Buffalo ’66 (1998)

Vincent Gallo is nothing if not indulgent, a quality that’s earned him both a legion of detractors and a fervent cult following.

His directorial debut, Buffalo ’66, which he also wrote, is an eccentric, provocative comedy that laces a poignant love story with both a sombre, washed-out naturalism and surreal musical vignettes.

Casting himself as recently released thuggish ex-con Billy Brown, who kidnaps feisty young Layla (Christina Ricci) and forces her to masquerade as his loving wife to fool his wacked-out parents (who are unaware he’s been away in jail), Gallo is just about as unlikable a protagonist as you’ll find in any work of fiction. He has no redeeming qualities.

Billy’s indifferent mother (Anjelica Huston) is a rabid football obsessive, while his dad (Ben Gazzara) – who, we learn in flashbacks, killed Billy’s pet dog to punish him –  is taciturn and hostile, though taken with Layla.

The film’s surreal flourishes confuse more often than they impress. But when the movie works, it works wonders, and no scene is more wonderful than Layla’s dreamy bowling alley tap dance, soundtracked by King Crimson.

In the months leading up to the film’s release, Gallo entered into a tabloid battle with star Anjelica Huston.

Billy Brown
Vincent Gallo
Layla
Christina Ricci
Jan Brown
Anjelica Huston
Jimmy Brown
Ben Gazzara
Bookie
Mickey Rourke
Wendy Balsam
Rosanna Arquette
Sonny
Jan-Michael Vincent
Little Billy
John Sansone
Donut Clerk
Manny Fried
Don Shanks
John Rummel
Scott Woods
Bob Wahl
Judge
Penny Wolfgang

Director
Vincent Gallo