Buffalo Soldiers
Review by Clint Morris
 Whether
they're honest enough to admit it or not, Hollywood, following
the tragic events of September 11, has had to take on added
responsibilities as filmmakers.
'Tone it all down a bit' is the biggest alteration that's
being demanded. And while it seems the appeal has died off
a tad lately, Gregor Jordan's Buffalo Soldiers generously
acknowledged the need for a different kind of film program
there for a while, and sat itself in a vault for two years.
Now, it's making the almighty leap out of the sideboard,
onto the reels and in front of a - hopefully complimentary
- audience.
More to the truth, no distributor wanted to touch Jordan's
film in the wake of September 11. With the military playing
such a pivotal part in the events of that auspicious November
day, the last thing Americans wanted to see was a movie that
painted their military as gung-ho lunatics who'd stick a rifle
at anyone, and throw their book of morals out the window,
if it meant an abundance of greenbacks or pat on the back
by an equally immoralist superior.
Set on a US base in West Germany during 1989, before the
fall of the Berlin Wall, Soldiers stars Joaquin Phoenix
as battalion secretary Ray Elwood, a cheeky pampered young
recruit, whose main objective in the army seems to be to get
the best price for all the illegal product he sells on the
black market.
Unluckily, Elwood's luxurious existence comes to an abrupt
halt with the arrival of Sgt. Robert Lee, a grizzled, intimidating
commanding officer, determined to do some cleaning up. But
Elwood has a retaliating plan - get to the Sgt through his
beautiful daughter.
Jordan's film, while borderlining on comment, is largely
a comedy. Ok, so there's some elements in here that's sure
to have a few questioning who exactly are the men that are
guarding our populace, but for the most part, it's no more
and no less than solid entertainment that'll hopefully work
the way the equally military-ribbing "M.A.S.H" did
during the Vietnam War.
It shows how human beings who are trained to fight and deal
with combat situations can breakdown during peacetime through
sheer boredom.
What sounds like a Police Academy meets Catch-22
cross is just so much more. The script's extremely well written,
the direction flawless, and the performances - especially
by the fantastic Joaquin Phoenix, gobsmacking.
Ed Harris shines in one of his most sympathetic parts to
date, Scott Glenn revels in the malicious traits of his character,
and gorgeous Anna Paquin does wonders in what would otherwise
be considered the two-bit girlfriend role.
Comedy that's intelligent, whilst also managing to raise
an odd question or two, Buffalo Soldiers paintballs
the opposition.
3.5 out of 5
Buffalo Soldiers
Australian release: Thursday August 21st
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Anna
Paquin, Dean Stockwell, Elizabeth McGovern.
Director: Gregor Jordan.
Website: Click
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