What can I say, I’m a sucker for these types of movies. I know there are a lot of them and that most of them are quite bad but I assure you this one is worth watching. Bandit is a lighthearted thriller based on true events about Canada’s most prolific bank robber, Gilbert Galvan Jr. Starring Josh Duhamel, Mel Gibson, Nestor Carbonell, and Elisha Cuthbert it’s a visually appealing movie with a healthy dose of humor. Moreover, I think that this is Josh Duhamel’s best performance to date. I’ve never seen him nail a role like here. We’ll also get the usual Gibson treatment and it’s always nice to see Nestor and Elisha in action. The production values are excellent and I also liked the juicy cinematography.
Bandit features a running time of almost two hours and a steady pace that will make those two hours fly by. Our main character regularly cuts in with some cheeky remarks, giving us details about the robberies he did and how he did them. This will help you get into the right mood for this movie. I would categorize it as one of those “after a long day at work movies”. You know the ones I’m talking about, the ones that require little brain power and are sufficiently engaging to keep your mind from going back to reality. They’re getting harder and harder to find as they just keep pumping out lookalikes with practically the same actors.
I mean, Mel made some pretty shitty movies recently. And the same goes for Nic Cage, Crowe, Banderas, and the rest of the aging nineties crew. Luckily, there’s this site called Subversive Rabbit that goes through all of those movies to recommend only the best. Or at least the ones that are worth watching. Bandit might be a bit generic and thin but at least it’s well-crafted. The opening scene will take us back to the eighties with style. So, you can expect that trademark retro atmosphere complete with period-accurate cars, buildings, and everything else. I always find it thought-provoking to watch modern period movies and compare the past and present.
It’s safe to say that our protagonist simply couldn’t have robbed a local convenience store today let alone a bank. Then again, who knows, people are creative. However, I think that our bank robber here found a niche and had the luck on his side. Something he didn’t have while he was trying to find a legit job. I have always liked seeing this issue of unemployment and fair wages brought to the forefront. It’s not like all criminals are just bad people who want to rob and kill. Some of them felt like they had no other choice thanks to the austerity measures implemented by the state. It’s not a justification for their actions but the cold hard truth.
Remember, while most of us are just trying to survive the rich are enjoying their yachts, huge mansions, and lavish cars. And if you think you can become one of them through hard work, think again. The system is rigged against you and sure, some of us will make it but the vast majority will live out their days if not in poverty then damn near close. Again, I’m not saying we should all go rob banks but that we need a just system and a change. Well, I guess I had to go on that little rant. Who knew this movie would bring it out of a movie?
Bandit is a Canadian movie and we’ll be spending almost all of our time there. In the beautiful cities of Ottawa and Vancouver. This gives a movie a bit of a different taste than its US counterparts. Speaking of which, I guess it’s time for more movie recommendations. So, if you liked Bandit you can first check out Finding Steve McQueen, Stockholm, and Vault as they have the same vibe. Then you can move on to Stealing Sinatra and if you’re looking for good Canadian crime movies Owning Mahowny and Dusk For A Hitman are great choices.
Director: Allan Ungar
Writers: Kraig Wenman, Robert Knuckle, Ed Arnold
Cast: Josh Duhamel, Elisha Cuthbert, Nestor Carbonell, Mel Gibson, Swen Temmel, Dylan Flashner
Fun Facts: During the interrogation scene, Duhamel makes fun of Nestor Carbonell’s use of eyeliner, something I was thinking he was doing as well. However, it turns out that Carbonell has natural pigmentation around his eyes that only resembles eyeliner.
Rating:
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9853500/
