Bandidas (2006, USA/MEX/FRA) C-93m. SCOPE **½ D: Joachim Roenning, Espen Sandberg. Starring Penélope Cruz, Salma Hayek, Steve Zahn, Dwight Yoakam, Denis Arndt, Sam Shepard. Quite attractive western comedy about Cruz, a farmer's daughter, and Hayek, a landowner's daughter, who in turn-of-the-century Mexico join forces in battling ruthless enforcer Yoakam, who steals land for the railway. Filmed with gusto and fervor, but plot is less engaging. Cowritten and coproduced by Luc Besson, who may have been inspired by the Louis Malle classic VIVA MARIA! (1965).


© Ron Altman