Review of Buffalo '66 (1998) by Ryan S — 28 Jan 2008

Always be wary of people who use phrases like "self-indulgent" in a movie review. It either means they know far too much about the subject matter to be able to offer a reasonable opinion, or worse still they just think they know about the subject matter...

Looking around the net I see a lot of criticism for this movie's self-indulgence. Apparently, Gallo needs to learn that when you write, direct, score and star in a movie you have to be careful to make yourself look bad, otherwise movie critics will cry. Or something.

Back in the real world, this is a good film. The story follows Billy, who has just been released from prison. He kidnaps Layla (played by Christina Ricci), forcing her to pose as his girlfriend to impress his parents. In the all-time fastest onset of Stockholm Syndrome, Layla falls for Billy and, thankfully, it does not descend into the well-trod shenanigans and comic misunderstandings of a romantic comedy. Rather the story remains brittle and harsh, and when it ends the viewer is left with a slight fuzzy glow, without the accompanying Hollywood hangover.

Worth a look, if for no other reason than Ricci's chest making glorious cameo after glorious cameo; but if that doesn't tickle your fancy, check out the music - there's a scene with Billy's father singing to Layla that is breathtaking - more so as it's actually Gallo's father singing. That scene alone raises this movie from "worth watching" to Damn Good .D.