Buffalo '66
Buffalo '66 is a 1998 American independent film directed by Vincent Gallo, who co-wrote the screenplay with Alison Bagnall, starring Gallo, Christina Ricci, Ben Gazzara, Mickey Rourke, Rosanna Arquette, Jan-Michael Vincent, and Anjelica Huston. The plot revolves around Billy Brown (Gallo), a man who kidnaps a young tap dancer named Layla (Ricci) and forces her to pretend to be his wife to impress his parents (Gazzara and Huston) after he gets released from prison, while also seeking revenge on Buffalo's kicker who he blamed for losing a championship game.
| Buffalo '66 | |
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Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Vincent Gallo |
| Screenplay by |
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| Story by | Vincent Gallo |
| Produced by | Chris Hanley (credit only) |
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Lance Acord |
| Edited by | Curtiss Clayton |
| Music by | Vincent Gallo |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Lions Gate Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1.5 million |
| Box office | $2.4 million |
The film was generally well-received with detached praise towards Ricci's performances. Empire listed it as the 36th greatest independent film ever made. It was filmed in and around Gallo's hometown of Buffalo, New York, in winter. The film uses British progressive rock music in its soundtrack, notably King Crimson and Yes.
The title refers to the Buffalo Bills American football team, who had not won a championship since the 1965 American Football League Championship Game (which was actually played on December 26, 1965). The plot involves direct references to the Bills' narrow loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV, which was decided by a missed field goal.