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Amazon.co.uk Review
A prime example of 1990s independent film-making, Buffalo 66 is a little-known gem of a film which, once found, will be cherished. Vincent Gallo--the New York Bohemian extraordinaire--co-wrote the semi-autobiographical script. He also directed and starred in this dark comedy and, as if that wasn't enough, contributed to the mind-blowing soundtrack. By employing alternative filming techniques for what is, in essence, a traditional boy-meets-girl story, Gallo has created an indie movie with genuine mainstream appeal. A handheld camera and the flashback sequences use beautiful grainy cine film and 70s Polaroids, while as a whole the tone of the piece shifts between lavish theatrical images and reality TV. However, out of the many mesmerising scenes within the film, it is the isolated performances that offer the most heartfelt beauty, notably Cristina Ricci's solo light tap dance and Gazzara's mime to a song actually performed by Gallo's father in the distant past. An all-star cast also includes Angelica Huston, Ben Gazzara and Mickey Rourke. Buffalo 66 is an overlooked modern classic just waiting to be discovered. --Nikki Disney
DVD Description
After serving a five year sentence for a crime he didn’t commit, a bitter, violence-prone Billy Brown (Vincent Gallo, who also directs) is released from prison. Billy is hell-bent on convincing his dysfunctional parents that he is leading a respectable life and has spent the last five years doing top-secret CIA work. To back up his story he impulsively kidnaps Layla (Christina Ricci) and forces her to pose as his girlfriend. Layla's understanding of the comical grimness of Billy's life leads him to explore new levels of redemption, acceptance and ultimately…love.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In Buffalo '66 twisted,but strangely alluring parolee Billy Brown has, in the hands of Vincent Gallo -- writer, director and star of this bleak, outstandingly creative film -- a seething, angered depth, molded by a lifetime of parental abuse, poor judgment and very bad luck and his wounded, embittered performance is captivating, and so is his filmmaking.
Greasy, resentful and just released from a five-year turn in the pokey -- he'd made a false confession to get out of a $10,000 debt to a bookie -- he has returned to his home town of Buffalo, New York, because he is desperately grasping for anything familiar to give his life some semblance of control.
He visits his vile, hateful parents (Anjelica Huston and Ben Gazzara)but only after wandering into a dance studio and impulsively kidnapping Layla (Christina Ricci), an innocently voluptuous tap student, to pose as his wife. It's a pathetic attempt to persuade them he has beaten the odds of his unfortunate upbringing, but it backfires.
"Buffalo '66" is a gloomy, slice-of-life drama about people with miserable lives, but at the same time it's a vicious satire of dysfunctional suburbanites.
Failing to find security at home, Billy drags Layla to the bowling alley of his childhood championships -- only to succumb to gutter ball syndrome. Later he demands she pose with him for photo booth snapshots to mail home the next few Christmases and feign that they're a happy couple "spanning time."
Adorably Rubenesque and dyed platinum blonde, Ricci gives a gradually and subtly revealing performance as Layla that helps cement the creative vivacity of the film.
Employing picture-in-picture flashbacks, subjective cameras, and an optically shocking, pioneering technique of pivoting around within a freeze-frame, "Buffalo '66" has an edgy, experimental air to it without feeling gimmicky. But as distinct as Gallo's style is -- the whole picture has a slightly grainy, over-developed look to it -- his visual stunts are used mostly to pry inside Billy's head, aiding the film's emotionally profundity instead of distracting from it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This film is just bursting with absolute joy, very intense at times hilarious at others, vincent gallo's acting and directing are genius, you start by hating the character and as the film progress's you begin to really empathise with the situations he has been put through...christina ricci is also brilliant i especially enjoyed the tap dancing scene and the excellent ending...definatly recommended to someone who likes there movies offbeat but full of charm.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Buffalo `66 is as fine an example of independent film-making as you're likely to find. Vincent Gallo's quirky, semi-autobiographical film, in which he stars as Billy Brown - a slightly unhinged, emotionally undernourished convict who kidnaps the surprisingly willing Layla (Christina Ricci) to pose as his wife - is easily the controversial New Yorker's best work to date and features stellar performances from the likes of Angelica Huston (almost unrecognisable as Brown's uncaring, football-obsessed mother Janet) and Jan-Michael Vincent - Brown's long-suffering best friend, Goon. Gallo is equally impressive in the role of Billy Brown; he's unpleasant, and prone to violence, but not entirely dislikeable. In fact, at times, he's almost child-like, and we sympathise with Brown, largely because of what we come to know of his background. The scene in which Billy visits his parents' house, for example, is one of classic suburban dysfunction - and hilarious at that.
There's a sense at times that Gallo is playing himself, rather than actually 'acting'; at others, he appears to be hamming it up a bit for comic effect (see the scene in which he forces Layla to pose with him in a photo booth and repeats the phrase "we're spanning time" ad nauseum) but he can be forgiven on both counts as a) the film is, as mentioned, a semi-autographical work and b) he is undeniably amusing.
Where this film impresses most, however, is in the sheer inventiveness and effectiveness of some of Gallo's techniques as director and Lance Acord's cinematography. Buffalo `66 has all the hallmarks of an indie, art-house film - but, refreshingly, these features actually contribute to our understanding of Brown's character and the advancement of the film's plot.
Brilliant stuff.
Matt Pucci
There's a sense at times that Gallo is playing himself, rather than actually 'acting'; at others, he appears to be hamming it up a bit for comic effect (see the scene in which he forces Layla to pose with him in a photo booth and repeats the phrase "we're spanning time" ad nauseum) but he can be forgiven on both counts as a) the film is, as mentioned, a semi-autographical work and b) he is undeniably amusing.
Where this film impresses most, however, is in the sheer inventiveness and effectiveness of some of Gallo's techniques as director and Lance Acord's cinematography. Buffalo `66 has all the hallmarks of an indie, art-house film - but, refreshingly, these features actually contribute to our understanding of Brown's character and the advancement of the film's plot.
Brilliant stuff.
Matt Pucci
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Enjoy With A 99
An enjoyable film, looks nice, and a typical offering from Vincent Gallo, who isn't to everyone's tastes. Read more
Published 4 months ago by CLINT McGAVIN
The Ultimate Cult Film?
Oh the trials and tribulations on on-line reviews. I do like this film very much, but was struggling with some people's 5 star reviews of it, describing it as the greatest film... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Keith M
Fight in a Photo Booth
Vincent Gallo plays Billy who, fresh out of Prison, decides to go see his parents who have no clue he's been in jail as he's told then he works away with the CIA. Read more
Published on 30 Jan 2010 by Ms. L. J. Braisby
A pleasant surprise
We found this movie a pleasant, entartaining surprise. The story is simple but catchy, acting is fine, casting includes performance by Ben Gazzarra and Rosanna Arquette. Read more
Published on 7 Dec 2009 by F. Panin
Over rated
Gallo portrays a character damaged by his surroundings, his parents, his failure to get to grips with his life and yet finds himself unable to escape from any of his torment. Read more
Published on 24 Sep 2009 by blofeld
Classless, ugly and boring
If you wear ironic t-shirts with DIY cut off sleeves and tight white jeans and your favourite bands are Tapes N' Tapes and Wolf Parade, then you will probably think this is "edgy"... Read more
Published on 4 Jun 2008 by M. Smith
Deeply touching
There is a reviewer here who talked about how dislikable Billy Brown is. Sure maybe that's true at the start, then you see the effect he has on people, his devoted friends who will... Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2008 by blackbour
Disappointing
I've heard great things about this film, but I was disappointed on watching.
There are a lot of great things about it. Read more
Published on 1 Oct 2005
The Best Film I've Ever Seen
Buffalo 66 is an emotional story centred around the character of Billy Brown, a pathetic outcast who is released from prison, having served a short sentance for another man to... Read more
Published on 19 May 2005 by Andrew Wildey
amazing
What a fantastic film. Vincent Gallo is simply a genius. Directing the film, starring as the lead role, and making the music too! Read more
Published on 9 July 2004 by Sam Bennis
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