Buffalo Soldiers

2001
R
1h 38m

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

26K

YOUR RATING

Joaquin Phoenix in Buffalo Soldiers (2001)

Play trailer1:56

2 Videos

71 Photos

Dark Comedy Satire Comedy Crime Drama Thriller War

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

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

26K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 6 nominations

Trivia
Premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on September 9, 2001. The events that happened on 9-11 effectively killed the film's chances of distribution within the United States.

Goofs
When Elwood looks at Sergeant Lee's personnel file on the computer, it says his date of birth is 10/08/1954. The film is set in October 1989 which would make him 35 years old. Scott Glenn was 60 when this film was made.

Quotes
Ray Elwood: Say, do you ever have falling dreams?
Robyn Lee: Sure, I think so.
Ray Elwood: I have the same dream all the time where its really high and I'm kind of floating and then I fall. Is that the same as yours?
Robyn Lee: Kind of.
Ray Elwood: Well, why? What happens in yours?
Robyn Lee: I wake up before I hit the ground.
Ray Elwood: I always hit. I don't wake up.
Robyn Lee: That's not normal.

Crazy credits
The end credits include the citation: 'The red cross emblem is an international symbol of neutral protection during armed conflicts, and its use is restricted by law. The purposes for which the red cross emblem is used by the characters in this film are clearly improper. The filmmakers wish to stress their support for proper use of the emblem, which has saved millions of lives throughout the world'.

Connections
Featured in Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Joaquin Phoenix/Scott Thompson/Cheap Trick (2003)

Soundtracks
Fight the Power
Written by Chuck D (as Carlton Ridenhour), Eric Sadler & Keith Shocklee
Published by Universal Music Publishing Limited and Reach Global Inc./Hammer Musik c/o Bucks Music Limited
Performed by Public Enemy
Courtesy of Def Jam/Mercury Records Limited (London)
Licensed by kind permission from the Film & TV Licensing Division
Part of Universal Music Group

User reviews122

Review

Featured review

A Hip, Subversive Film

This is my favourite film of 2003. Why they waited two years before releasing this superb movie in the UK is anyone's guess - although it may have had something to do with its total lack of respect for the U.S. Army. I'm not sure this would have went down too well in the aftermath of 9/11. Regardless, Buffalo Soldiers is an absolute gem. It is nasty, intelligent and hilarious. It is critical of American values, specifically capitalism in the 80s and it takes no prisoners. This is an outsider's perspective on the American occupation of West Germany in 1989: Jordan is Australian and as a result he brings an Australian aesthetic to his work. But it is also a tender film that is structured around a touching central romance between Elwood and Robyn. I love their scenes in the pool, it is such a warm, intimate location - a perfect setting for the heart of an otherwise deeply cynical film. Jordan is a director of considerable talent and Buffalo Soldiers is magnificent.