Buffalo Soldiers

Every now and again, though, you get treated to a movie which hits all the right notes and is available in a place with stadium seating. I was fortunate that in seeing the movie Buffalo Soldiers, I got to have my cake and eat it too.

Buffalo Soldiers is a biting satire of the US military which takes place on an American base in Germany at the twilight of the Cold War. The protagonist of the movie, played expertly by Joaquin Phoenix, is only viewed as such by the audience due to the utter incompetence or complete lack of morality of his fellow soldiers.

In truth, he is nothing more than a contemptible cad, thief, and opportunistic prick. However, he does have a streak of innocence and a superlative intelligence that makes him an intriguing and, amazingly, sympathetic character. He is a petty criminal who was hornswaggled into joining the military in lieu of jailtime (and who amongst us would not take this deal ourselves? Honestly. I'm keeping my ass to myself and myself only...LOL) and is passive-aggressively taking his frustration out on it by operating and profiting from an illicit theft ring that deals in anything from weapons caches to cleaning detergents.

He meets his match, both personally and professionally, when he gets a new CO, who's daughter he falls in love with. Slowly, as in all movies of this sort, his morality awakens within him and he attempts to straighten out and fly right.

That part is handled in the conventional and pat way that movies always handle such transformations when there is a two-hour time limit, and no reality to the situation. However, the acting, cinematography and subplots woven around the main story (especially the one involving a young informant and a gang of thugs), make for an interesting and fulfilling experience that kept me riveted until the very end.

Leaving the theatre, I though to myself "Now, what was such a fine movie as this doing in a Megaplex like this?". And then it hit me, this is an anti-US-military movie and I'm in Canada, where this sort of view holds a lot of sway and is very popular, to my dismay. So, while this movie works on an artistic level, I must say that the sentiment and arguments that it attempted to promulgate are as devoid of reality as any I have seen in a long time. Sure, any army has criminals in its midst. But, in my experience(and I lived for many years in what is essentially a war state, Israel), the vast majority of military folk are just like anyone else. Honest, hardworking, and trustworthy. I just hope people keep this in mind as they watch this film.

And a fine film it is. Enjoy.

Go buy it and don't miss out