The motive behind most films made today seems to be profit and nothing else. However, every filmmaker once started with a different agenda - to get something off his or her chest. Among the plethora of films that grace theaters and video stores, very few give off the impression of being motivated by such a deep-seated need. One of these rare gems is Buffalo '66, a 1998 black comedy written and directed by Vincent Gallo.
The protagonist of the film is Billy Brown (portrayed by Vincent Gallo), a man who returns to his hometown of Buffalo after serving five years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Along the way, he stumbles into a dance studio and kidnaps one of the students, a girl named Layla (played by Christina Ricci). The motive for the kidnapping is quite bizarre - over the past five years, he successfully deceived his father Jimmy (played by Ben Gazzara) and mother Jan (played by Anjelica Huston) about the true nature of his long absence. Billy demands that Layla pretends to be his wife during a visit to his parents' home. Reluctantly, Layla agrees, and after the visit, the reason for Billy's incarceration - even more bizarre than the reason for the kidnapping - is revealed. In 1991, Billy, a loyal fan of the Buffalo Bills, staked a large amount of money on the team's Super Bowl victory. Following the Bills' defeat, Billy was left with a huge debt to a bookie (played by Mickey Rourke), and the only way to pay it off was to confess to someone else's crime. Billy is now determined to exact revenge on Scott Woods (played by Bob Wahl), a former Bills player responsible for his team's defeat.
In the late 1990s, Vincent Gallo, thanks to his appearances in a few notable films by independent directors, became one of the most recognizable young character actors. Just like many of his colleagues, he felt confident enough to try his hand at directing. Buffalo '66, his directorial debut, was a deeply personal affair in more ways than one - Gallo not only directed but also served as co-writer, producer, music composer, and star of the film. Thankfully, while preparing for the film, Gallo was guided by the old wisdom of "write what you know." The film takes place in Gallo's hometown of Buffalo, a decaying industrial center in the American Northeast, a bleak place burdened by both 1970s environmental disasters and the frustrating record of the local football team.
Buffalo '66 in many ways resembles novels by Stanislaw Lem. The beginning is slow, featuring a bleak surrounding and a pathetic, unattractive protagonist. Viewers patient enough to sit through the first few minutes will be rewarded when the film starts explaining why Billy turned into such a wreck of a human. His character becomes fascinating, and even the most cynical viewers would start to sympathize with his plight. The acting is, of course, excellent. Gallo played his role very well, but the show was stolen by his partner Christina Ricci. In this film, just like in The Opposite of Sex, she has put her newly discovered image of a sexy young woman to good use. Some actors who appear in supporting roles are also good, especially Jan-Michael Vincent, a former star of 1970s cinema, who appears here as a middle-aged bowling alley owner with a heart of gold.
Buffalo '66 is a surprisingly good film, but it still gives away that it was made by a beginner. Gallo can't restrain himself from trying as many filmmaking tricks as possible, and most of these stunts are self-serving, distracting, and pretentious. In some scenes, Gallo gives the impression of letting actors do what they want, regardless of the film's story. The best example is the scene during which Layla breaks into dance with no apparent reason. Because of that, the film has problems with pacing. Another issue is the poor characterization of Layla - viewers are left to speculate why her character would stick with a pathetic, psychopathic loser. However, these flaws shouldn't discourage people from watching Buffalo '66. Unlike most American films of the 1990s, this one is brutally honest, and for that reason, it should be appreciated.
RATING: 7/10 (+++)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in the Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on June 2nd, 2004)
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