Review of Where the Buffalo Roam (1980) by David S — 05 Sep 2007
This film is based upon a series of Hunter S. Thompson stories about a crazy Chicano lawyer named Carl Lazlo (all of which can be found within his collection entitled "The Great Shark Hunt").
I read this compilation and I will let you know that this film is very *loosely* based upon Hunter's writings. Though Hunter's articles lacked focus to begin with, the film lacks even more as it tries to trace Hunter's life, Lazlo's fate, and the society in which they rebel.
.. the focus is simply too broad and is thus underdeveloped. Regardless of the inaccuracy, the performances are the film's greatest strength with Bill Murray giving a delightful interpretation of the author (though, to be honest, it doesn't quite match the lunatic tour-de-force of Johnny Depp's rendition).
Peter Boyle is good, as always, as the Chicano lawyer, and look fast for a young Craig T. Nelson as a police officer. Despite these performances, the humor is hit or miss, and the direction is rather bland and flat (which places the film in stark contrast with Terry Gillman's hallucinatory atmosphere of "Fear and Loathing.
.."). An interesting film, a nice companion piece to the Gilliam classic, fans of the author or the cast will do fine with a rental.
This review of Where the Buffalo Roam (1980) was written by David S on 05 Sep 2007.
Where the Buffalo Roam has generally received positive reviews.
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