I like Black Panther, but I didn't like this movie.

A Brilliant Conflict

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

"American Buffalo" is definitely not a movie for everyone. A downer in every sense, it portrays three pitiful characters with nowhere to go in life. I guess that overall, there's little to be said about the movie. It's little more than a way to pass time. The whole thing has the distinct feel of a play (it all happens pretty much in one room), but Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Franz and Sean Nelson have little to do here. Still, it might make you ponder your own direction in life.I have to wonder about that coin featuring the buffalo. When you think about it, that coin went the way of the buffalo. Maybe I'm the only person who notices that.

Mamet's plays are usually more interesting than this one. Take OLEANNA for example. Here we've got these 2 guys and a black boy, obvious losers from the start, who plan to burgle the house of a customer to retrieve a valuable coin. This was sold to him at what they now consider too low a price. But all they do is talk, and sometimes get a little violent with each other, especially with the black kid who seems to be double crossing them. What is Mamet's purpose in all this? Is it his idea of a "film noir"? These guys are certainly losers, a prime requirement of that genre, but this play, and the film, is rather tedious despite the good cast work. I am an enthusiastic Mamet fan usually, but this one rather lost me. Incidentally, the only "buffalo" nickel worth very much is the 1918 minting, with 8 stamped over the 7. In the 1960's it was listing at $160 in "fine" condition.

American Buffalo is an example of David Mamet's ear for dialogue and his way with the gritty underbelly of society. Perhaps no other movie has so deftly demonstrated Mamet's unique sense of rhythm in spoken language. The movie is engrossing and entertaining, all the while using only one location and three characters. Dustin Hoffman is revoltingly slimy as Teach, and Dennis Franz perfects the conflicted role of Don that he originated on stage many years ago. A must see for any fan of Mamet or student of the human condition.

In a way this is almost like a pornmovie, but instead of sex you have talk. The movie is a 90 minute long filmed conversation. But to me the movie is more entertaining than many actionmovies. It's definitely not for all viewers hence the bad overall ratings, but I can still recommend it. The acting is over the top. Hoffman and Franz is a very funny combination. Seldom have I seen someone make so much out of so little. As oppose to other movies the climax isn't in the ending, every scene is equally important. Not as good as Glengarry glen ross though. GGR was both a character study and a good movie. This is "just" an excellent character study, but with these actors it's enough to make it worth watching.