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Buffalo Soldiers

Play trailer Poster for Buffalo Soldiers R Released Jul 25, 2003 1h 38m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
73% Tomatometer 115 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Set on an American Army base in 1989, as the Berlin Wall is about to fall, Buffalo Soldiers takes a satiric look as these men steal, drink, fight, and make, take, and sell drugs. Elwood (Joaquin Phoenix) is the brains behind the operation, easily duping his superior (Ed Harris) and sleeping with his wife. But with the arrival of the new sergeant (Scott Glenn), everything changes. The sergeant cracks down; Elwood retaliates by dating his daughter and attempting a big weapons-for-drugs deal.
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Buffalo Soldiers

Buffalo Soldiers

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Critics Consensus

Overall, this caustic comedy hits more of its targets than it misses.

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Critics Reviews

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Ed Gonzalez Slant Magazine You won't see too much red, white and blue on this DVD transfer of Buffalo Soldiers, but what little there is sure looks great. Jan 11, 2004 Full Review Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel Eventually, the movie's rampant nihilism catches up with it. Nov 13, 2003 Full Review Tim Robey Daily Telegraph (UK) Joltingly funny. Oct 19, 2003 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com …identifies something both attractive and dangerous in rampant American entrepreneurism…the black comedy featured here is sharp, vicious and timeless… Rated: 4/5 Mar 5, 2024 Full Review Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed In the chaotic tradition of "Dr. Strangelove"... Apr 29, 2009 Full Review Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review Rated: 3/5 Aug 7, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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John C a dark, entertaining and thought-provoking film that could be recommended to pacifists and militarists alike. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/21/25 Full Review Bahad j The idea behind this movie moved me a lot, but it was a movie with really satisfying expectations Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/11/24 Full Review Gareth v For the most part, this is a smart satire on the cold war, and the boredom of men of war in times of peace. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Nice critical background. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member A darkened, distastefully drugged satire towards the military in an unprofessionally unresolved light with familiarly restocked characterization on a darkly comedic routine that occasionally satisfies with Phoenix's charismatic performance and funny turnouts that helped previous satires. (B) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review nilufer e Definitely not your average American soldier saving the world propaganda but I have to say I'm not a fan of movies about degenerates. However it was a nice surprise to see a great Turkish actor (Haluk Bilginer) within a good cast. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Buffalo Soldiers

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Cast & Crew

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Gregor Jordan

Director

Joaquin Phoenix

Ray Elwood

Ed Harris

Col. Wallace Berman

Scott Glenn

Sgt. Robert Lee

Anna Paquin

Robyn Lee

Gabriel Mann

Knoll

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Buffalo Soldiers

Dean Stockwell as General Lancaster in Gregor Jordan's BUFFALO SOLDIERS. Joaquin Phoenix as Ray Elwood and Gabriel Mann as Knoll in Gregor Jordan's BUFFALO SOLDIERS. Joaquin Phoenix as Ray Elwood with members of his division in Gregor Jordan's BUFFALO SOLDIERS. Joaquin Phoenix as Ray Elwood and Sheik Mahumd-Bey as Sergent Saad in Gregor Jordan's BUFFALO SOLDIERS. Joaquin Phoenix as Ray Elwood in Gregor Jordan's BUFFALO SOLDIERS. Sheik Mahumd-Bey as Sergeant Saad with members of his team in Gregor Jordan's BUFFALO SOLDIERS. Left to right: Leon Robinson, Joaquin Phoenix and Michael Peña in Gregor Jordan's BUFFALO SOLDIERS. Joaquin Phoenix as Ray Elwood in Gregor Jordan's BUFFALO SOLDIERS. Right to left: Joaquin Phoenix and Ed Harris in Gregor Jordan's BUFFALO SOLDIERS. Left to right: Leon Robinson, Joaquin Phoenix and Michael Peña in Gregor Jordan's BUFFALO SOLDIERS. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Set on an American Army base in 1989, as the Berlin Wall is about to fall, Buffalo Soldiers takes a satiric look as these men steal, drink, fight, and make, take, and sell drugs. Elwood (Joaquin Phoenix) is the brains behind the operation, easily duping his superior (Ed Harris) and sleeping with his wife. But with the arrival of the new sergeant (Scott Glenn), everything changes. The sergeant cracks down; Elwood retaliates by dating his daughter and attempting a big weapons-for-drugs deal.
Director
Gregor Jordan
Producer
Rainer Grupe, Ariane Moody
Screenwriter
Gregor Jordan, Nora Maccoby, Eric Weiss
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Miramax Films, FilmFour, Good Machine, Odeon Films, Grosvenor Park Productions
Rating
R (Some Sexuality|Drug Content|Strong Language|Violence)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 25, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 23, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$353.7K
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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