Softwing
Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??
ChicDragon
It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.
Cristal
The movie really just wants to entertain people.
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.
CapnPicard
The anti-American theme would appeal to Germans. I was there before the time of this move in the mid 80s in West Germany and I liked it. I was in the Air Force but we had Army on base and I went to Army bases too and there was no drug use in uniform or widespread black market selling of weapons or anything else! Drug use off duty by some and domestic abuse problems yes because enlisted were not paid much...kind of like living in a government housing project except in Germany! Yuk. There are fewer bases now but more or less the same thing. I know many people including myself who loved Europe. Too many ugly Americans and our dam fast food over there!
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 )
sf_millar
The US Army is depicted as drug users, that's very kind, these people are murderers. Thought it was a good movie, can you image the stuff that the yanks are getting up to now in Iraq. Gang members signed up, people mentally unfit even for the Yanks getting into their armed forces wow, when this film was originally meant to come out all this might have looked like a bit of a lark but it is really dark when you think of what they will be up to now. Good movie that made you feel some sympathy for bad people. Would be real go d to see what they are up to. Seen pictures of yank soldiers clearly displaying gang and far right tattoos numerous times on the television - feel so sorry for those foolish farm boys that might be joining out of some form of misdirected patriotism. Loved the Ed Harris character captures the type of sycophant that rises to top in organization like that - nice to see him do good in the end though.
