Buffalo Soldiers (2001)

Director:

Gregor Jordan

Writers:

Robert O'Connor (book)
Gregor Jordan (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

31 October 2002 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller | War

Tagline:

War is hell... but peace is f*#!%!! boring.

Plot:

A criminal subculture operates among U.S. soldiers stationed in West Germany just before the fall of the Berlin wall.

Plot Keywords:

Germany | Berlin Wall | Soldier | Heroin | Boredom

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Joaquin Phoenix	...	Ray Elwood
Ed Harris	...	Colonel Berman
Scott Glenn	...	Sergeant Lee
Anna Paquin	...	Robyn Lee
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Mrs. Berman
Michael Peña	...	Garcia
Leon	...	Stoney (as Leon Robinson)
Gabriel Mann	...	Knoll
Dean Stockwell	...	General Lancaster
Brian Delate	...	Colonel Marshall
Shiek Mahmud-Bey	...	Sergeant Saad (as Sheik Mahmud-Bey)
Amani Gethers	...	Kirschfield
Noah Lee Margetts	...	Rothfuss (as Noah)
Tom Ellis	...	Squash
Kick Gurry	...	Video

Also Known As:

Army Go Home! (Germany)
Buffalo Soldiers - Army Go Home! (Germany) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, drug content, strong language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

UK | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:MA | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Ireland:18 | Norway:15 | Philippines:R-13 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Company:

FilmFour

Trivia:

Premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on 9 September 2001. The events that happened two days later effectively killed the film's chances of distribution within the United States.

Goofs:

Factual errors: At the end of the film, we see Elwood has been awarded the Purple Heart and Defense Superior Service Medals, and learn that Sergeant Lee was awarded a posthumous Silver Star. The Silver Star and Purple Heart are awarded for combat only. The Silver Star is for gallantry in action, and the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat or being killed in action. The Defense Superior Service Medal is a Department of Defense medal and is awarded almost exclusively to officers over the rank of Major.

Quotes:

Ray Elwood: [on the high dive] Jesus Christ, this is not fun!
Robyn Lee: What's the matter? You scared?
Ray Elwood: Of course I'm not scared.
Robyn Lee: I won't push you...
Ray Elwood: Yeah, I'd appreciate that.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Signs (2002)

Soundtrack:

Slashers Revenge

A story so funny it has to be true...

Well, in reality, I suspect the story behind Buffalo Soldiers has picked up a bit of embellishment along the way from modern folklore to big screen, but that's hardly surprising. What is surprising is that such a basic story can be turned into such a funny film. It's not so much ha-ha funny as it is just ironic funny. Indeed, the story about one woman screaming protests about the so-called anti-American sentiment of the film and flinging a bottle at the screen tells me that some people still expect their comedy to be spoonfed to them.

If anything, this film reads like a celebration of the things that the citizens of Western societies take for granted. With soldiers situated far from home, and having nothing better to do than play games of indoor gridiron at times, it's a small wonder that soldiers turn to drug abuse or other such illegal activity in order to stave off boredom. Stir craziness is a problem in any army during peacetime, although one can't help but wonder if we're not being shown a rather extreme example here.

The basis of this black comedy is in the solid performances of the principal cast. Joaquin Phoenix shows once again that he has a great talent, while Ed Harris and Scott Glenn do an admirable job of playing the straight arrows. But it is another moderated little-girl-lost type of performance from the ever-wonderful Anna Paquin that at least kept this viewer engaged. This woman could make a ninety minute film in which she reads the telephone book, and I'd probably enjoy it.

The corruption shown in this film is hardly surprising, given how little soldiers seem to be paid in comparison to the stress they endure. If there is indeed any truth to the depicitions of drug abuse, then it's not surprising anymore that employers are currently employing random drug testing. Dr. Strangelove couldn't get more spot-on about how the human element of the military is generally its undoing. After one memorable sequence involving drugged tank drivers, I'll never be able to catch sight of an army vehicle without getting the urge to run away, screaming.

I gave Buffalo Soldiers an eight out of ten. Under normal circumstances, I would have given it a seven, but it has Anna Paquin in it, and any film with Anna Paquin in it can earn a bonus point. If you like your comedy without obvious prompts of when you're meant to laugh, then you can't go wrong with Buffalo Soldiers.