Buffalo Soldiers

Buffalo Soldiers is one of those movies that swings both ways. It can be either a dark comedy or an amusing tragedy depending on how you look at it. Set during on a U.S. military base in West Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall, Joaquin Phoenix stars as ÒRadarÓ-like company clerk Ray Elwood (that is, if Radar cooked heroin and screwed his superiorÕs daughter in his spare time) whose corrupt and jaded attitude is pervasive throughout his fellow soliders. With peace comes boredom, and the ex-cons and high school drop-outs in uniform are looking out for themselves - arranging big money arms deals with a side of smack. Director Gregor JordanÕs film turns up the heat as Elwood gets cornered by a new gung-ho sergeant (Scott Glenn) out to clean house. Meanwhile, his buddies are getting picked off one by one in a black market deal gone bad. Can the love of a good woman and a dash of reality turn one man around? A harsh satire of military politics and our species as a whole, the best thing about ÒBuffalo SolidersÓ is it makes no compromises. ItÕs bitterly nihilistic, joyously apocalyptic, and remorselessly suicidal. Yet, thereÕs a playful sense of fun underneath it all Ð like ÒM.A.S.H.Ó the movie, not the TV show. And Jordan orchestrates his characterÕs downfall with squirm-inducing expertise. Figuring out the filmÕs motives is part of the appeal. Is it an accurate snapshot of military life or a exaggerated warning shot? More likely it a little of both, and not enough of either. But it makes for an interesting movie, nonetheless. THE FEATURES: Look for a behind the scenes featurette, the Sundance ChannelÕs ÒAnatomy of a SceneÓ episode, and running commentary from the director. FINAL SCORE: Buffalo Soldiers is a gloriously un-PC policital commentary on the state of the nation circa 1989. This is a good one that slipped through the cracks. Search this one out.