Buffalo '66 (1998)

Billy is released after five years in prison. In the next moment, he kidnaps teenage student Layla and visits his parents with her, pretending she is his girlfriend and they will soon marry... See full summary »

Director:

Vincent Gallo

Writers:

Vincent Gallo (story), Vincent Gallo (screenplay),

Stars:

Vincent Gallo, Christina Ricci, Ben Gazzara

5 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vincent Gallo	...	Billy Brown
Christina Ricci	...	Layla
Ben Gazzara	...	Jimmy Brown
Mickey Rourke	...	The Bookie
Rosanna Arquette	...	Wendy Balsam
Jan-Michael Vincent	...	Sonny
Anjelica Huston	...	Jan Brown
Kevin Pollak	...	TV Sportscaster
Alex Karras	...	TV Sportscaster
John Sansone	...	Little Billy
Manny Fried	...	The Donut Clerk
John Rummel	...	Don Shanks
Bob Wahl	...	Scott Woods
Penny Wolfgang	...	The Judge
Anthony Mydcarz	...	The Motel Clerk

Storyline

Billy is released after five years in prison. In the next moment, he kidnaps teenage student Layla and visits his parents with her, pretending she is his girlfriend and they will soon marry (and forcing her to say the same).

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Plot Keywords:

prison | jail | dog | kidnapping | bookie | 

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Taglines:

Billy Brown just got out of jail. Now he's going to serve some real time. He's going home.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, strong violent images and scenes involving nudity

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 June 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Buffalo '66, avagy a megbokrosodott teendők

Filming Locations:

Buffalo, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£52,968 (UK) (2 October 1998)

Gross:

$2,365,931 (USA) (23 October 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinépix Film Properties (CFP), Lions Gate Films, Muse Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gallo decided to shoot on reversal stock (the equivalent of color transparency film - expensive both to buy and process), without even knowing if it was going to be developed.

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Goofs

When Billy and Layla leave the photo booth, they do so to (the viewer's) left side, though that side of the booth is positioned against a wall.

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Quotes

[Trying to start Layla's car]
Billy Brown: Is this a shifter car? I cannot drive a shifter car, alright, so we got a little situation here. I can't drive these kinda cars! What the fuck is goin' on! You think that's funny? Would you like to know, smartass? Would you like to know why I can't drive this kinda car? I'll tell you why, I'm used to *luxury* cars. Have you ever heard of a luxury car? You know what luxury means? Ever heard of Cadillac, Cadillac Eldorado? That's what I drive. I drive cars that *shift...

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Connections

Referenced in Luckytown (2000)

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Soundtracks

"A Cold & Grey Summer Day"
Written & Performed by Vincent Gallo

User Reviews

Outstanding script, great characters; fine film all around

I am a non-fan of ex-con movies; I find Dustin Hoffman's critically acclaimed STRAIGHT TIME especially odious, for instance. Accordingly, I was about to stop watching BUFFALO '66 during the first scene. Thankfully, I kept the tape rolling to be ultimately rewarded by one of the best indie films I have ever seen. Vincent Gallo has put together an excellent character study set against the grimy, subfusc background of his home town.

Christina Ricci deserves the near-unanimous praise she has received for her eminently appealing, understated portrayal of a cooperative kidnaping victim. The spectrum of expressions that chase across her lovely heart-shaped face in the photo booth is especially memorable. This is not to take anything away from Gallo's acting though. His rhythmic, repetitious remonstrations are quite addictive, and I have since found it difficult to keep from imitating his verbal style while dealing with people at work. Ben Gazzara and Angelica Huston are also outstanding as parents in a family so dysfunctional it makes the subjects of AMERICAN BEAUTY look like something out of the Donna Reid Show. A nearly unrecognizable Mickey Rourke shows up in a great cameo as a bookie.

Fans of local color will also like BUFFALO '66. Gallo has a similar eye for his old stomping grounds that the Coen brothers did for theirs in FARGO, but Gallo's execution is more subtle and at least as rewarding.

Bottom line: just stick with it through the opening scene, and you'll find gold here.