BANDIT

Canada, 2022, 126 minutes, Colour.

Josh Duhamel, Mel Gibson, Elisha Cuthbert, Nestor Carbonell, Olivia D’Abo.

Directed by Arthur Unger.

An unexpectedly enjoyable action film.

A Canadian production, this is a story of a bank robber nicknamed the Flying Bandit. In the mid-1980s, he was able to rob 60 banks without detection. He was a young man in detention in the United States, escaping to Canada, finding an identity, discovering a talent for robbing banks after exact and minute observation of how each bank worked, the personnel,, timing, even going in disguise to discuss the running of the bank as if he were a supervisor.

And, with his many disguises and meticulous planning, especially for getting out of the bank, he could achieve the robbery within three minutes. At one stage, the robber, played with quite some charm by Josh Duhamel (a kind of tongue in cheek Bruce Willis role) makes a bet with the local bar owner who is also a fence for stolen jewellery, and played by Mel Gibson, that he can rob the bank across the street within three minutes. He does. He frequents the bar, sometimes disguised, sometimes as himself, which initially confuses the detectives on surveillance outside the bar.

But, he also has a personal life. Initially he pays a beggar on the street $20 for his identity card, assumes his name, takes refuge in the local house for the homeless, becoming very friendly with the woman on desk, Andrea, played by Elisha Cuthbert. They move in together, his not explaining the money coming in, having plausible reasons for his absences, going to various Canadian cities for the robberies.

And, in the background, the detectives, first wanting to arrest the bar keeper.

Eventually, Andrea discovers what her husband has been doing, actually helping him. And, they are able to escape to a small town for 18 months, Andrea giving birth to a daughter.

However, a special squad is formed to track down the bank robber and he is eventually caught, sentenced, serves a prison term. This information is given during the final credits – with the information that the bar keeper was eventually arrested and also served a sentence.

1. The title, true story, the Flying Bandit? Final information about the bandit at the end?
2. 1988, Robert, the smooth bank robbery, disguise, escape, decoys, Snydes in pursuit?
3. The back story, father in prison, mother gone, juvenile detention, the escape, going to Canada? Identity, the beggar and the card, payment, getting into the centre, Andrea and her leniency, his smooth talking?
4. Robert, decision to rob banks, the number, he is doing his homework, scouting out all the information, smooth talking, observation, discussions?
5. The range of robberies, their being listed and numbered, the personnel, the ladies and his charm, his return, pretending to be testing, friendly with the staff, getting the information? The various devices, ways of escape, his timing, the smoke bomb, dressed as a fireman…?
6. Andrea, her job, the shelter, outings with Robert, his charm, the living together, time passing, his absences, force explanations for his work? The money, the house? Her pregnancy, his enthusiasm about being a father?
7. The best about robbing the bank, Robert winning? Time passing, the invitation to rob the jewellery store? To make the money, Robert and Andrea to go to the Bahamas?
8. Snydes, detective, confrontations with Tommy, challenges, the bar, suspicions, the partner, the budget, talking with the chief, the project cafe, information, Robert and his car, his disguises, the one person?
9. Robert and Andrea disappearing, the house in the country, 18 months, Tommy’s visit? The truth to Andrea, her enjoyment of the money, accompanying him on the robberies? Her giving birth, love for the children?
10. The detectives in pursuit, the helicopter flight, giving them the slip? Their eventually catching him, surrounding him, in prison, ordering a pizza, interrogations, meeting Andrea? Not giving Tommy away? (Yet Diamond Dave giving Tommy away?)
11. The final information, Robert and his prison sentence, the interview with the actual Robert and his having no money, divorce from Andrea, Tommy and his jail sentence?