Travis Simpkins: Bandidas (2006): Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

Friday, September 28, 2018

Bandidas (2006): Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

Despite mixed reviews and a nearly straight-to-video release, Bandidas (2006) has steadily earned itself a Cult following. The two reasons for the belated success are plain to see... and quite easy on the eyes. Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz, both beautiful and successful international actresses and producers in their own right, had never worked on a project together. Rather than wait for an opportunity to arise, the two lovely friends decided to create one in the form of a Western Comedy featuring themselves as bank robbers on a mission. They enlisted the help of a diverse group of mutual filmmaker friends, and the film ended up being a co-production with investors in France, the United States and Mexico. In the end, Bandidas is mainly an excuse for Hayek and Cruz to have fun together, but the supporting cast is good as well... including Dwight Yoakam and the always great, Sam Shepard.

Two very different Mexican ladies, one a poor farmer's daughter, Maria (Penelope Cruz)...

Bandidas. 2006: Penelope Cruz

and the other, Sara (Salma Hayek), the daughter of a wealthy land owner...

Bandidas. 2006: Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

are forced to join forces against the evil force of a U.S. Land Baron (Dwight Yoakam), who not only is stealing their land, but killed Sara's father and nearly killed Maria's as well...

Bandidas. 2006: Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

Maria and Sara, despite initial conflicts, end up becoming partners in a series of bank robberies meant to dwindle down Yoakam's holdings and provide for the chastised Mexican families caught in the middle...