Clearly made on a budget, there is no fancy CGI, no big car chases and no big fight scenes. It's a piece that relies very much on performance to keep it together and on that front I can't fault it. Both Vincent Gallo and Christina Ricci did a fine job, as did Ben Gazzara and Anjelica Houston. I guess it's one of those films that's more about the inner workings of the mind; you find yourself asking what is the motivation behind Billy's actions and what exactly does Layla see in him? I have to admit at first I really didn't like the character of Billy, but he grew on me as I came to understand him more. It's a film that took some time to get going but I found it a worthy watch eventually.

SteelMonster's verdict: RECOMMENDED

My score: 6.6/10

You can find an expanded version of this review on my blog: Thoughts of a SteelMonster.

Watching Buffalo 66 because as per the title the film was shot a good deal in the city that is home to me now. I did recognize a few places, but the rather weird story kind of put me off.

Vincent Gallo plays a young man newly released from prison who has hidden his incarceration from his parents is now coming home to his less than loving parents Ben Gazzara and Angelica Huston. He's said he's married so he has to produce a wife. What to do but kidnap a wife and in this case Christina Ricci.

Usually that kind of premise signals a comedy, but Buffalo 66 is anything but. Sadly the best part of the film is with the parents which covers about half. The rest is half.

Gallo and Ricci are quirky but in this case it wasn't enough to grab me and hold my attention. I'm in agreement with other reviewers who say Gallo feels no self worth due to the environment he was raised in. The future isn't optimistic for either of them.

Acting honors go to Gazzara and Huston. Wish the whole film had been about these two self centered jerks.

Billy Brown (Vincent Gallo) is bitter and angry after five years in prison. He gets released, looking for a place to pee and kidnaps tap dancing student Layla (Christina Ricci). He had lied to his parents (Ben Gazzara, Anjelica Huston) that he's been married while away with a government job. She has to be his pretend wife Wendy Balsam. He is severely damaged and she's oddly interested in him. Billy had put $10k on Buffalo to win but the kicker Scott Wood misses the game winning field goal. Billy vows to kill him. His friend Goon (Kevin Corrigan) claims that Scott now owns a strip club. Billy and Layla bump into the real Wendy Balsam (Rosanna Arquette) who Billy had a crush on.

Billy is a really annoying jerk. A few times, I almost laugh but mostly, he is really really annoying. I like the imaginative visual style in this indie but I really can't stand Billy. It's a good performance from Gallo. His character shows more vulnerability later on but his defensiveness is also very pathetic. The words too-good-for-him keep coming to mind. It's not good chemistry as much as morbid fascination with their relationship.