Buffalo Soldiers (2001)

A criminal subculture operates among U.S. soldiers stationed in West Germany just before the fall of the Berlin wall.

Director:

Gregor Jordan

Writers:

Robert O'Connor (book), Gregor Jordan (screenplay)

Stars:

Joaquin Phoenix, Anna Paquin, Ed Harris

1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joaquin Phoenix	...	Ray Elwood
Ed Harris	...	Colonel Berman
Scott Glenn	...	Sergeant Lee
Anna Paquin	...	Robyn Lee
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Mrs. Berman
Michael Peña	...	Garcia
Leon	...	Stoney (as Leon Robinson)
Gabriel Mann	...	Knoll
Dean Stockwell	...	General Lancaster
Brian Delate	...	Colonel Marshall
Shiek Mahmud-Bey	...	Sergeant Saad (as Sheik Mahmud-Bey)
Amani Gethers	...	Kirschfield
Noah Lee Margetts	...	Rothfuss (as Noah)
Tom Ellis	...	Squash
Kick Gurry	...	Video

Storyline

1989. The Berlin Wall is about to fall, and the world is about to be made safe for the new world order. But outside of Stuttgart, West Germany, at Theodore Roosevelt Army Base, Specialist Ray Elwood of the 317th Supply Battalion is about to find his own cold war turn white hot. Elwood's a lovable rogue, a conscript who's managed to turn his military servitude into a blossoming network of black market deals, more out of boredom than ambition. Officially, there's his day job as battalion secretary to the inept but caring Commander Wallace Berman. On the side, there's everything from selling the locals stolen Mop'N'Glo to cooking heroin for the base's ruthless head of Military Police, Sgt. Saad. When a new top sergeant arrives, with the avowed intention of cleaning the base up, Elwood thinks the new blood is nothing he can't handle, especially after he lays eyes on the top's daughter, rebellious Robyn. But that was before he figured in the $5 million in stolen arms that just landed on ...

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Plot Keywords:

year 1989 | adulterous wife | extramarital affair | military truck | stuttgart germany | 

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Taglines:

Steal all that you can steal. A story so outrageous you couldn't make it up

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, drug content, strong language and some sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

At a screening of the film on January 21, 2003 at the Sundance Film Festival, a woman in the audience verbally attacked the film during a Q&A period following the presentation. The woman reportedly accused the filmmakers of being anti-American and flung a plastic water bottle. The bottle hit an elderly man in the crowd on the head. The woman claimed the bottle was intended to hit the screen. The man was not seriously injured.

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Goofs

Elwood disables the girl's car by disconnecting the battery link, but when she tries to start it you can hear the car turn over. If the battery was disconnected there would have been no response from the engine at all. Elwood doesnt have a wrench to disconnect the battery. He pulls the distributor cap wire. Then the car can turn over without starting.

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Quotes

[Sgt. Lee and couple of military policemen have been searching Elwood's barracks room, which is full of luxury items paid for by his illicit dealings]
Sgt. Lee: [all the while speaks calmly and quietly] This ain't exactly regulation stuff here, is it, soldier?
Ray Elwood: Well, I don't really know. No, I guess not.
Sgt. Lee: Look, I'm going to come round here tomorrow and I want this place looking like a regular quarters. You follow?
Ray Elwood: Look, I know it ain't exactly regulation but the last Top didn't seem to mind about all this.
Sgt. Lee: Well,...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The end credits include the citation: 'The red cross emblem is an international symbol of neutral protection during armed conflicts, and its use is restricted by law. The purposes for which the red cross emblem is used by the characters in this film are clearly improper. The filmmakers wish to stress their support for proper use of the emblem, which has saved millions of lives throughout the world'.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Joaquin Phoenix Performances (2015)

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Soundtracks

Slashers Revenge
By David Holmes
Published by Universal/Island Music Limited
Performed by David Holmes
Courtesy of Go! Beat Limited
Licensed by kind permission from the Film & TV Licensing Division
Part of Universal Music Group

User Reviews

I was there and its is very close to true!

I was in the Army stationed in Germany from 1986 through 1989 and there was a day that we called "Black Sunday" when several people on our post were discovered to have a drug ring going on. The people implicated and taken away by MPs that day included several officers. My post was known for being able to get everything from hooker to heroin ON POST! Our Sgt,. Major walked around with an ax handle tethered to his wrist because he had been jumped at night so many times! So this movie is not a joke and is very close to the truth. There was even a second lieutenant that was murdered by putting him in a wall locker and pushing it out of a third story window. There was also times when you could not walk past some buildings or windows if you were white or black depending on which window and what color you were because of racial tensions, sometimes you might be hit by a beer bottle by someone of the opposite color. This movie very closely depicts what it was like vbeing a soldier in the US Army staioned in West Germany at the end of the cold war. Hooah!

Details

Country:

UK Germany

Language:

English Turkish

Release Date:

31 October 2002 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Buffalo Soldiers

Filming Locations:

Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$30,977, 27 July 2003

Gross USA:

$354,421

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,300,684

Company Credits

Production Co:

FilmFour, Good Machine, Gorilla Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1