BANDIDAS (2006)

Directed By: Joachim Ronning & Espen Sandberg
Written By: Luc Besson & Robert Mark Kamen
Cinematography By: Thierry Arbogast
Editor: Frederic Thoraval

Cast: Penelope Cruz, Salma Hayek, Steve Zahn, Dwight Yoakam, Sam Shepard, Denis Arndt


I'm not going to lie this film is just fun, It has a sense of humor about itself. Doesn't take itself seriously and makes little to no apologies.

The Film is a period action film. About two women who grew up on different sides of the tracks one is a rich girl educated and a world traveler who is the daughter of a banker. The other woman is a famermer's daughter who is more of a tomboy then anything else she is played by Penelope cruz when the banker takes her fathers farm she comes to his house to convince him to give it back while there she mets the cultured daughter played by Salma Hayek. While there a group of hired government gunslingers kill the banker, The two girls go on the run for their lives and are taught how to be gunslingers in the middle of the dessert. They end up becoming bank robbers who like robin hood, Steal from the rich to give to the poor. As their reputations grow so does the challenges as they become wanted. Eventually they take a hostage played by Steve Zahn who is the american accountant brought there to insure the banks. he is also a bit of a detective himself.

As the film goes along the girls rivalry comes up time and again about a variety of subjects but mostly over the seduction of Steve Zahn's character as penelope cruz is the moreinnocent one but salma is the experienced one.

It's a film that takes you by surprise at how much you find yourself liking it and enjoying yourself. though you know you should know better. it charms you into it's will. More like seduces you especially with it's two leads.

The film has plenty of action scenes that are grand but more on a small scale but are exciting none the less. It's no surprise that this film is from Luc besson he didn't direct it but he did come up with the story and like most of the films he has produced this film is fast paced and fun. no real time for thought, except unlike half of the movies of it's kind. It is here to entertain and comes up with actual interesting characters and situations.

Now this film ismostly sold not only on the action but the sexiness of it's two female stars who are constantly in tight and revealingclothes throughout the film which i am definately not complaining about. It helps sell the film's scenes and it just seems like the actors are all having fun with this film. Almost like children playing dress-up.

It feels like a homage to the film VIVA MARIA with Brigitte Bardot and Jeanne Moreau . here you have two of the sexiest women inthe world playing in a action film that is a period western. So it has two elements men like most
action and hot women.

The film is pretty cut and dry. it doesn't seem to have any deeper meaning then to just entertain and be fun. Cruz and Hayek have chemistry that works. they both bring tremendous sex appeal to the film with pletny of cleavage. It's a visual feast that filled with cliche's but makes the time pass faster. it's never boring. the film is just a cute action comedy western with all the fixings. Gun Fights, train heist, bank robberies. All of it with a PG-13 Rating.

Trust meif you have teenage sons or brothers they will love this film.

A nice addition to the film library but on your guilty pleasure shelf. plus get it on discount for $10 and under.

GRADE: B