follows the merry exploits of Blake and fellow escapee Terry Collins (Thornton), who when we first meet are telling their story of a life of crime. It seems they've become folk heroes and media stars what with their unique way of robbing banks, cute disguises and ever-so-polite manners. Everything had been going swimmingly until they hooked up with unhappily married Kate (Blanchett), who after hitting Terry with her car becomes a hostage. She also sets both men's hearts aflutter, which sets the stage for some divine romantic sparring. Director Levinson keeps the pace brisk and comedy tangy, though what really makes this work are the extraordinary performances from Thornton and Blanchett, who bring modern screwball comedy/romance nearly to a new level.