Bandit

A fun, light, movie that would be entertaining even if it wasn't based on true events. That fact that it is, just makes it better. Good acting, good jokes, not a dull moment. Highly recommend.

Josh Duhamel fits the role perfectly, so does Mel Gibson. Don't believe the reviews trashing the acting or the script because honestly, it is exactly what it is supposed to be. This is not a documentary nor was it written to be one, but if you look online for facts about the flying bandit, they managed to be much more accurate than most movies "based on true events". So, all and all, a great entertaining watch.

It's an interesting story that as a Canadian, I didn't even know about, but even Duhamel's charm wasn't enough to save the disjointed narrative. There are many small issues that failed this film to be great, instead of just good. One of the issues was the long and dragged out 126 min runtime; it had too much frustratingly bland filler and too little engaging substance to hold the viewer's attention. I was getting impatient in many scenes to "just get on with the story". I don't mind long running times, especially when time flies in the way the story is laid out and told, but in this case, time dragged on and I kept losing interest in between many scenes. I also felt the film suffered an identity crisis - not sure if it wanted to be taken seriously, or make me laugh along the way. Both happened, but not enough of either to keep me entertained in the 126 mins. The funny parts weren't funny enough, and the suspenseful parts were too far in between. I feel this needed to be cut down to a 90-100 min runtime to be more enjoyable. The middle parts of the film just didn't hold my attention very well. Even the narrating felt half completed and question if it needed more, or none at all to get the story going. It all just felt too bland and pedestrian to keep me entertained throughout. Although performances were decent and convincing especially Gibson and Duhamel, and the cinematography and score on point, this could've easily been more fun and suspenseful in the hands of more seasoned filmmakers.

Mel Gibson has a small role (he's great but his recent movies have been really low B-minus) in this 80s bank hiest story starring Josh Duhamel, Elisha Cuthbert, and Nestor Carbonell, all of whom do a great job. The plot is a bit bland and too drawn out, but made more interesting with its great cast, fairly realistic scenes of robberies in pre-internet Canada, and the impression that it's a true story (I don't know if it actually is). If you like bank robber movies, this one is pretty fun and well produced. Not much violence, sex or bad language, so it's a good family movie if you need to be saved from a reality show or (argh) a Hallmark movie.

"No one's born bad. Like anything, it takes practice. And when you finally realize home is not a place you stay or can even find on a map, bad becomes a warm place where everything is possible, until it isn't."

Big fan of bank robbery movies. They are just a blast to watch. All of them essentially the same, but fun nonetheless.

This film is no exception. Josh Duhamel was amazing in this. He really put on a killer performance. Quite possibly the best of his career. I don't know how to describe it. The energy was there, and I felt it through my TV.

This is the real life story of how one guy robbed 59 Canadian banks. The fact that this guy robbed these banks so easily, is just astounding.

You could really feel the grit of Mel Gibsons character as well. He makes for a very good "bad guy" (which he kind of wasn't).

A few minutes could've been chopped off here and there, but it's not a big deal. The time flew by for me in this one.

Films of this genre suffer from a very formulaic structure. You kind of already know what's going to happen, but it doesn't really matter. It's how it happens and plays out that matters. This film played out well.

I'm shocked that it was just so easy.

A definite watch for all. Great time will be had. I highly recommend this.

This gets a LennyReviewz Score of: 8/10.

Bandit is based on true events, that's how it starts, and that always makes it more interesting, gives the story a little punch. It's hard to believe though, makes you almost want to rob banks yourself, that's how easy it looked. But that was then, this wouldn't be possible anymore in this time and age. The story is easy to watch, no boring moments, a pinch of humour, and a good cast. Josh Duhamel plays the main character and he made him believable, a charismatic con artist that looks like he could get away with anything. Mel Gibson has a smaller role but for once he wasn't bad, a thing you could not really say for the last past years. If you like the crime genre Bandit is certainly worth a watch.