The Blue-Eyed Bandit (1982)

Directed by: Alfredo Giannetti
Starring: Franco Nero, Dalila Di Lazzaro, Carlos De Carvalho

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Newscaster: According to all of the witnesses, the color of the theif's eyes were quiet extraordinary.

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Blue-Eyed Bandit is an Italian crime/heist film with an amazingly cool premise: Franco Nero reports to his job every day disguised as a nondescript crippled man with brown eyes... biding his time until he can get a chance to rob the place. Finally his opportunity comes, and he makes sure his co-workers get a good look at the able-bodied blue-eyed thief. But when little things go wrong - a dropped lighter, a flashed cufflink - Nero's cover begins to collapse on itself.

For viewers used to watching Nero in movies like Django, it is really bizarre watching him during the first half hour of this movie... instead of the charismatic but dangerous man we're used to, we get a random schmuck aimlessly shambling along working a dead-end job. Give him a slight limp, rumpled hair, and a cheap suit, and Nero looks like any other guy working in an office. Nero's ordinary appearance fits in well with the slow-pace of the movie. There are no huge gunfights or chase scenes. The robbery itself is relatively subdued, and Nero reports back to work the very next day.

Giannetti's script and directing bring Blue-Eyed bandit above the standard Euro-crime fare. As the movie wears on we find that Nero's character is more complex than you first expect. He financially supports an elderly mother who no longer remembers him, and isn't after the money simply to be rich. We find out later in the film that he sees money as a means to be free... to escape the life that he hates so much. Nero's desire to be free from all attachments is a major theme in the film. Shortly before the robbery Nero goes to visit his senile mother, and in a surprisingly touching moment, he begs her "Why won't you just die and let me live the life I want to live?" Nero doesn't plan on living the high life - he just wants to leave the country and move to Panama, a place where he believes he can live as he wants.

Compared to other Italian directors in the early 70's, Giannetti shows amazing restraint in setting up a unique mystery. Instead of trying to figure out who committed the crime, Giannetti has us wonder who will be the one to break Nero's cover. Unfortunately for Nero, several people start to realize the truth - a bad cop, a greedy waitress, a homosexual masseuse - and they all want a piece of him. Nero gives a such a great performance as a guy who wants nothing more than to be left alone, you really care whether he's going to be able to leave the country (a) with the money or (b) at all. As I mentioned above, this isn't a blow-em-up extravaganza, like many Italian crime films. Rather, it's a well-constructed, deliberately-paced film with a great set-up and excellent delivery. Blue-Eyed Bandit can be purchased uncut at Digital Conquest and is definitely worth picking up.

- Micah