Review of Buffalo Soldiers

Buffalo Soldiers is consistently entertaining, but the biggest problem within is that it can't work out whether it is meant to be a satire or a proper comedy. At times it is funny, but at other times awful events are meant to be played for laughs, which left me feeling very uncomfortable. Phoenix is well cast and he certainly gives a great performance, which leaves me confused as to how he could have accepted a crappy role in The Village after this. The supporting cast are good, but the whole film feels terribly uneven and I can't work out what the director is trying to tell us. Does he intend for this film to a satire about contemporary politics? If so, he does not explore all the possible satirical opportunities he could, and at times I am left just wondering where on earth the film is meant to be going.