notchreturns
06-08-2002, 10:21 PM
American Buffalo.1996. *** or 7/10
Directed by - Michael Corrente
Written by - David Mamet
Starring - Dustin Hoffman,Dennis Franz, and Sean Nelson
Rated R for Strong Language
American Buffalo is not much in the plot department, but it goes like this.
Two low lifes by the name of Don(Dennis Franz)and Teach(Dustin Hoffman)plan to steal a valuble coin(The American Buffalo).Don own's a samll junk shop in the inner city.Teach is a profane low life who will do anything for a nickel.Along for the ride is Bobby(Sean Nelson), a innocent young teenage hood who's looking for guidance.He gets it from Don.Don teaches him the ropes of conning and stealing and gets him involved in his plan.
Direction:
Wasn't anything special and was frankly very dissapointing.American Buffalo was a hit on broadway and it appears Micahel Corrente wanted to keep it that way.The film was shot like it was a stage play.He does nothing special or daring.He just let's his actors act. Grade C-
Writing:
It's David Mamet so there's two things to expect.Profanity and a heavy amount of talking.He deliver's them both.There is literally no action at all.Nearly the whole story taskes place in Don's store(ala Glengarry Glen Ross).The script is profane, complex and very character driven. Grade B
Acting:
What do you get when you mix Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Franz, and a very talented young actor by the name of Sean Nelson?Powerhouse performances that's what.Hoffman gives a powerful performance as Teach.He's angry, profane, and very tough.Diffrent from what you would expect from Hoffman.Franz is the smart one out of the two.He's in charge and collective, but at the same time he can be a dagger to the heart.Very nice performance.Sean Nelson, who from what I've heard gave an exceptional performance in "Fresh" deliever's the goods here.He holds his own against these two heavyweights.He plays the innocent, naive kid better than most could dream to do.
Grade A
Overall:
A solid flim.Great acting and writing, but poor direction and a rather simple plot keep American Buffalo from being great.
A 7/10 or ***
[This message has been edited by notchreturns (edited 06-08-2002).]
Directed by - Michael Corrente
Written by - David Mamet
Starring - Dustin Hoffman,Dennis Franz, and Sean Nelson
Rated R for Strong Language
American Buffalo is not much in the plot department, but it goes like this.
Two low lifes by the name of Don(Dennis Franz)and Teach(Dustin Hoffman)plan to steal a valuble coin(The American Buffalo).Don own's a samll junk shop in the inner city.Teach is a profane low life who will do anything for a nickel.Along for the ride is Bobby(Sean Nelson), a innocent young teenage hood who's looking for guidance.He gets it from Don.Don teaches him the ropes of conning and stealing and gets him involved in his plan.
Direction:
Wasn't anything special and was frankly very dissapointing.American Buffalo was a hit on broadway and it appears Micahel Corrente wanted to keep it that way.The film was shot like it was a stage play.He does nothing special or daring.He just let's his actors act. Grade C-
Writing:
It's David Mamet so there's two things to expect.Profanity and a heavy amount of talking.He deliver's them both.There is literally no action at all.Nearly the whole story taskes place in Don's store(ala Glengarry Glen Ross).The script is profane, complex and very character driven. Grade B
Acting:
What do you get when you mix Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Franz, and a very talented young actor by the name of Sean Nelson?Powerhouse performances that's what.Hoffman gives a powerful performance as Teach.He's angry, profane, and very tough.Diffrent from what you would expect from Hoffman.Franz is the smart one out of the two.He's in charge and collective, but at the same time he can be a dagger to the heart.Very nice performance.Sean Nelson, who from what I've heard gave an exceptional performance in "Fresh" deliever's the goods here.He holds his own against these two heavyweights.He plays the innocent, naive kid better than most could dream to do.
Grade A
Overall:
A solid flim.Great acting and writing, but poor direction and a rather simple plot keep American Buffalo from being great.
A 7/10 or ***
[This message has been edited by notchreturns (edited 06-08-2002).]