Buffalo Soldiers

Name: Buffalo Soldiers
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Crime, War
Released: July 25, 2003
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 56
Cast: Anna Paquin, Ed Harris, Joaquin Phoenix

2003

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 41 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 41 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Miramax Films | Release Date: July 25, 2003 | R

Starring: Anna Paquin, Ed Harris, Joaquin Phoenix

Summary: A darkly comic story of one soldier's misadventures in the military. (Miramax)

Director: Gregor Jordan

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Crime, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 98 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Michael Sragow

It moves so confidently and brightly that it's ticklish as well as chilling - and, in its own dark way, enthralling. Read full review

Marc Savlov

You’ve heard of guerrilla warfare? Buffalo Soldiers is all about guerilla capitalism. Read full review

Steven Rea

Crafty, cutting movie. Read full review

Lawrence Toppman

It's not the dark comedy it wants to be - that would be "M*A*S*H" with a more modern setting and more gruesome consequences - but it's worth a look. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Maitland McDonagh

The brouhaha aside, this chronicle of SNAFUs foretold doesn't have much new to say but says it with biting precision, and Phoenix's sharp, sneakily sympathetic performance is a pleasure to watch. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Had the young Jack Nicholson played such a character during the height of the Vietnam War, it would have been easy to go along for the ride. But skilled as Phoenix is at pulling off the individual scenes of Elwood's shenanigans, the actor doesn't come across as embodying rebellion to the marrow of his bones, which renders his scams arbitrary and disagreeably irresponsible. Read full review

Stanley Kauffmann

The film's intent was presumably satirical in the vein of "Catch-22" or "M*A*S*H," but the satire is so weak, the action so devoid of comic perspective, that we are left with a naked gaggle of ugly episodes. Read full review

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User Reviews

BombshellNukealot

Oct 13, 2005

People don't generally seem to like this movie because it's raw and straightforward - that's war for you...however it has has some overacting and unnecessary 'coolness' added. All things considered this was a really enjoyable experience and a movie that sticks to your mind.

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BradySmith

Jun 3, 2014

Buffalo Soldiers is very reminiscent of Fight Club in terms of its dark style and bleak view on life. It's not quite as good though. Fight Club contained a lot more kinetic energy and more dazzling filmmaking. It is however still highly entertaining. The schemes the soldiers concoct areBuffalo Soldiers is very reminiscent of Fight Club in terms of its dark style and bleak view on life. It's not quite as good though. Fight Club contained a lot more kinetic energy and more dazzling filmmaking. It is however still highly entertaining. The schemes the soldiers concoct are diabolical, and Phoenix fits perfectly into his witty, sketchy, rebellious character. You become mentally involved in all of their deals, and hope they get away with it all, even though they really don't deserve to. The movie sometimes wallows in its own nihilistic atmosphere a bit too much, and sometimes the plausibility of the characters is stretched pretty thin at times. These flaws make it occasionally feel somewhat stupid, but they're not enough to ruin this dark little gem of a dramady.… Expand

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geewah

Jan 30, 2022

For the most part, this is a smart satire on the cold war, and the boredom of men of war in times of peace.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tyranian

Oct 14, 2019

Fairly entertaining satire with decent performances and fairly frequent humour.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

matta.

Sep 28, 2005

Dramatically, it doesn't work. On the comedy side of things, it was pretty freaking genius. A solid outing for Joaquin Phoenix.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

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