Buffalo 66

"Buffalo 66" tells the story of a revenge that gradually transforms into a truncated love story. Billy gets out of jail, prepared to end the life of a football player who made him lose all his money with a fixed game.

Layla comes out of nowhere; she is a friendly ghost with big shiny eyes that stands between Billy and his bitter gazer, uncontrollable incomprehensible anger, his frustration and urgent search for a bathroom to urinate. The meeting will be providential. Layla will provide Billy with what he just needs after years of being ignored and despised: a little attention, a smile, a hug in bed before sleeping. Billy will escape terrified from her sweetness in search of his beloved vengeance, promising her to return.

Prior to fulfill his mission, Billy will visit his parents, he will face them. So, along with Layla, Billy will live his insignificant life, his pride as a champion of the local bowling league.

Also, he will call his only friend and will give him everything he has in his locker, altough it is not that much. Billy's nostalgia is not having that much but the things that he will never have. Layla is by Billy’s side but he never sees her, Layla is a ray of sunshine on a rainy afternoon but Billy escapes into the shadows for cover.

"Buffalo 66" is an original movie of agile camera and prodigious video edition. The performances of Vincent Gallo and Christina Ricci are convincing, the couple has an outstanding chemistry.

There is something bizarre in the film, something that seems unreal, like a nightmare. The opaque and granular colors enhance that sensation. There is humor everywhere, sarcasm behind the pessimism of Billy, surrealism when visiting his parents, irony spread among the conversations between the characters.

The music of the film is carefully chosen by Gallo to accompany closely the scenes. Everything works fine and the result is, in my opinion, perfect.

Some say that "Buffalo 66" speaks of the bitter relationship that Gallo has with his parents, just another act of egocentricity by himself. I see something different, a fearful and postmodern love that refuses to arise, the magic of the slowness and patience, realism that prints the character of Billy.

Director: Vincent Gallo

Writers: Vincent Gallo (story), Vincent Gallo (screenplay)

Stars: Vincent Gallo, Christina Ricci and Ben Gazzara