Bandit is a 2022 Canadian biographical crime film directed by Allan Ungar and starring Josh Duhamel, Elisha Cuthbert, Nestor Carbonell and Mel Gibson.[1] The film is based on the true life story of Gilbert Galvan Jr (also known as The Flying Bandit), who still holds a record for the most consecutive robberies in Canadian history. The screenplay by Kraig Wenman is largely based on interviews and accounts featured in the 1996 true crime book The Flying Bandit by Robert Knuckle with Ed Arnold.[2]
![]() | This article needs a plot summary. (October 2022) |
Bandit | |
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Directed by | Allan Ungar |
Written by | Kraig Wenman |
Based on | The Flying Bandit by Robert Knuckle |
Produced by | Eric Gozlan Jordan Yale Levine Jordan Beckerman |
Starring | Josh Duhamel Mel Gibson Elisha Cuthbert Nestor Carbonell |
Cinematography | Alex Chinnici |
Edited by | Michael Lane Allan Ungar |
Music by |
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Production companies | Goldrush Entertainment Yale Productions |
Distributed by | Quiver Distribution Redbox Entertainment |
Release date |
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Running time | 126 minutes |
Country | Canada |
Language | English |
Redbox Entertainment and Quiver Distribution acquired North American distribution rights to the film and released it in theatres and on demand on September 23, 2022.[3][4] The film received mostly positive reviews with critics calling it a career-best performance by Duhamel.
On October 30, 2020 it was announced that Josh Duhamel would star as Gilbert Galvan Jr in an adaptation of Robert Knuckle's book The Flying Bandit, which details the life of Galvan.[1][9] On May 19, 2021, Mel Gibson and Elisha Cuthbert joined the cast. On June 15, 2021 it was reported that Nestor Carbonell had joined the cast as a detective hunting Duhamel's character.[10]
Filming was originally planned to take place in Vancouver and Ottawa, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic most of the production was relocated to the state of Georgia.[11] Film crews were spotted in and around the Valdosta area in May and June 2021.[12] Additional filming took place in Ottawa in September 2021.
The film was released in theatres in the US and Canada on September 23, 2022 and was also made available on digital platforms.[13] In its first two weeks of release, Bandit was the #1 ranked movie on iTunes across multiple categories and was the 5th most watched film on the platform.[14][15] The film also reached #1 on iTunes in Canada, Australia and Russia.[16]
On October 28, Redbox announced that the film was the most watched original title of 2022 and their 2nd-best release ever. [17]
Critical reception for the film has been mostly positive with many critics and journalists praising Josh Duhamel for delivering a career best performance as well as Ungar's direction.[18][19] Chris Bumbray from Joblo called Duhamel's performance "terrific" in a "solid crime caper" and Julian Roman from Movieweb said "Josh Duhamel gives his career-best performance as a wily and infectiously charming bank robber."[20] Chris Knight from The National Post rated the film four out of five stars and said "Toronto director Allan Ungar keeps the pace fast and light; despite a two-hour running time, the film never lags."[21] Brian Costello from Common Sense Media also rated the film 4 out of 5 stars and said "Bandit is over two hours long, but the balance between the action and the story is so solid, it's easy to get lost in what's happening."[22] Vincent Mancini from Uproxx was more mixed in his review, but expressed that "Duhamel has never been better.".[23] Screen Rant's Brittany Witherspoon was also mixed in her review, giving the film a 2.5/4 but said "the chemistry between Josh Duhamel and Elisha Cuthbert is exceptional."[24]
Elizabeth Weitzman from The Wrap said "Josh Duhamel steals the show" and that "it may occur to you while watching that the star would have made a great, old-school Bond."[18] Film critic Richard Crouse gave the film three out of four stars, calling it a "Slick, although not very deep, crime story buoyed by enjoyable performances."[25] Digital Journal called Duhamel's performance "superb" and the film "riveting." Markos Papadatos noted that "Duhamel delivers a raw, unflinching, and commanding performance as Gilbert, and he steals every scene he is in. His delivery is controlled and subtle, and he captures the conscience of the clever bank robber."[26]
On Rotten Tomatoes, 74% of 31 critics gave the film a positive review, with the critic consensus declaring "It struggles to consistently capture its fact-based story's stranger-than-fiction charm, but Bandit mostly works -- and Josh Duhamel has never been better."[27]