This movie is pretty witty and I would recommend it to the 20 something crowd especially if they are or have done a military stint themselves. Movies like this and "Renaisance Man" are always cool for that particular audience as their are subtle customs in which it is fun to pick out as unique to the Armed Services. The film transcends a few different genres, most notable action, drams, and comedy. There were times when I wished that certain scenes' mood music was more in line with the action. For example, when Joquin's character rigs a female's car to stall and then waits for her, it was a perfect time to add some melodrama and show him as ominous yet ultimately funny. Instead, the director does not leave the mood to chance or the viewers interpretation, but instead colors our mood by having hookie clown-like music play in the backdrop. The film moves swift enough that it can be viewed a couple times and something new looked at each time. Ed Harris is his usual competent self and appropriately cast as a Colonel too nice for his own good. The show belongs to Scott Glenn who steals his scenes as a battle ready old Sarge. "Leon" Robinson (who hasn't aged in 15 years since doing the Christ character in Madonna's Like a Prayer)gives a overlooked (in the DVD extras the Director comments on the scene but never really addresses the actor) outstanding performance worthy of NAACP image recognition. He is funny, hip and tough all without the negative shucking of so many other movie characters. The confrontation between he and Glenn's character is realistic on three levels. 1, Leon's character jumps right on Glenn's with no feeling out or long build up which would be insulting to the audience 2, two guys square off for no reason in what soldiers figuratively call a pxxx contest and 3, the verbal gymnastics does not lead to physical assault as so many dumbed down movies escalate to. Any one or all three of these elements can be seen readily whenever testosterone driven men get together whether it military or sports. A very good story.
Review of Buffalo Soldiers
