Insight The theatre was packed for a premiere screening in Adelaide of Academy Award winning director Barry Levinson's latest film "Bandits". There had been plenty of hype surrounding this film and the trailers looked great. Little did I, or the audience, realize what a treat we were all in for. Not since the fabulous "Shrek" had I heard a theatre ring with so much laughter. "Bandits" is undoubtedly the funniest, wittiest film I have had the pleasure to see so far this year [and there have been a few beauties prior to "Bandits"]. Bad boy Bruce Willis, the multi talented Billy Bob Thornton and "our" Cate Blanchett shine as brightly as the stars in the Milky Way. "Bandits" is pure fun with never a dull moment. Willis plays the rugged Joe Blake, a man with a dream. He wants to retire south of the border. His sidekick Terry Collins is played by Billy Bob Thornton. Collins is a hypochondriac convinced he is dying from a brain tumour. That he suffers from every other disease or allergy known to mankind is neither here nor there. Australia's Cate Blanchett is the love interest. She plays Kate, a vivacious housewife who is shackled to an unappreciative husband. "Bandits" is directed by the much awarded Barry Levinson. Levinson was awarded best director in 1988 for "Rain Man" which starred Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. In 1991 he directed "Bugsy" which was nominated for 10 academy awards including Best Director and Best Picture. His other honours include three academy award nominations as a screenwriter for "Diner", "And Justice For All" and "Avalon". In 1999 he was honoured with a Creative Achievement Award at the 13th Annual American Comedy Award. This was followed in the same year by a degree honoris causa by the American University of Wahington DC when he was made a Doctor of Fine Arts. The Stars

Bruce Willis I can remember Bruce Willis when he co-starred with Sybil Shepherd in the TV smash hit comedy romance "Moonlighting". Willis had star quality written all over him. Since that time he has gone on to star in some of the biggest hit films including "Die Hard", "Die Harder", "The Fifth Element", "The Jackal", "Armageddon", "Mercury Rising", "The Sixth Sense" and the greatest of cult films "Pulp Fiction". Not bad for the boy who came from a New Jersey working class family and who started his career in 1977 with the play "Heaven and Earth". Willis has proven himself to be multitalented.

Billy Bob Thornton Billy Bob Thorton, one of my favourite actors and one that deserves more public recognition for his talents. "Bandits" will allow many more cinema fans to see just how talented he is. His career has covered film, television and theatre. "Bandits" is not the first occassion that Thornton has teamed with Bruce Willis. The last time they were together was in "Armageddon". He also starred with Cate Blanchett in "Pushing Tin". His most critically acclaimed work was most probably the 1996 film "Sling Blade" for which he received an oscar for best adapted screenplay.

Cate Blanchett Our Cate as many aussies would be quick to point out. A graduate of NIDA whose career started as a stage actor appearing in her early days with the then unknown Geoffrey Rush, Gillian Armstrong and Richard Roxenburgh. Later she would appear in the film "Thank God He Met Lizzie" which would win her and AFI award & a Sydney Film Critics Award for best supporting actress. In 1988 Cate was awarded a Golden Globe for her performance as Queen Elizabeth 1 in "Elizabeth". Her other films include "An Ideal Husband", "The Talented Mr Ripley" and "the Shipping News".

The Story Joe Blake [Bruce Willis] and his hypochondriac side-kick Terry Collins [Billy Bob Thornton] are bank robbers with a difference. Instead of holding up banks they've come up with a plan that's guaranteed to succeed. The night before the guys hit a bank, they take the manager hostage, stay overnight with their victim in their own home, then bright and early next morning clean out the banks vault. Their unique method has seen them rise to the top of America's Most Wanted list and they've been dubbed "The Sleepover Bandits". Everything is running smoothly until Terry literally runs into Kate [Cate Blanchett], a dejected and feeling rejected housewife. When Joe meets Kate the sparks fly. They are soon romantically involved, much to the dismay of Terry. But things are about to change. While fleeing a robbery, Joe and Terry are involved in a crash. They split up planning to meet later in a carpark, swap cars and then go into hiding. Joe fails to appear and Terry is forced to take Kate with him to his motel hideout. When they are forced to share the only room left at the motel Kate soon discovers a sensitive side to Terry that's not evident in Joe. It seems that between them, Joe and Terry have all the qualities Kate needs in a man. Kate is forced to make a choice. Stay on as part of the team or leave behind the only two men who can provide her with the happiness she needs in life. What will she choose? The Verdict "Undoubtedly the funniest film I have seen all year. The casting and direction are just superb. Willis, Thorton and Blanchett absolutely shine throughout this lively, highly entertaining comedy. Billy Bob Thorton, as Terry, the hypochondriac with every disease and allergy known to man, is just one of four good reasons why you musn't miss "Bandits". Reasons two and three are of course the disarming Bruce Willis and that heart stealing performance by Cate Blanchett. The fourth? Those infamous "Sleepover Bandits" in a variety of stupid disguises that will have you shrieking with laughter. And don't miss the closing credits!!"

What The Critics Say "Great fun because it’s smart and witty, perfectly paced, consistently funny, and blessed with three great characters." Brian Webster APOLLO GUIDE "Bandits unleashes its laughs in an easy, unforced tone; this isn't a dark comedy so much as a comedy that consistently chuckles at its dark potential." Chris Vognar DALLAS MORNING NEWS "One of the cleverest and funniest this year and should not be missed." Tony Toscano TALKING PICTURES "Levinson shows a particularly keen understanding of Willis' most disarming feature -- the star's willingness to poke fun at his 'action hero' persona, as he does when interacting with Thornton." Gary Thompson PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS "Billy Bob Thornton, wearing a succession of toupees, wigs, fake facial hair, and funny hats, and twitching more than a horse's behind, is the best reason to see Bandits." Steven Rea PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER "No journey with Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton and Cate Blanchett could ever be too unpleasant, especially with each one performing so admirably well." Eric D. Snider, DAILY HERALD "A road movie that takes us on a real journey, one with actual twists and turns and unexpectedly funny moments." Mary F. Pols, CONTRA COSTA TIMES "Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton may be the bank robbers in Barry Levinson's likable comedy Bandits, but Cate Blanchett is the real thief." Moira MacDonald SEATTLE TIMES The Cast Bruce Willis Billy Bob Thornton Cate Blanchett Troy Garity Brian F O'Byrne Stacey Travis Bobby Slayton January Jones Azura Skye Peggy Miley William Converse-Roberts Richard Riehle Micole Mercurio Scott Burkholder Anthony Burch ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Joe Blake Terry Collins Kate Wheeler Harvey Pollard Darill Miller Cloe Miller Darren Head Claire Cheri Mildred Kronenberg Charles Wheeler Lawrence Fife Sarah Fife Wildwood Policeman Phil Directed by Barry Levinson Writen by Harley Peyton Run Time 123 minutes Rated M15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2002 - Metro Goldwyn Mayer - All Rights Reserved

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