Buffalo ’66 **** (1998, Vincent Gallo, Christina Ricci, Anjelica Huston, Ben Gazzara, Mickey Rourke, Rosanna Arquette, Jan-Michael Vincent, Kevin Pollak) – Classic Movie Review 1074

Co-writer-director Vincent Gallo stars in his own 1998 movie as a ex-con called Billy Brown, who goes on the run with (at first) reluctant teenage student hostage-lover Layla (Christina Ricci), getting her to masquerade as his wife-to-be.

Billy has just been released after five years in prison and immediately kidnaps Layla and visits his parents (Anjelica Huston, Ben Gazzara) with her, pretending that she is his girlfriend and they will soon get married, forcing her to say the same.

Gallo’s film is admittedly all a bit dodgy and weird, but it is also a wonderfully atmospheric, deliberately sleazy low-life thriller. Tough, violent and yet finally touching, it is splendidly played in all-stops-out performances, with some very welcome faces in support.

Mickey Rourke, Rosanna Arquette, Jan-Michael Vincent, Kevin Pollak, Kevin Corrigan and Alex Karras are in the choice cast.

In a labour of love, Gallo wrote the original story and the score too, as well as co-writing screenplay. Alison Bagnall is the co-writer of the screenplay.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Film Review 1074 derekwinnert.com