“You adore me, you love me, you cherish me, Jesus Christ you can't live without me.”

This review will be fairly sloppy, and somewhat personal so excuse the quality :)

It’s been sixteen hours now, since I watched Buffalo ‘66, and it’s still on my mind. I can’t stop thinking about all the wonderful moments in the film, from an incredible dinner scene, the bowling scene, or the last 40 minutes entirely. It’s a film that, unexpectedly, grabbed me immediately, and played out in flawless fashion. There are very few films that I can resonate with on a personal level. In fact, the only ones to do it so far have been The Tree of Life, Marriage Story, and now Buffalo ‘66.
   
Throughout the film, we get such a rich understanding of Billy’s character and where he comes from. He’s a man, whose whole life has been shadowed in disappointment. From blowing $10K on the game that Bills kicker Tom Wood missed a game winning field goal, to a five year stint in jail. To his parents he’s almost a nuisance. He’s someone they want to forget. We first witness this upon his arrival to his parents house, who blow him off, more excited instead to see his “girlfriend” Layla. Billy does come off as an asshole at first, but as the film goes on, Gallo develops a narrative of sympathy and desperation. 

Deep down, that’s what I feel connected with me. I guess I saw myself in Billy. I saw a boy desperate to do anything to amend for his parent’s shame in him, yet almost always falling short. A man, aimless in his purpose in life, willing to do anything to take his mind off of his shortcomings. Now I just hope I’ll get a happy ending.