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

The Siegelsbach nuclear missile facility is actually a closed U.S. military depot that used to store nuclear weapons (as well as other munitions) although it wasn't actually a launch facility (in the film it's referred to as a nuclear facility or a nuclear base).

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Goofs

Sergeant Lee wears a Combat Infantryman Badge with two stars (third award) on his uniform. In order to qualify for this he would have to have fought in WWII and the Korean War as well as the Vietnam War. US Army enlisted personnel usually must retire after 30 years of service. This film is set in 1989 which is 36 years after the Korean war and 44 years after WWII.

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Quotes

Ray Elwood: I'm a natural enemy of guys like your dad, mostly because I don't give a shit about the army.
Robyn Lee: If you don't give a shit, why'd you join?
Ray Elwood: I didn't exactly have much of a say in the matter. I got caught stealing a car and the judge gave me a choice - either 6 months in prison or 3 years in the army. So I made the mistake of choosing the army.

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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 Anatomy of a Scene: Buffalo Soldiers (2003)

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Soundtracks

Say No Go
Written by Posdnuos (as Mercer), Trugoy The Dove (as Jolicoeur), Vincent Mason (as Mason), Daryl Hall (as Hall), John Oates (as Oates) & Sara Allen (as Allen)
Published by Bridgeport Music Inc., Tee Girl Music/IQ Music, Warner/Chappell Music Limited on behalf of Hot Cha Music & Unichappell Music Inc.,
and Rondor Music (London) Limited on behalf of Irving Music Inc.
Performed by De La Soul
(p) 1989 Tommy Boy Music Limited
Licensed courtesy of Tommy Boy Music (UK) Limited
Taken from the De La Soul album "3 Feet High and Rising"

User Reviews

Good story with good performances

It's difficult to sum Buffalo Soldiers up. On one hand you have the comedy aspect, particularly from Ed Harris, on another you have the romance, from Anna Paquin, and then you have the violence...from just about everybody. The story is set in Germany, 1989, just before the fall of the Berlin Wall, and is based on a unit of the US army called the Buffalo infantry (Or something) who aren't exactly above board and legal with what they get up to. Truth is this movie really isn't to do with army combat, it's to do with the corruption of the vast majority of the soldiers who'll do anything to make a buck, such as drugs and weapons.

Dark comedy in many places, it seems many have taken great offence to Hollywood's portrayal of their 'heroes' - for goodness' sake don't take it so seriously. I'm jewish and don't care when I see my religion mocked on screen. So why should anyone be offended by this?

It's funny in places, dramatic in places, dark in places and risque. But what it is is a good movie which *will* entertain.

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