Search - Buffalo '66 on DVD

Shannon Y. (kawehilani) from KING GEORGE, VA
Reviewed on 10/27/2008...

Loved this movie it was insane just like I like em sometimes

1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

An Instant Classic

T. Hooper | Osaka, Japan | 07/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of my favorite independent movies. Vincent Gallo writes, directs, and stars in this film. He plays Billy Brown, a young man recently released from prison who has a plan to get revenge on the kick of the the Buffalo Bills who lost the game on which he had bet a large sum of money. While in prison, he didn't tell his parents that he was in prison. Instead, he told them that he was married and working in another city far away. After being released from prison, he decides to visit his family. His mother insists that he bring his wife along. In desperation, Billy kidnaps Leila, a tap dance student played by Christina Ricci. Billy makes Leila play the part of his wife. The visit is a total disaster and we learn that Billy has the worst family in the world. Billy then focuses on his plan to get revenge.



This movie has a strong charcter driven plot. Even though Billy is a terribly unlikable in the beginning, you grow to pity him as secrets about his childhood are revealed. He becomes a hurt child lashing out at everyone. Leila also has strong emotional needs, which in some strange way, Billy fulfills. She becomes a sort of mother figure which tries to bring Billy back from the brink of his abyss. This has to be the most unromantic love story, but in it's own way, it shows that even just a seed of love can grow on the most infertile soil. This movie is definitely worth checking out."

Original and Poignant

James Chong | 04/25/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Vincent Gallo's directorial debut is a powerhouse of fine acting, writing, and direction, not to mention a showcase for some hilariously inventive cinematography. Buffalo 66 is one of the finest independent films that I have ever seen, and perhaps the most fascinating character study I have yet to see on film.Christina Ricci provides a quietly poignant performance as Layla, the odd but tenderhearted tap dancer who provides Gallo's Billy Brown with the only true love he has ever received. Ricci is brilliantly understated, and she relays just as much heartfelt meaning in one glance of her beautiful, dark eyes as Gallo does in his barrage of rapid-fire monologues.There are also fine supporting performances from Ben Gazzara and Anjelica Huston, as Billy's utterly dysfunctional parents, Mickey Rourke, as a sleazy bookie, Jan-Michael Vincent, as Billy's touchingly loyal crony and owner of a bowling alley, and Kevin Corrigan, as Billy's slow but well-meaning best friend.Buffalo 66 is an incredibly moving and beautiful film. It provides some of the starkest movie images of blue-collar society to come along since the '70s. The on-location Buffalo, New York sites are haunting in their bleakness, and the filtered photography emphasizes this all the more.On top of all of this, Gallo provides a mesmerizing performance as Billy Brown--a man who has spent so much of his life pining for love and tenderness that he doesn't know how to deal with it once it is staring him in the face."

Tripe and Oysters, Pearls and Swine.

christianindex | 12/30/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"An absolutely ravishing film, I fell completely in love with it. Utterly besotted, I walked around in a daze, and bored all my friends with my urgent recommendations. Highly original, beautifully crafted, acted and shot, even the choice of film stock was perfect. Ricci's performance in particular was a revelation. Love, revenge, the eating of tripe, a tap-dance in a bowling alley, a comic, tragic pearl of a film. Billy Brown upsets us like Jimmy Dean. Layla plays it cool as wounded Redemption. Contains the most tender love scene of the decade, as they lie almost touching on a motel bed.Misogynistic? Billy does have a few problems. But is he presented as a role-model? No. And for the record-Yes; men can act like swine, and yes, women can still fall for them. Bewildering but not misogynistic, just the way of the world. Pay more attention. And really, do you honestly think that anybody's suggesting that it's OK to kidnap ? It's hardly 'Pretty Woman'... Pretentious? Like a cheeseburger. Like an oyster. It is what it is; what's it supposed to be pretending to be ? Always the grunt of the vulgar.Perfect ? Of course not. It's pretentious and misogynistic.It's impossibly romantic. It's definitely not for everybody.It's vicious yet sentimental. I hope I meet my Layla.Just go and see it. Span time with it. Make your own mind up.If you don't enjoy yourself...don't worry.To Earth With Love,Christopher."