Buffalo Soldiers (2001)

Director:

Gregor Jordan

Writers:

Robert O'Connor (book)
Gregor Jordan (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

31 October 2002 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller | War

Tagline:

War is hell... but peace is f*#!%!! boring.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Daughter | Neo Noir | Black Comedy | Army | Berlin Wall

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Joaquin Phoenix	...	Ray Elwood
Ed Harris	...	Colonel Berman
Scott Glenn	...	Sergeant Lee
Anna Paquin	...	Robyn Lee
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Mrs. Berman
Michael Peña	...	Garcia
Leon	...	Stoney (as Leon Robinson)
Gabriel Mann	...	Knoll
Dean Stockwell	...	General Lancaster
Brian Delate	...	Colonel Marshall
Shiek Mahmud-Bey	...	Sergeant Saad (as Sheik Mahmud-Bey)
Amani Gethers	...	Kirschfield
Noah Lee Margetts	...	Rothfuss (as Noah)
Tom Ellis	...	Squash
Kick Gurry	...	Video

Also Known As:

Army Go Home! (Germany)
Buffalo Soldiers - Army Go Home! (Germany) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, drug content, strong language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

UK | Germany

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

New Zealand:R16 | Iceland:16 | Australia:MA | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Ireland:18 | Norway:15 | Philippines:R-13 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Company:

FilmFour

Trivia:

During the scene in which a tank ploughs through a German town, a stuntwoman was given directions to move out of the way of the tank as it was coming towards her. She failed to do so, and had to be pulled out of the road at the last minute (the footage of the incident was included in the final cut). Director Gregor Jordan described the moment as terrifying, as he was convinced that she had actually been run over and killed.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Elwood is seen lying by the side of the pool having been beaten up, he is surrounded by splotches of his own blood. These vanish shortly afterwards.

Quotes:

Gen. Lancaster: My belief is if you come from dirt, you fight better because you dont want to go back to the dirt. The best fighters in the world are people with nothing to lose.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Anatomy of a Scene: Buffalo Soldiers" (????)

Soundtrack:

Say No Go

First satirical Movie ever done about a soldier's life in US Army Europe.

I waited 3 years to see this film. According to the Daily Variety's review it was almost impossible to find a US distributor. I can see why. In this day and age of over-blown patriotism, "Buffalo Soldiers" is a hard sale to the general public. However, the film is a nice bit of satire and it doesn't try to be anything else. I spent 4 years in the US Army Europe during the 70's and believe me there were some very enterprising enlisted men and some dense non-coms and officers. Of course not like the characters in the film. The scene with the tank and the drugged out crew is horrible but great to watch. I can see why the US Army did not lend it's support to this film and I understand it. Why use tax-payers money for this? I am glad it came on cable so I could finally see it.