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Reviews
Buddy (2005)
Cherry Arnold has made a great film!
A comprehensive look at Vincent A. Cianci, Jr. -- known to all in the Providence area as simply "BUDDY". In my four decades as a Rhode Islander, I have observed the ups and downs of this charismatic mayor. Ms. Arnold captures his essence and makes a fair film where it would have been easy to be judgmental. She rounds up 'all the usual suspects' that make our small state interesting -- making an entertaining portrait of Buddy, our most colorful character.
Unlike the A&E "City Confidential" (2004), a crime documentary which also dealt with the 'Plunder Dome' scandal fairly, Arnold's film delves into Cianci's persona, showing his Jekyll/Hyde history as mayor. Surviving his early years through raw intelligence and wit, he later made several errors that cost him dearly. Former Rhode Islander, James Woods does an excellent job as narrator in tying the film together. I remain skeptical of Buddy's guilt (he still maintains his innocence) -- I suppose only he and his chief aid, Frank Corrente, really know the whole truth. Even though 'All politics is local', this film should be of interest to all Americans as an absorbing case study.