American Buffalo

Starring:Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Franz, Sean Nelson
Director: Michael Corrente
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

Kevin Costner's 1990 epic won a bundle of Oscars for a moving, engrossing story of a white soldier (Costner) who singlehandedly mans a post in the 1870 Dakotas, and becomes a part of the Lakota Sioux community who live nearby. The film may not be a masterpiece, but it is far more than the sum of good intentions. The characters are strong, the development of relationships is both ambitious and careful, the love story between Costner and Mary McDonnell's character is captivating. Only the third-act portrait of white intruders as morons feels overbearing, but even that leads to a terribly moving conclusion. Costner's direction is assured, the balance of action and intimacy is perfect--what more could anyone want outside of an unqualified masterpiece? --Tom Keogh

Description

A "truly spectacular" (The New York Times) film that combines action, romance and breathtaking adventure, Dances With Wolves is "a cinematic masterpiece" (American Movie Classics) that is nothing short of "a triumph" (Roger Ebert)!Sent to protect a US outpost on the desolate frontier, Lt. John Dunbar (Kevin Costner) finds himself alone in the vast wilderness. Befriending the very people he's sent to protect the outpost from, the Sioux Indians, Dunbar slowly comes to revere those he once feared. But when the encroaching US Army threatens to overrun the Sioux, he is forced to make a choiceone that will forever change his destiny and that of a proud and defiant nation.

Customer Reviews:

gives you that cozy feeling!.......2007-05-14

Delightful yarn about an American soldier who betrays his country by providing firearms and military assistance to the enemy, then assists in the massacre of several of his fellow soldiers when they attempt to bring him to justice.

Great for the whole family!

Monumental Achievement!.......2007-05-14

I truly loved this film--the acting, driecting, writing, editing, and music were all superb. The scenery, the fighting, the romance, the humor, the buffalo hunt, the developing friendship--they were magnificent. Everything about this film was believable, inspiring, and involving. I saw this movie in 1990 and liked it, but this time, in 2007, I loved it, certainly enough to want to see it many more times . Buy it and keep it.

An American Masterpiece.......2007-05-13

Occasionally the stars align, all the pieces are together and working and the end result is a work of group brilliance. DWW meets that standard. Direction, music, acting, story, art direction, everything works. The result is a masterpiece to be viewed over and over.

Excellent, but what about disc 2?.......2007-05-11

Dear viewers and reviewers,

has anybody noticed, that in the 2 disc Collector's Edition, disc two bears the same material as on the second side of disc one?

When reviewing a product should be specified as is and not by its merits alone.

Unfortunately on the copy I did receive, following special features were totally missing:

1. No Dances photo montage with introduction by Ben Glass;

2. No Poster Gallery;

3. No TV Spots;

4. No Theatrical Trailer;

5. No ...and More! as advertised so pompously on the outer jacket...

All you get, and this already on the double-sided disc One, is the original Making of... and two separate commentaries, as well as John Barry's Music Video.

That's it!

Is it a packaging error? Go figure.

But you certainly don't find the above mentioned, and advertised items.

The movie is is presented on the two sided disc in its lengthened version and in full 2.35:1 screen ratio. The sound, as correctly stated is in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Stereo and is excellent.

I don't mind so much the missing specials, since the movie alone is a tiny masterpiece in its own right, but I do object to some practices, as to print things on sleeves, that do not correspond to the actual contents of the DVD box.

The second disc is just a repeat of part two of disc one...

Sorry people, but I thought you ought to know this, before buying it.

Good Quilty Movies..........2007-05-07

I am happy to say that the movie I got was full version no uncut scenes or deleted parts If you like romance,adventure,drama this is the movie to purchase it is a great movie I would buy from amazon again anytime its fast,great prices and enjoyable easy way to get what you want..

Dances with Wolves (Full Screen Theatrical Edition)

Average customer rating:

gives you that cozy feeling!
Monumental Achievement!
An American Masterpiece
Excellent, but what about disc 2?
Good Quilty Movies...

Dances with Wolves (Full Screen Theatrical Edition)
Starring: Kirk Baltz , Tantoo Cardinal , Maury Chaykin , Tom Everett , and Wayne Grace
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001GF2H4
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Product Description

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

gives you that cozy feeling!.......2007-05-14

Monumental Achievement!.......2007-05-14

An American Masterpiece.......2007-05-13

Excellent, but what about disc 2?.......2007-05-11

Good Quilty Movies..........2007-05-07

Average customer rating:

Entertaining action film, sufficient plot and charismatic cast
A dark look at US Army life in Germany in the late 1980's
Fighting on Arrival?
Who says soldiers can't be creative, a dark comedy of a soldier pushing the limits.
Muddled black comedy elevated by excellent cast

Buffalo Soldiers
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix , Ed Harris , Scott Glenn , Anna Paquin , and Elizabeth McGovern
Director: Gregor Jordan
Manufacturer: Miramax Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000E32V0
Release Date: 2004-01-13

Amazon.com

Inviting casual comparison to Catch-22 and M*A*S*H, Buffalo Soldiers is an Army-base comedy about soldiers "with nothing to kill except time." It's 1989: The Berlin Wall is falling, completing the cold war's thaw, and Ray Elwood (Joaquin Phoenix)--a clerk with the 317th Supply Battalion, stationed in West Germany--combats boredom with a variety of black-market schemes, from cooking heroin for the base's corrupt MPs to dealing stolen arms to the highest bidder, in addition to having a shallow affair with the two-timing wife (Elizabeth McGovern) of his outgoing commander (Ed Harris). Elwood's new CO (Scott Glenn) clamps down on his illegal activities while protecting his daughter (Anna Paquin) from Elwood's advances. Fine casting and positive buzz couldn't prevent this movie's ironic fate: Acquired by Miramax one day before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Buffalo Soldiers--based on the celebrated novel by Robert O'Connor--was shelved for nearly two years, by which time this dark and defiantly amusing exercise in political incorrectness had been overshadowed by world events. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Joaquin Phoenix (SIGNS, GLADIATOR) leads an all-star cast in a wickedly funny comedy that entertains in the edgy tradition of PULP FICTION. A U.S. soldier with nothing to fight but boredom as the Cold War winds down, Ray Elwood (Phoenix) enjoys the rush of trading anything he can get his hands on in West Germany's booming black market ... while his inept commander (Ed Harris, THE HOURS) is none the wiser. Everything is perfect ... until he starts dating the new sergeant's daughter (Anna Paquin, X-MEN 1 & 2). But before he can pull off one last big score, Elwood's escalating personal war with Sergeant Lee (Scott Glenn, TRAINING DAY) will send him deeper into a deadly mess ... that may not have a way out!

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining action film, sufficient plot and charismatic cast.......2007-06-14

BUFFALO SOLDIERS (2001), is of interest to fans of Joaquin Phoenix,
Ed Harris and Scott Glenn, who comprise the star cast of this picture
taking placing in West Germany, before the Cold War ended, as the
Berlin Wall fell. It also is especially entertaining to those having
served in the military.

The story captures well the self-contained world of the military, in
terms of bases, discipline, the constant reminder of belonging to a
group, and the expectations imposed that must be met in terms of
uniformity, and standards that met by all in innumerable aspects of
conduct. The picture shows a few of these: the mess, drills, marches,
deployment exercises, etc. It also brings up the physical and
mental stress of being in a chain of command, where there is no
outsider, per se, who can come to a soldier's rescue, if there is
misconduct, abuse of authority, physical violence, even to one's life
in extreme and rare cases of bullying.

An intriguing suggestion made by the movie, is that the volunteer
nature of enrollment (vs. conscription) has resulted in a lack of
recruited manpower, leading the Army to force convicts to serve, such
that many of these bring their prior shady activities to their new
place of employment. We see drug users and drug labs built on an Army
base, narco-trafficking, as well as black market reselling of Army
commodities. The picture shows the numerous tentacles of those
operations, as perhaps 30 or more are on the take, to look the other
way, or participate actively.

The entertainment goal is met, such as from a few moments of juvenile
humor (a tank runs over a car, gas station), or the mini-romance
with Phoenix and a teenage girl, played by Anna Paquin, but mostly
from thrill and action aspects, culminating in a climax of
explosions, and a fire fight and man-to-man combat.

Some interesting lessons are learned by Phoenix, as he tries to pull
out of his deal, being told by the international arms dealer that he
can't do that, under penalty of losing his life, as up until then he
was small-time, dealing only with commodities, not rifles or grenade
launchers.

The story also underlines how some individuals in the chain of
command (in civilian life, supervisors, bosses, but here, officers,
sergeants) due to lack of oversight can create their own rules, and
get away with it, preparing an ordeal for their rivals in the
organization, such that they are themselves the judge, jury and
executioner, later leaving appearances of either a suicide event or
of an accident of their coworkers.

Overall, this work is entertaining because it intentionally doesn't
take itself too seriously, has a charismatic cast, the required
ingredients for an action film, and a sufficient plot to keep people
interested for 90 mins.

A dark look at US Army life in Germany in the late 1980's.......2007-04-19

Buffalo Soldiers is the story of US Army supply clerk Ray Elwood, played by the handsome and mysterious Joaquin Phoenix. Elwood is one of those go-to-guys who can score anything you need in exchange for the right favor. He has his hands all over the supply chain, drives a sweet German sports car, and knows who to cook up a batch of heroin in spare warehouses. He's a stoic who is well-respected by his peers. He helps his goofball desk jockey boss (played by Ed Harris) keep the base in West Germany in line.

Elwood's life is thrown into personal and romantic turmoil with the arrival of Sgt. Lee (played by Scott Glenn) and his beautiful daughter (Anna Paquin). Sgt. Lee has a personal goal of cleaning house and exposing Elwood's dabblings in the black market. Elwood, of course, decides to antagonize Lee by dating his daughter, and then he falls hard for the young lady. The movie is a dark game of cat and mouse between Lee and Elwood, with the base commander bumbling around in the background in truly comedic fashion. With a few healthy plot twists and elements of both satire and horror, Buffalo Soldiers is a movie to catch on DVD for anyone who likes dark drama/comedy in which the viewer ends up rooting for a handsome "bad guy." Fans of this movie should check out Wonderland and Lord of War.

Fighting on Arrival?.......2007-02-26

Joaquin, dear heart, what were you thinking?

This is another film that had a great cast with no synergy whatsoever. I can't imagine what the original script must have been like to get these talents to sign off on this film, or what must have happened in the process of shooting it that rendered such an awful product.

Who says soldiers can't be creative, a dark comedy of a soldier pushing the limits........2007-02-15

This was an interesting film I discovered by chance, overlooking it on the rental shelf, and hearing about it last year through a friend. Finally I rented it, and now own a copy of it. Joaquin Phoenix plays private elwood, a young man that chose the army instead of jail. Most of the movie takes place in 1989 germany, just before the berlin wall fell. Elwood has managed to make it through training and is now stationed in one of the supply divisions. He manages to become in charge of ordering for his company, and ordering he does. Though paperwork and orderforms, he manages to become a big suppler of goods (cleaners, equipment etc) to many germans as well as the rest of europe, making a few pennies as well. Eventually, he decides to put some other skills he has to use becoming a supplyer of refined heroin, attempting to make one last big profit. Along the way, love is thrown into the mix, and amazingly he falls in love with the worst available option, his commanding officer's daughter, played by ed harris. this doesn't make the boss happy. Well, the movie goes from their, and lets just say elwood's life gets complicated, just a bit. The ending is great. Must watch. you'll be suprised.

Muddled black comedy elevated by excellent cast.......2006-12-16

"Buffalo Soldiers" is essentially a version of Bill Murray's "Stripes," but only told by a guy who is really, really angry. It's still funny - even inspired, at times - but it's a humor fueled by rage. And that rage causes the story to make a couple of missteps.

Set in 1989 (note the perfect use of then-President Bush's plastic grin in several portraits) on an Army base in West Germany, "Buffalo Soldiers" informs the viewer that the majority of our fighting soldiers are simply there in order to escape a jail sentence. As a result, thieves and drug dealers rule the roost - the top MP is a villainous heroin dealer. The only virtuous soldier is the commanding officer, Colonel Berman (Ed Harris), who is a nice, incompetent buffoon more suited to running a vineyard than a regiment. (This is a wonderful supporting performance by Harris, by the way.)

Almost every Army movie has a "scrounger," the guy who can get things done in the cracks of the system and usually with a lot of charm. In "Buffalo Soldiers," that is Private Ray Elwood (Joaquin Phoenix), the company clerk. We see early on how smooth Elwood is as he simultaneously covers up a drug dealing enterprise while protecting the honor of a soldier who was killed playing tackle football indoors while stoned on about ten different substances - including the Pill. Elwood is a small-time heroin dealer who sells black market Mop & Glo and drives a Mercedes. He is one of the princes of the criminal Army.

His little realm gets invaded by "Topper," Sergeant Robert Lee (Scott Glenn, easily the most sinister Sergeant ever). Lee sizes up Elwood in an instant and brings him down about fifteen pegs - look for an inspired scene involving Lee's bullying of Elwood via "target practice." Lee is unbribable, connected to the general, but also dangerous in that Scott Glenn way.

Elwood also has his little world come apart due to a stoned tank crew on maneuvers. Intoxication leads to two dead American trucks drivers and two trucks full of unclaimed assault rifles. Elwood stumbles across the guns and instantly sees an angle. But he is forced by his connection to take raw narcotics rather than cash as compensation. Elwood, who makes his money by cooking the drugs into a distributable product, is soon playing a game that he does not control, and the bodies begin to mount up.

This is not one of those movies that gently mocks the Army while honoring it. There is nothing gentle or honorable in "Buffalo Soldiers." It is funny. It is dark. And it pulls no punches. While not a great satire in the class of "Thank You for Smoking," it is a worthy satire sure to appeal to the wicked sense of humor in all of us.

Average customer rating:

The Buffalo Soldiers Danny Glover
Historical but Corny
A Hollywierd production on Buffalo Soldiers
Rating Warning
Ignored chapter of American History...

Buffalo Soldiers
Starring: Danny Glover , Lamont Bentley , Tom Bower , Timothy Busfield , and Gabriel Casseus
Director: Charles Haid
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
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Fort Apache

ASIN: B000BNTM9G
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Description

This Turner Network Televison movie tells the true story of the black calvary corps known as the 'Buffalo Soldiers.' These troops patrolled America's wild west after the civil war. In addition to keeping the peace, they fought the racism of their commanders and other white corps soldiers.

Customer Reviews:

The Buffalo Soldiers Danny Glover.......2007-01-03

This is a superb film, giving the viewer a great story of a little known period of American history. The battle/skirmish scenes with the Apache were well done and very realistic. I did not let the automobile approaching in the distance in one of the scenes at Fort Craig put me off either.Glad I bought this DVD.

Historical but Corny.......2006-09-04

I like the movie for it's accuracy in uniforms, equipment, and weaponry. I like the scenery in the movie although it is filmed in Arizona and not New Mexico. FT Craig was in an area geographically different from Arizona. I've been there. Also, Rattlesnake Springs that was mentioned in the movie is actually in Texas.

I thought the movie should have been rated PG-13 because of the harsh racial language. I have read that there was a lot of racism by some of the officers who were not convinced that the black soldiers were capable. Many did think that their careers would be tarnished. I think the movie did offer both sides to that argument, showing that there were good officers who were willing to lead.

The end of the movie was really corny. I can't picture Victorio walking up and shaking hands with a soldier who has been chasing him and his starving band of Apaches for miles.

Overall, an entertaining movie with some inaccuracies. For more information on the Buffalo Soldiers, visit http://www.9thcavalry.com

A Hollywierd production on Buffalo Soldiers.......2006-05-29

This movie is very sad. Seminole Negro Indian Scouts only served in Texas, not New Mexico. There are no officers present but Colonel Grierson, only the sergeant major. Grierson is presented as a wimp when he was in reality a hero of both the Civil War and western frontier. No american soldiers would have been able to sneak up on the Apache. No black soldiers ever had to dismount to pass through a western town, this is purely Hollywood. The song that is sung by the black troopers as they are carrying one of there deceased to the cemetary was written in the 1930s. This is one sad movie.

Rating Warning.......2006-02-19

This is more about the rating perhaps than the move...However, I think that it is important to know that this is not,in my opinion a rated 'G' movie! Within the first few minutes, they used prejudicial language and swore-causing me to quickly turn it off in discomfort and disgust. When I think of a rated G movie, I think of something like Lion King, Parent Trap, or other family-type movies that EVERYONE no matter what their age can watch without offense.This movie is not one of those. I purchased this movie believing that I could share with/educate my kids on the historical significance and heroism of the Buffalo Soldiers and instead had to turn it off after 15 minutes due to its inappropriateness for anyone under 15. They were exposed to too much historic accuracy and prejudiced for my taste. We discussed why the movie creators may have added these words and situations (to be historically accurate and show the adversity the Buffalo Soldiers faced), but still felt the story could be told accurately without the use of such a strong and distructive prejudical term. I believe the rating should be changed. While this may be a worthwhile movie to show the plight of the African American in history, I found it to use too realistically harsh language and situations for its G rating. I relied on the previous reviews and the rating in making my decision to purchase and view this movie with my kids. Believe me, I will not make that mistake again.

Ignored chapter of American History..........2002-05-06

This commendable film addresses a shamefully ignored chapter of U.S. history. Freed slaves were enlisted in the military to patrol Western territories. Many served with distinction, as the narrative here takes pains to point out. Thankfully, the film is not unduly preachy, and it is very well acted. But it remains a bit sketchy and is dramatically a bit on the limp side. Well worth watching, but it could have been better developed and edited.

Average customer rating:

Story is a bit Choppy
Getting Married in Buffalo Jump
Definite Girl Flick
A Wonderful Surprise
A Wonderful Surprise

Getting Married in Buffalo Jump
Starring: Wendy Crewson , Paul Gross , Marion Gilsenan , Victoria Snow , and Murray Cruchley
Director: Eric Till
Manufacturer: Henstooth Video
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ASIN: B00020X8YI
Release Date: 2004-06-22

Customer Reviews:

Story is a bit Choppy.......2006-11-15

the cast is good the movie is ok....and Ya I'm a Paul Gross Fan.
BUT
The story just seems to have a lot of jumps in it, not running real smoothly one sceen to the next. At times that's fine you know stuff like that is done, but for this movie I think its done a bit to much.

The movie isn't bad but it could be a bit better done.
The actors did a good job, won't say anything there.
The Alberta background is like WOW, reminding me of Yellowstone. will agree with the one realestate friend, Eleanor, in the movie....ain't much for shopping though.

Getting Married in Buffalo Jump.......2006-07-26

If you are a Wendy Crewson (Air Force One, Unexpected love, Perfect Pie "24" Season 3, you will love this movie. She is abt 30 in it. If your not a Crewson fan but love Hallmark type movies you will love this. A warm modern western.

Definite Girl Flick.......2006-04-18

Ok...not much I can add to the previous reviews. It IS a keeper to watch over and over again. The first thing that impressed me was the gorgeous scenery. The mountains in the background were breathtaking. It's not a guy kind of movie, but for the true romantic it's a must have for your video library. Parts were played well and the characters believable.
There were a couple of real hard to believe scenes. It's hard to believe that the nude romps in the creek never amounted to more than a brief kiss and the continuation of a "business" arrangement. The male star hunk chomped on his toothpick 24/7 except for that occasional kiss. It was a sexy touch once, but it could have been dropped from the rest of the movie AND as any well bred cowgirl (or cowboy) knows it isn't a very bright cowboy who breaks from a chute to bulldog a steer with that toothpick in his mouth!! Loved the movie, but the toothpick thing I found very distracting.

A Wonderful Surprise.......2005-06-06

This movie was a wonderful surprise. I bought it because it stars Paul Gross, whose work I've appreciated in the Due South television series. I expected to see an ordinary boy-meets-girl romance, something cute, fluffy, and forgettable with some nice eye candy.

Instead, I found a well-written, appealingly filmed, and very well-acted story that works on a number of levels. Yes, there's a love story at its heart, though hardly of the traditional sort. More than that, it's an exploration of the realities and economic necessities of life in a small, remote agricultural community - it takes place in the foothills of Alberta, Canada, but could just as well have taken place in any small farm town in North America - and of the intersection of cultures: Ukrainian and Scottish immigrants, Natives ("Indians"), and city folks learning to make a go of small-town farming life. Most of all, it's about the interconnected lives of a handful of people and how they and their relationships grow and change as a result of the unorthodox romance between the two central characters.

The cast is uniformly excellent; there are no weak performances. The beautiful, spare Alberta landscape is an important character in its own right. The score could perhaps be a bit better, but is at least unobtrusive and is enhanced by three k.d. lang songs. The only slight fault I found was with the ending, which I felt was perhaps just a bit more abrupt than it might have been, but that's a very small criticism within the greater scope of a movie that I loved and will doubtless watch again and again.

Very much recommended.

A Wonderful Surprise.......2005-06-06

Amazon.com essential video

Description

Rewarded for his heroism in the Civil War, Lt. John Dunbar wants to see the American frontier before it is gone. He is assigned to an abandoned fort, where a Sioux tribe is his only neighbor. Overcoming the language barrier and their mutual fear and distrust, Dunbar and the proud Indians gradually become friends. Winner of seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, Kevin Costner.

Customer Reviews:

gives you that cozy feeling!.......2007-05-14

Monumental Achievement!.......2007-05-14

An American Masterpiece.......2007-05-13

Excellent, but what about disc 2?.......2007-05-11

Good Quilty Movies..........2007-05-07

Average customer rating:

Black Fox
Starring: Chris Benson , Buffalo Child , Lawrence Z. Dane , Denis Lacroix , and Cyndy Preston
Director: Steven Hilliard Stern
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
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Release Date: 2004-08-31

Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson

Average customer rating:

YOU CAN DO BETTER, ALTMAN-WISE . . .
interesting
Intriguing Idea But A Bit Shallow
Terrific Newman Performance in Lesser Known Altman Flick
"Truth is Whatever Gets the Most Applause!"

Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson
Starring: Paul Newman , Joel Grey , Kevin McCarthy , Harvey Keitel , and Allan F. Nicholls
Director: Robert Altman
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
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ASIN: B000059TFT
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Amazon.com

Robert Altman was often ahead of his time--once at the cost of being behind himself. Buffalo Bill and the Indians, a snorting exposé of the U.S. predilection for buying into heroic myths, opened on July 4, 1976. Clearly the film was positioned as the ultimate bicentennial event, Altman-style. But Altman had already delivered that a year earlier: the splendiferous, deeply disenchanted yet exhilarating Nashville. Both Nashville and Buffalo Bill are films about America-as-show business, hucksterism, and the rare miracle of performance. But everything Altman got so thrillingly right in Nashville, which teems with life and mystery and widescreen dynamism, came out flatfooted and obvious in Buffalo Bill, a cramped, smirky inside joke that ends up being on the joker.

The setting is the base camp for Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show, where the blustering Indian fighter of legend is gearing up for his latest national tour. Apart from sharpshooter Annie Oakley (Geraldine Chaplin) and her great friend, the Sioux chieftain Sitting Bull (Frank Kaquitts), the show is populated by phonies and opportunists. Biggest phony of all is Cody (Paul Newman), whose fame has been based more on the penny-dreadful scribblings of Ned Buntline (Burt Lancaster) than on any real accomplishments; even his long blond tresses are fake. Altman and cowriter Alan Rudolph (working from a play by Arthur Kopit) thump their insights about the Establishment's feet of clay as if they were breaking-news bulletins instead of countercultural clichés. Only the occasional ineffably mysterious Altman zoom shot offers relief. --Richard T. Jameson

Description

From director Robert Altman (M*A*S*H, The Player) comes an uproarious, high-spirited look at "Buffalo Bill" Cody, the legendary Western adventurer. With a fine cast that includes Paul Newman, Harvey Keitel, Burt Lancaster, Joel Grey and Geraldine Chaplin, Buffalo Bill and the Indians is a hilarious yet poignant comedy that shows the Old West as you've never seen it before! Although Buffalo Bill (Newman) has fought Indians and Civil War battles, nothing can prepare him for his newest challenge: show business! His "Wild West Show" is hugely popular, but when he signs a former enemy, Sioux Chief Sitting Bull (Frank Kaquitts), for a featured role, a hysterical clash of cultures reverberates far beyond the boundaries of their sprawling outdoor theater. And the complications only multiply when the troupe discovers it must put on a special command performancefor none other than the President of the United States!

Customer Reviews:

YOU CAN DO BETTER, ALTMAN-WISE . . ........2007-04-21

When Altman is good he's great. Like in McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Shortcuts, The Player and, oh yes, MASH. The Amazon review for BB et al should be read before ordering this. Like, flat-footed and obvious, I think they say. Beyond Altman, an akin movie of this time would be Little Big Man, which is sensational, not stupid.

interesting.......2007-02-16

I was filmed in my home town and a very good friend of mine was a extra in the movie and we looked at it to see if we could pick her out. Unfortunatly we did not find her. o-well

Intriguing Idea But A Bit Shallow.......2006-12-01

Paul Newman stars as Buffalo Bill, the showman of the wild west, with his circus act of performers. Robert Altman is famous for movings that expose how easily people fall for myths and stories, and this is no exception. Bill and his crew are all larger than life, believing in the stories written about themselves. They decide to put Geronimo into their act, thinking that they can stir up their audience into a blood lust against the "evil Indians".

To their surprise, people actually respect the native Americans, and even the president comes out to meet Geronimo for himself. In the end it's only Geronimo that speaks honestly, and he is ignored. He leaves the white men to their problems.

There are a number of famous actors and actresses here - Joel Grey, Harvey Keitel, Burt Lancaster, Geraldine Chaplin. Undoubtedly all signed on to make a movie that had social significance, especially with it coming out in 1976 - America's 200th year of independence. However, they are in essence satiring people who in fact were "heroes" in many ways. Buffalo Bill did in fact do some impressive things in his life. By all accounts Geronimo liked him and enjoyed being with him. For many of the city slickers, these shows were their only glimpse into what the wild west was all about, even in a general portrayal.

Also, the native americans are treated as being supernatural Gods. They get across rivers that are uncrossable, they set up lodgings where they should not be able to. There isn't any relating to them as people, as a culture. I would really have liked to see more of the cross-cultural issues - the different ways in which they related to women, to minorities, to performing in public.

Terrific Newman Performance in Lesser Known Altman Flick.......2006-07-02

Robert Altman's expertise at framing and then exposing the three dimensions of show business, of presentation and performance, place and status, ala Nashville, Gosford Park, A Praire Home Companion, The Player, The Company and Kansas City (to name a few), gets the interesting, ironical and historical treatment here.
In Paul Newman's Buffalo Bill Cody, legend of the wild west, and extraordinary showman, Altman gives the American man of myth, then chips away at him, all while the rival and counterpart Sitting Bull grows and deepens in merely standing still. Newman's performance is terrific, his eyes never betraying the truth of his limitations, though his histriotics along with those of his minions in his large show, work very well at entertaining and maintaining. Joel Grey, Kevin McCarthy and Harvey Keitel all stand out as Newman's producing partner, press agent and flunky respectively. Their sycophancy echoes the Emperors New Clothes, and is set against Sitting Bull and his right hand man Halsey, who agree to join the wild west history show in order to tell the truth of the matter, ever stoic and unimpressed by the show.
With humor and his trademark layering of sound, dialogue and wit Altman gives us the lesson of what is real and unreal, fraudulent and true, the stuff of history books and shows, and the heart of the matters.

"Truth is Whatever Gets the Most Applause!".......2006-02-07

Altman has made some very good movies, and some very bad ones, often right next to each other. Viewing this film right after the highs of "Nashville" will surely lead to a serious Altman letdown. Historically, of course, coming out during the Bicentennial and right after that great film, expectations that were very high were mostly dashed, and this film quickly joined other Altman stinkers in the "not good" Altman film repository, right next to "H.E.A.L.T.H."

But time has been very kind to this Altman sleeper. I found Newman's performance exhilarating and comic, and Joel Grey hilarious and knowing. Like many of Altman's films, this one is about the mythmaking of contemporary pop history, and the "necessary illusions" required by the audience to buy into and celebrate these myths. Although the particular target here is western pop history, Altman's aims are much broader: the legacy of Native America abuse, the need of the audience to create and celebrate "hero myths," and the schematic critique of star-worshipping history, written by the "winners." Frank Kaquitts plays the critical role of truth-teller, and is understated and very funny as Sitting Bull, who joins Buffalo Bill's troupe with his interpreter, attempting to add some reality to Cody's wildly distorted (and wildly popular) western shows.

While the script of Altman and Alan Rudolph has some typical Altman flaws, fat, and excess, the benefit of time and careful reflection has served this little gem well.

Average customer rating:

Buffalo Soldiers The Movie Was Buffalo Chips The Let Down

Buffalo Soldiers
Starring: Barbara Brown , Bill Collins , Robert Dix , Robert Do'Qui , and Steve Drexel
Director: John Cardos
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Buffalo Soldiers
Black Indians: An American Story
American Experience: The Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry
Voices of the Buffalo Soldier: Records, Reports, and Recollections of Military Life and Service in the West
Dan Candy's Law

ASIN: B0001OGW16
Release Date: 2004-03-01

Customer Reviews:

Buffalo Soldiers The Movie Was Buffalo Chips The Let Down.......2004-12-17

In a word, the movie stunk. The music stunk. The acting stunk. If it was adapted from the novel, you certainly couldn't tell it. The novel was really a good story. I would suggest buying the book if you're interested in entertainment and buying the DVD if you want to fertilize your garden. P.U.!

Average customer rating:

Watched it filming!!!!
Hoffman Shines In This Small-Scale Mamet Adaptation
AVOID
The Emperor Wears No Clothes
american buffalo