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Buffalo 66

Buffalo 66

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Cute, odd, mesmerising little romance
Review: This low-budget independent movie sets itself up as a bit of an oddball. It has Vincent Gallo (who also directed and wrote the movie) as Billy, a man who has finally served his sentence for a crime he didn't commit. The thing is, now that he's out he has to prove his stories of a loving girlfriend and a job in government that he told his parents. So he kidnaps a girl (Ricci) and takes them to meet his folks. Funny thing is, she takes to the role with confidence.

What truly sets this movie out from the rest is its characterisation, delving deep into Billy's inner turmoil (explained in some part by his obsessive mother and domineering father). He's clammed up emotionally and still can't get over his high-school love. As kidnapped girl Layla, Ricci is dazzlingly beautiful and her tender yet resilient approach to Billy forces the audience to constantly explore why Billy is like he is. It's a sombre movie with an air of desperation, but its heart is unrivalled and the relationship between Billy and Layla is genuinely touching. If it never truly excites it will always keep you interested and there are few movies out there that give such a full perspective on its characters.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I swear I'll karate chop you in the head
Review: Check this out: I was dating this chick when the film first came out on video. It was her idea to rent it, though friends had been telling me to check it out for a while. Well, anyway, the gal I was dating fell asleep 25 minutes into the show. I thought I knew EXACTLY what kind of a movie we'd rented, a sort of gritty, drugstore cowboy kind of thing about the cruelties of extreme living. I was determined to hate it. I mean, come on, look at the cover? Sure looks like it's the story of how hip it is to be haggard, doesn't it? One of those two is going to be strung out on smack, right?

WRONG!

Everything that I expected to happen in this film didn't. I kept expecting a violent and vulgar twist at any moment, but it never came. Attempted suicide or a spiraling bout of depression? Never came. And thank God. I think I breathed an audible sigh of relief when the credits rolled, not because the film was difficult to watch, but because the characters make it to the end without trodding through any of the played out routines that seemed always about to manifest. The characters glow with a genuine sense of innocence that I've rarely seen in film. It seems so easy for writers to stuff scripts with loads of vulgarity. This SEEMED like it was going to be one of those movies, but it wasn't. It doesn't need to be.

Great film. Really great film. Very sweet and surprising. And hey, if you hate televised sporting events (and what reasonable person doesn't?) then you'll be more than sympathetic to Billy's plight. God bless Billy Brown!

And, hey, sure was nice to see Jan Michael Vincent getting some post-Air Wolf work to pay off the debt he incurred for the creation of his new face. In an alternate universe, I think he really does work the counter at a bowling alley.

Oh, yeah, and that relationship of mine that I mentioned earlier? It went nowhere. Those things happen. I can honestly say discovering this film was the best thing that came out of it. May you be so lucky when your next relationship decides to transform itself into a metaphor for a skin graft.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: u pazzu italianu! Bravo Vicenzo!
Review: I really think enough great words about this entertaining film have been said, so I add my 2 cents to give a little more incentive to see/buy the DVD.

This movie can be compared with Jim Jarmusch's wonderful film, "Stranger than Paradise"(avaliable again, after long hiatus here on Amazon too!).

This film , Buffalo 66 has in common with Jarmusch's film , the SAME uneasy , quirky kind of feel that is its charm. Vincent Gallo's "Billy Brown" reprises John Lurie's creepy , but immenently likeable "Bela" (dont call me Bela, call me Willie"!)in "Stranger...".

The great appeal for me is that this movie is the "anti-MTV" 200000 edits per second nightmare that has become daily life in the good ol' USA. "MTV-ismo" is also starting to infect the rest of the globe - THE DREAD NEW WORLD ORDER again- as pertains to "entertainment, in this case.

The movie's static, slowly evoving scenes give the film a feel as if it were a play, and not a manic entertainment "moment" as most Hollywood films feel they must deliver. The movie shuffles along on its own terms.

Another comparison is that this film is shot in Buffalo, Ny--Jarmusch's film in "beautiful" Cleveland , Ohio. Both towns, i would describe as , how to say "cinzenta e operaria", gray working class cities-- both directors obviously love their cities in that "it aint much, but it's MY city" way, hehehehehe!

Even as Gallo's character is named "Billy Brown", an obvious decision to make the character a kind of "blend into the walls nobody", you still feel the Italian heritage of Vicenzo bleed through! He's not anonymous for me, he's an italian kid in the movie , as far as i am concerned.(Hey, the dinner scene features the "Brown" family eating trippa- tripe, not your usual WASP meal, but we had to eat this meal at our house TOO often, ih!) And what "Brown" would croon "Fools Rush IN", in that Sinatra/ Tony Bennett style --STRICTLY ITALIANO, for sure!

I hope this gives a little additional insight, I say, see the movie, it has a lotta laughs, and is strangely tender in parts.

The running theme of BB wanting to KILL Buffalo Bills football placekicker Scott Norwood can be summed up , I had a discussion about this movie with a friend of mine who is born & raised in buffalo, and he said when I mentioned Norwood's name--"That name should never be spoken!!" Norwood missed the kick, and Buffalo loses. I guess MY FRIEND lost money on the game too, hehehehehe?

Finally, if I am allowed to be a little "sexist", Christina Ricci is hauntingly, spellbindingly beautiful--- che bedda ragazza!! Does Vinnie "get the girl", buy it & find out!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: My favorite indie film to "span time" to.
Review: Last year in January, my wife and I moved into the apartment we currently live in. It sucked moving because it was snowing outside and there was rock salt all over the concrete outside. Not to mention we froze our "you know whats off." Needless to say, we got moved in and decided to go rent a movie because we didn't feel like doing much else after all the work we had accomplished.

We rented "Buffalo '66" and another movie, of which I can't remember. It must not have been that good. Anyway, "Buffalo '66" sure was and I definately remember it. Since then, I have purchased it on DVD and have watched it on numerous occasions. It has to be my favorite of all "indie" films.

The movie starts off with Vincent's character being released from jail and embarking on a painful journey to find a restroom. At this moment, you know you're watching an entertaining movie. Billy Brown(Gallo) meets up with the very sexy Layla(Ricci) and that's where the movie really begins. I won't go into detail as I would love for you to experience it without an idea of what will happen.

The one thing that stands out as being the strongest trait of this movie is the sense that you feel like you are in the movie. No kidding. I always feel like I'm in Buffalo when I watch this movie. Sometimes I feel like it's my life.

There is also plenty of comedy in this movie. It's not straight forward humor, but you will find yourself laughing quite a few times in this movie. Goon kills me.

Get this movie and watch it. Span a little time with it. You'll be glad you did. It's really a great film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A rich, rich Ricci-fest!
Review: Fans of the most exciting actress of any age are in for a treat in this oddball venture from first-time director and "leading man," Vincent Gallo. Gallo's tragicomic vision of a recently-released offender who kidnaps a young woman from a tap dance studio where he has stopped to use the rest room is frightening, but somehow funny, as well. Billy has told his folks that he works for the government, and is married; so he needs Layla to portray his wife on a visit home. Ben Gazzara and Anjelica Huston give excellent performances as the Gallo character's parents. And any movie is enhanced by a cameo by Rosanna Arquette!

But this is a Christina Ricci film; and it's one of her best. It is obvious that she got into physical condidtion for the role, and her incredible dramatic talents enabled her to convey the movement of her character from frightened victim to empathetic caregiver, in addition to making an obvious impression on a very troubled young man. As believable as a blonde in this film as she was in Sleepy Hollow, this flick is a must for any Christina Ricci fan.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: hometown flick
Review: admittedly, this movie was a lot better to me than to others because i hail from buffalo. naturally, i spent a majority of the time trying to figure out where every second was shot on location. however, i did find myself wrapped up in gallo's portrayal of billy - you can't help but feel for him despite his being somewhat of a loser. ricci is entertaining as layla/wendy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: what a movie
Review: I absolutely loved this movie. I've told a bunch of my friends to see it, but I doubt they ever will. It is my favorite movie(tied with bamboozled). I wanted to see this movie because I realized the plot of very similar to "a life less ordinary"(which is a movie I really love, even though it isn't one of my favorites). Despite that I have always loved the familiar cliche of two people falling in love after the girl has been kidnapped by the guy. I just always found the chemistry interesting to watch. I knew nothing of vincent gallo but always found christina ricci to be in a very small group of good 20 something actors(i.e. elijah wood, brad renfro, thora birch). When I put it on, I first saw the trailer, which I found absolutely amazing. I wanted to know right away how he displayed so many emotions without a single word. I had no problem with the beginnig of the movie(I am not indifferent to prison movies, as many of the other reviewers this movie). I know this is gonna sound stupid but at the very beginning of the movie when he sits down on the bench you can kinda see his butt crack. Instead of being grossed out by this, I thought it was pretty cool. I mean, as I see it, any other director/actor seeing that their buttcrack was showing would've taken it out because they would've thought that it made them look bad, but he kept it in for some reason. I know that sounds stupid, but it's just what I thought. I really loved the rest of the movie so much I can't describe it here in words. I thought that the performances of the characters were excellent, but so many people have talked about them I dont feel I need to mention them again. I really liked how beautifully love was portrayed in this movie, without any sex. That one kiss and billy and layla laying silently on the bed says so much more than the sex scene in "Titanic". A lot of people have complained about how unrealistic it is that Layla fell in love with him despite the fact that he was so mean to her. I completely agree; it is unrealistic. But the way I see it, maybe the point of that was to show the contrast of how much Layla and love itself changed Billy after he let it into his life. I really hated the club scene. While it was brilliantly filmed, I just didn't want to have to think that something bad might happen to billy I didnt want him to leave the hotel room(I was in love with him by then). And, of course, I love the end, I dont see how anyone could not. I watched that part more than any other part of the movie and everytime I watched it it put me in the best mood. I know this movie is extrememly artsy, maybe considered by some people to be a little whimpy cuz there aren't big action sequences and the overall message is about how great love is. Any kid in highschool who writes a story like this istead of a big action stroy is bound to be made of of by his peers, but that's okay. It seems like a lot of people appreciated this film, adn I know I sure did. It's not for everyone but I think if you let it, it will change your life forever. P.S. Sorry for the length of the review and lack of paragraphs.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Artistic Genius!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I just finished watching this movie and was amazed. I had scene previews for it many times and only recently realized how well done just the preview is. If they had awards for previews then this movie should definitly win.

I would like to say that my hat is off to Vincent Gallo. I have a new found respect for the man that knows no bounds. This movie was incredible. The characterization was amazing and the story was Awsome. Ben Gazzara and Angelica Huston are Superb, Micky Rourke does about 5 mins of what he does best, he was a great choice. Gallo himself is very very Good he plays his part the only way he can which is perfectly. But the real start here is Christina Ricci...Absoloutly Awsome. The Main Reason my hat is off to Gallo is because of the way he captures Christina Ricci in this film... It was just incredible, I fell in love with the flm instantly. Every way in which Ricci reacts to Gallo and the other characters such as his parents is amazing. Plus she has such a beauty about her that one can only see if you look really close. Then you will discover the Genius in this film.

YOU MUST SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!!!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Different!
Review: I bought »Buffalo '66« after I read an article on Vincent Gallo in the British magazine »Q« - and therethrough I found out that he is a passionated fan of Yes, and he uses a couple of Yessongs in this film.

But the film itself is an interesting encounter as well! It has something 1970'ish over it - the colours, the atmosphere, the nearly tv'ish effects etc. Vincent Gallo's acting is very realistic, the characters are sadly genuine, and Christina Ricci shows her best!

Basicly it is the story about a man's struggle to rewind his fate... and this does not really turn out like he expects it to...

An interesting film - which, despite its kind of silent atmosphere, sticks to your attention.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Satire, exaggeration and wonderful characterizations
Review: This is one of those strange independent films that I enjoy and realize is not for everyone. Vincent Gallo, the star, also wrote, directed, and did the music for this interesting film which tells the story with humor and pathos of a troubled young man who gets involved in a strange romance with Christina Ricci. There are also some small important parts played by Anjelica Houston, Ben Gazzara, Mickey Rourke and Roseanna Arquette. Camera work is interesting too -- freeze frames, fade-ins and outs, and other techniques that added to the weirdly melodramatic atmosphere. Everything is played for satire and exaggeration.

The core of the success of this film, though, is the deep characterization of the two lead characters. Loneliness and alienation are not only Gallo's and Ricci's, but belong to everyone, and a chord of truth rings true in a universality that is easily identifiable. Film buffs will find it fresh and interesting. Others might just find it weird.


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