Posted on 07/20/2003 10:17:18 AM PDT by Long Cut
Studio: Miramax
Director: Gregor Jordan
Writer(s): Eric Axel Weiss and Nora Maccoby
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Scott Glenn, Ed Harris, Anna Paquin, Leon, Gabriel Mann, Elizabeth McGovern
Release Date: July 25th, 2003
Notes: Production began on November 6, 2000 in Berlin and other parts of Germany and wrapped in February 2001. Currently scheduled to be released sometime in the first quarter of 2003; originally scheduled to open on July 19, 2002. Based upon the novel of the same name by Robert O'Connor.
Plot Summary: Set just before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, this is the story of a criminal drug culture among U.S. Army soldiers, focusing on Sgt. Ray Elwood, the clerk to the battalion commander, Colonel Berman. What Ray doesn't know is that there is an investigation working its way in his direction, even as he is falling in love with the daughter, Robyn, of the soldier, Sgt. Lee, of the man who's tipping the investigation off about Ray. (Upcoming Movies) - Andrew Molinaro
Updates:
4.23.03 According to the Los Angeles Times, Miramax has pushed this film's release back again, this time to space the film from the recent controversies about patriotism that are hounding people like Janeane Garofalo, the Dixie Chicks and Susan Sarandon. (Yahoo! Movies) - Andrew
(Excerpt) Read more at fetalfilms.com ...
I know, I know, it's a comedy, but this same sort of "comedy", in the form of such shows as "MASH" and others, poisoned a great deal of goodwill towards the military and increased the ignorance of it and its sacrifices among many Americans. I've had enough of it!
THIS IS what Hollywood considers a movie worth releasing after two years of war and blood. I think it is beyond disgraceful, and I'm usually all for filmmakers having all the freedom in the world.
I do not advocate censorship, legal or otherwise, for this travesty. I do, as an active duty Sailor who faces a long deployment in a few short weeks, hope that it dies an ignominous death at the box office. Thank you.
James Stewart, Clark Gable, John Wayne, and a host of OTHER real American actors are now spinning like tops in their coffins.
Plot Summary for Buffalo Soldiers (2001)
"1989. The Berlin Wall is about to fall, and the world is about to be made safe for the new world order. But outside of Stuttgart, West Germany, at Theodore Roosevelt Army Base, Specialist Ray Elwood of the 317th Supply Battalion (Joaquin Phoenix) is about to find his own cold war turn white hot. Elwood's a loveable rogue, a conscript who's managed to turn his military servitude into a blossoming network of black market deals, more out of boredom than ambition. Officially, there's his day job as battalion secretary to the inept but caring Commander Wallace Berman (Ed Harris). On the side, there's everything from selling the locals stolen Mop'N'Glo to cooking heroin for the base's ruthless head of Military Police, Sgt. Saad. When a new top sergeant (Scott Glenn) arrives, with the avowed intention of cleaning the base up, Elwood thinks the new blood is nothing he can't handle, especially after he lays eyes on the top's daughter, rebellious Robyn (Anna Paquin). But that was before he figured in the $5 million in stolen arms that just landed on his lap, Berman's jealous wife, an insane Turkish drug dealer, and, of course, the resulting lust, betrayal, and murder."
Just what we need...a shooting war in progress now, and Hollywood's Heroes want to portray us as a bunch of dope-smuggling, heroin-using, arms-dealing clowns.
I am beside myself...
I hope not, SAM. I just hope that, if I (and some of my FRiends) spread the word wide enough, no one will go to this flick in the mistaken belief that it's just a patriotic comedy, and thus pump one cent more into its' makers coffers.
I want this to be a HUGE turkey...beyond ANY they've seen.
Oh dear.... me too. That movie poster upthread is just danged offensive with the flag. I don't think the people are in the mood to see this, and I don't think we have to be afraid, it will not be a winner. There are too many good films coming out this year, with RoTK, Seabisuit, T3, and Pirates.... Just to name my favorites ;~D
Hey! - Congratulations on mini-cut! When he starts toddling, I think "short cut" would be a natural nickname!
I couldn't agree with you more Longcut.
Thanks for the ping SAM.
Thanks, Long Cut !
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.
IT'S WHAT THEY REALLY THINK OF THE MILITARY!!!!
They've portrayed their "vision" of the best America ever had in such worthy stories as Apocalypse Now, M*A*S*H*, Platoon, and countless OTHER films and TV shows which depicted a military staffed by drunken, drugged-out buffoons and corrupt officers. I doubt that ANYONE in Hollywood, with the exception of Arnold Schwarzenegger (who IS a veteran of the Austrian Army) holds any view of the military counter to this.
I'm tired of it...they portray us this way to assuage their own weakness as Americans, and their certain knowledge of their own cowardice. They slander real American heroes so they won't feel so bad about NOT doing their part themselves, and about their own pathetic irrelevance to history's march.
We have come a LONG way from the Hollywood of the '40s. To our shame.
I've never been able to figure out how Hollywood could make such a 180 in such a short time.
Just look at the poster...
I've got my own theory...after the 1950's, the Leftists in H'Wood (supported of course by the Communist Party) became dominant; they were the younger, more vigourous crowd. Add to that that the "baby boom" actors and producers were just becoming rich and famous while living the life of drugs, booze, and sex prevalent in the '60s. The "John Wayne" image of an American Hero, with its implied courage, sense of duty, and honor was a direct slap at them, so their only option to avoid being seen as what they were was to slander that image as false; and those who truly lived it (the American military) as fools, dopers, and corrupt baby-killers. Often back then, they were heard to claim that those who refused to join up were the REAL patriots (a sentiment echoed today...by some of the same people) and those who did their duty were nothing but suckers at best and murderers at worst.
In short, it was a total perversion. But it really happened, and it happened deliberately.
Yeah, it was deliberate and McCarthy was proving that the Communists were moving into Hollywood.
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