Matrixston Wow! Such a good movie.

Marketic It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

UnowPriceless hyped garbage

Griff Lees Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Woodyanders 1989. Impudent and incorrigible American soldier Ray Elwood (an excellent and engaging performance by Joaquin Phoenix) is involved in West Germany's black market while serving on an army base during the last days of the Cold War. Complications ensue for Ray when he begins dating rebellious teenager Robyn Lee (a winningly brash portrayal by Anna Paquin), who's the daughter of tough no-nonsense new top Sergeant Lee (Scott Glenn in splendidly steely form). Director Gregor Jordan, who also co-wrote the bold and subversive script with Eric Axel Weiss and Nora MacCoby, maintains a gutsy'n'edgy tone and delivers a wickedly funny sense of gloriously irreverent humor as he bravely takes barbed satirical potshots at the desperate measures folks will resort to in order to alleviate boredom, the disintegration of military morale and discipline during times of tedious peace, the winding down of the Cold War, and the quintessentially American spirit of capitalism and opportunism run amorally amok. Moreover, this movie makes a strong and provocative central point that man's greatest enemy is himself during peacetime eras. Phoenix's Elwood makes for a charming anti-hero; the battle of wits he has with the formidable Lee leads to a tense and exciting climax. The super acting by the first-rate cast keeps the film humming: Ed Harris as the naive and inept Colonel Berman, Gabriel Mann as the eager Pfc. Brian Knoll, Leon Robinson as the laid-back Stoney, Dean Stockwell as the hard-nosed General Lancaster, Elizabeth McGovern as the unhappy Mrs. Berman, and Michael Pena as the antsy Garcia. Kudos are also in order for Oliver Stapleton's polished cinematography and the cool rocking score by David Holmes. A real spiky delight.

howardeisman The buffalo soldiers of history were primarily African -Americans who distinguished themselves and the American military. It is particularly inappropriate as the African-Americans in this movie, except for a walk-on or two, are presented as similar to those in The Birth of a Nation.Phoenix does both drama and comedy. Those actors who did this best, Cary Grant and George Clooney, for example, can flash a grin and have an attitude that says "have fun with me" to the audience. Phoenix, instead, shows an inane grin and floats clumsily through the movie, as if on some drug. There is an element of joy in his demeanor as he amazes himself (and us) by remembering a line.Surprisingly, this is a comedy genre: the service comedy: a picaresque hero stealing and conning his way to a comfortable berth. The hero is harried by a tough but dumb sergeant. Same here but things get particularly bloody with some sex thrown in by an unfaithful wife and ungrateful daughter There isn't a likable character in the whole film, while the plot has been done so often that there is no tension at all in it.It isn't funny at all.

Lil' Jul The story about soldiers in a midst of a peacetime really proves to be an excellent example of a darkly humorous crime story.The story is set in 1989 on the American Army base. It is a period of stagnation in army; there is no one to fight with, and soldiers try to spend their free time by all ways and means they prefer.The main character is an ingenious clerk Ray Elwood (Joaquin Phoenix; gorgeous, simply gorgeous) who tries to get profit from everything that is available in the base. His problems start when the new top sergeant Robert Lee (played extremely well by Scott Glenn) who appears to be a Vietnam veteran, prevents poor Ray from making an important deal and tries to make his life hell and even worse when he finds out about close relationship between Ray and sergeant's daughter.The screenplay is based on the novel written by Robert Connor. Undeniably, the modish anti-military skit, pure black army humor, breathtaking story about cynical (mis)adventures of dashing Yankees in the Western Germany, when the soldiers have their heads in the clouds of homemade heroine - all that makes the movie incredibly good. Equally good are professionally filmed close-ups and long shots.Another remarkable feature of the movie is the soundtrack. De la Soul performance suits incredibly well.In spite of the success of the movie in Europe, in the US the first showing was in the wrong time - in 8th of September, 2001. After the 11th of September it was furtively shown only in 24 cinemas, and was a box-office disaster.The most remarkable character in the movie is beyond doubts Ray Elwood. He is a very contradictory character; he is at the same time cynic and in despair, fable and strong, enjoying life and losing his face, tormented by discrepancies. The lead is portrayed awesomely by Joaquin Phoenix. Ed Harris, as usually, shows very enjoyable high-class performance. Also I like the performance by Gabriel Mann; it is a minor role, though quite noticeable. I do not like Anna Paquin in this role; she unnaturally has tried to be intense and alluring.On the whole, the movie, being at the same time funny, serious and sad, is perfect, and it is worth watching at least because of the outstanding performance of Joaquin Phoenix in one of his best roles.

Ryu_Darkwood American directors tend to glorify their war movies by adding a lot of heroism and false American nationalism. Buffalo Soldiers is a nice change on these kind of movies. It tells the story of a group of American soldiers so thoroughly bored that they kill time by smuggling drugs, drinking booze and fighting each other. It kinda reminds me of my father's stories of his short yet turbulent time in the army. He keeps on telling about all the wrong things they did to have a bit of fun in their forced presence in these days. The movie doesn't really have a grand message to deliver to its audience, but it is most definitely good for a few laughs. And Joaquin Phoenix shows a bit of the strong charisma he has in store for us in later movies ( Walk the line- the Johnny Cash biography- as his strongest one )