putitinthebasketchief

This is my favourite film of 2003. Why they waited two years before releasing this superb movie in the UK is anyone's guess - although it may have had something to do with its total lack of respect for the U.S. Army. I'm not sure this would have went down too well in the aftermath of 9/11. Regardless, Buffalo Soldiers is an absolute gem. It is nasty, intelligent and hilarious. It is critical of American values, specifically capitalism in the 80s and it takes no prisoners. This is an outsider's perspective on the American occupation of West Germany in 1989: Jordan is Australian and as a result he brings an Australian aesthetic to his work. But it is also a tender film that is structured around a touching central romance between Elwood and Robyn. I love their scenes in the pool, it is such a warm, intimate location - a perfect setting for the heart of an otherwise deeply cynical film. Jordan is a director of considerable talent and Buffalo Soldiers is magnificent.

Although this was funded by Hollywood don't let that fool you. This is as New Zealand a movie as Bad Taste or Brain Dead. Ok so its got an established star in Michael J Fox and CGI effects, it still leaves a nasty taste in the mouth long after it should do. It is stranger and more violent than the average supernatural comedy and for this, Peter Jackson, I commend you! He clearly made them think he was making a derivative Ghostbusters type film (this is the general view of the film and maybe the reason for its poor box office performance) but kept control and gave them an essentially dark and twisted film. This deserves to be far more popular than it is. An underrated gem.