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.
Vincent Gallo
Billy Brown
Christina Ricci
Layla
Ben Gazzara
Jimmy Brown
Anjelica Huston
Jan Brown
Rosanna Arquette
Wendy Balsam
Jan-Michael Vincent
Sonny
Kevin Corrigan
Rocky the Goon
Mickey Rourke
The Bookie
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
Michael Maciejewski
The Guy in the Bathroom
Jack Claxton
The Denny's Host
Dominic Telesco
The Prison Guard
Carl Marchi
The Cafe Owner
Kim Krah
The Denny's Waitress
Julius Digennaro
The Info Booth Clerk
Terry Braunstein
The Tap Teacher
Jack Hunter
The Gas Station Clerk
Norma Gelose
The Bus Station Woman
Jamie King
Tap Dance Kid
Janel King
Tap Dance Kid
Joey Giambra
The Man in the Donut Shop
Director, Original Story, Screenplay
Vincent Gallo
Screenplay
Alison Bagnall
September 29, 2018
6
Mostly tedious, but Ricci is adorable, “Heart of the Sunrise” is featured and the message is potent
An angry sad sack (Vincent Gallo) is released after five years in prison near Buffalo and proceeds to kidnap a cute girl at a ballet studio (Christina Ricci). She surprisingly agrees to go along with the charade of being his wife to fool his nutty parents. His sole ambition seems to be to kill a field goal kicker for the Bills who let him down five years earlier. Anjelica Huston, Mickey Rourke, Jan-Michael Vincent and Rosanna Arquette have brief roles.
“Buffalo ’66” (1998) is an offbeat indie written & directed by its star, Gallo. I only know him from Coppola’s “Tetro” (2009) where he proved to have an almost Brando-like charisma (I said “almost”). Ricci is one of the highlights here as she’s petite, voluptuous and adorable. Unfortunately, most of the episodes in the story could’ve been cut by one-third or even one-half. As it is, they become tedious, such as the loong segment at the parent’s house. But the final act wins the day with Yes’ “Heart of the Sunrise” placed strategically and a profound moral about the power of uncompromising love to change a piece of sheet.
The film runs 1 hour, 50 minutes and was shot in Buffalo, New York, and surround areas (Gowanda, Lackawanna and Woodlawn).
GRADE: C+/B-