Movies - Bandits

	Movies - Bandits

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.

Filming Dates

11 October2000 - February2001

Trivia

The film was originally meant to be an adaptation of Elmore Leonard's novel "Bandits", to which Bruce Willis owns the film rights, but the producers felt it was too weak and brought in writer Harley Peyton to write a new script from scratch.

When Terry wakes up saying "Beavers and Ducks", it's a reference to two arch-rival Oregon college football teams, the Oregon State University Beavers and the University of Oregon Ducks.

The interior of the reporter's house in which Joe and Terry film their interview was also used in The Big Lebowski (1998).

The little girl who belches during the dinner scene is Bruce Willis' daughter, Scout... and according to him, that belch was not enhanced. The other girl is another one of Willis' daughters, Tallulah.

Val Kilmer was originally considered for the part of Joe, and Bruce Willis was originally going to play the part of Terry, but due to scheduling conflicts, Kilmer backed out, and Willis took over the part of Joe.

Billy Bob Thornton has a phobia of antique furniture in real life, and the producers wrote it in as part of his character.

At the cabin right after they "pick up" Kate, Joe stretches a drape between the two sides of the bed, saying he saw it in a movie once. Kate asks, "How does end?" Joe says, "With a wedding." At the end of the movie Harvey marries the Pink Boots girl.

Director Cameo: The last staff to the right of the camera in the studio room from Darren's point of view when he presented "Criminals at Large" at the beginning of the film.

Hans Zimmer was the only choice for the music composing. However, Zimmer was just finishing Hannibal and Pearl Harbor at the time in London, and he already committed himself to Black Hawk Down, which was recorded in the US. Barry Levinson said that he would move the film for a later release, waiting for the German composer, since they are good friends since Rain Man. Zimmer politely refused it.

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Movies - Bandits

Plot outline

Filming Dates

Trivia

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