Buffalo Soldiers Buffalo Soldiers

Steal all that you can steal

Set just before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Sgt. Ray Elwood is an American soldier stationed at a German army camp. A soldier because a judge gave him a choice between the army and jail, Ray spends much of his free time cooking cocaine for the MPs. When a soldier dies and a toxicology screen shows an alarming level of illegal narcotics, someone is sent in to investigate.

Joaquin Phoenix Ed Harris Scott Glenn Anna Paquin Elizabeth McGovern Michael Peña Haluk Bilginer

Good Machine Grosvenor Park Films LLP Film4

action foreign comedy drama

98 mins   More details at IMDb / TMDb

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  • Benjamin Plymin

    Review by Benjamin Plymin ★★★

    A hilarious depiction of a war between soldiers without the actual 'war' part.

  • Ben Trout

    Review by Ben Trout ★★½

    Phoenix plays Elwood, who is meant to fit the mold of total badass, but never seems to spend enough time reveling in his prankster deeds - especially when they veer on terroristic during the rivalry with Glenn. It seems almost redundant, then, to make him into a rebel without a cause, and constantly observe the character cooking (sometimes with heroin) and scheming, but never, essentially, owning his destiny by the end of the day. Luckily, Buffalo Soldiers is mostly a comedy - with dark elements occasionally overstaying their already thin welcome - that wrangles an hilarious performance out of Elwood and his boss (Ed Harris, a sad sack colonel hell bent on promotion and subsequent vineyard purchase). Dimestore Dr. Strangelove…

  • anne_f_

    Review by anne_f_ ★★★★

    "A dark comedy set in West Germany in 1989. The American soldiers there have found that "war is hell, but peace is fucking boring". Joaquin Phoenix was excellent as the main protagonist, who finds plenty of ways to pass his time."

  • Silent J

    Review by Silent J ★★★

    "They know that war is hell, but peace... peace is fucking boring. "

    The performances are really good coming from a very talented and impressive cast and the soundtrack is excellent, but I didn't think it was funny and that was it's biggest problem. As a comedy, first and foremost it should be funny just as a horror needs to be scary. I get that it was going for a modern M.A.S.H vibe, but it just wasn't funny. Also, the story was a bit disjointed and tried to squeeze in a bit too much in 90 minutes. It's an interesting satire with a great cast and a great soundtrack, but as a comedy, it pretty much falls flat.

  • nicksav

    Review by nicksav ★★★

    Interesting satire.

  • Steve Sandberg

    Review by Steve Sandberg ★★★½

    Very funny, very dark look at military service and corruption. Fun supporting role for Ed Harris among a very talented cast. The plot meanders a bit but everything wraps up in a satisfying fashion. Don't show it anyone easily offended or who holds the U.S. military in very high regard, it won't go over well.

  • Jafalad

    Review by Jafalad ★★

    Mash meets Full Metal Jacket.