Bandidas (D+ or 1.5/4 stars)
'Bandidas', directed by Jaochim Roenning & Espen Sandberg, tells the story of 2 polar opposite Mexican women played by Penelope Cruz & Salma Hayek. Both of them have experienced recent family tragedy at the hands of a very evil NY bank that is planning to run a railroad across their lands. In short, they put their differences aside, accumulate some allies (such as Steve Zahn), and seek revenge for themselves & their man-handled country. The film has a promising start, but soon enough, Cruz & Hayek's physical assets aren't enough to blind you from a poor script, plot, & action.
It is 1848, and a NY bank wants to place a railroad across arid Mexico. This bank proceeds to buy up smaller banks, displace poor farmers, & dismantle Mexico's livelihood en route to building the line. Initially, Maria (Cruz) and Sara (Hayek) loathe each other. They're both Mexican. But Maria is soft and European-educated. Sara is rough, gruff, and not so fortunate. But Maria is the daughter of one of the susceptible banks; and to rebound from their tragedies (at the hands of a character played by Dwight Yoakam) they decide to counter-attack, trip up their foe & become infamous bank robbers.
Can these Mexicanas escape from Jackson (Yoakam)? Or will he and his able men catch up with them & kill them? Will it all be worth it to the girls if they're able to run the New York bank out of town? Really, who cares?
Together, Hayek & Cruz have a certain flair on screen. I'm sure they'd prefer to speak their own languages in this film, but alas, it's been cheaply made for English speaking audiences. They both have a talent for physical comedy. There's a great scene where they both seduce Steve Zahn's character in a bedroom. They're sexy, confident, and they know it. But I wouldn't call this film well worth watching. Everything about 'Bandidas' looks cheap. The action is goofy & bad. The dialogue within most scenes is cliched. And the predictable, flat plot doesn't hold much interest, at all. Check out Cruz in Volver & Hayek in Frida.
It is 1848, and a NY bank wants to place a railroad across arid Mexico. This bank proceeds to buy up smaller banks, displace poor farmers, & dismantle Mexico's livelihood en route to building the line. Initially, Maria (Cruz) and Sara (Hayek) loathe each other. They're both Mexican. But Maria is soft and European-educated. Sara is rough, gruff, and not so fortunate. But Maria is the daughter of one of the susceptible banks; and to rebound from their tragedies (at the hands of a character played by Dwight Yoakam) they decide to counter-attack, trip up their foe & become infamous bank robbers.
Can these Mexicanas escape from Jackson (Yoakam)? Or will he and his able men catch up with them & kill them? Will it all be worth it to the girls if they're able to run the New York bank out of town? Really, who cares?
Together, Hayek & Cruz have a certain flair on screen. I'm sure they'd prefer to speak their own languages in this film, but alas, it's been cheaply made for English speaking audiences. They both have a talent for physical comedy. There's a great scene where they both seduce Steve Zahn's character in a bedroom. They're sexy, confident, and they know it. But I wouldn't call this film well worth watching. Everything about 'Bandidas' looks cheap. The action is goofy & bad. The dialogue within most scenes is cliched. And the predictable, flat plot doesn't hold much interest, at all. Check out Cruz in Volver & Hayek in Frida.