Rating: NNNNN
BANDITS (Barry Levinson) is a light-hearted caper movie told a bit too slowly by Levinson (Diner, Rain Man). He has the enormous benefit of Billy Bob Thornton as a neurotic hypochondriac thief teamed with impulsive lunkhead Bruce Willis. They’re trailing down the Pacific coast trying to raise enough money to open a resort in Acapulco. (“Mexico? I’ve got sanitation issues.”) Levinson’s direction is too deliberate, the screenplay’s set-up is way too obvious, and Cate Blanchett is along to show off her American accent and class up the proceedings as a dissatisfied ditz who falls for both men. Thornton’s performance, well outside his usual range, is a thing of beauty and justifies the two-hour investment. 125 minutes. NNN
