Written by David Mamet and based on his 1975 play, American Buffalo offers a decidedly pessimistic view of mankind. Though the film starts out slowly, it soon becomes clear that two down-on-their-luck guys, are prepping to pull off some kind of “job.” These men are Those men are Don (Dennis Franz), the owner of a New York junk shop, and Teach (Dustin Hoffman), a sort of ’90s version of Midnight Cowboy‘s Ratso Rizzo. The third character in the story is a teenage boy named Bobby (Sean Nelson)—a kid who apparently doesn’t have a home or family, he sees Don as a father figure. He wants to be part of the upcoming “job,” but the two men are uncertain about getting him involved.

Having sold a buffalo-head nickel for much less than he’s found out its worth, Don and Teach decide to break into the buyer’s house stealing back the nickel along with anything else that might be valuable. Unfortunately, the guys have no clear plan of action. Essentially, they’re both two, wants to plan things out ahead of time. All of this leads to an interesting scene which eventually forces the two men to face themselves, who they are, and the reality of their lives.

Similar to several other David Mamet works, American Buffalo builds to a climax, featuring a confrontation between Teach, Don, and Bobby; one or more of them may be double dealing. The tension is absolutely amazing!

While American Buffalo generally feels too stagy, director Michael Corrente does a pretty good job with Mamet’s script, reminding us that New York City, (decaying though it may be), lies just beyond the junk shop’s doors. Even as the rain and thunder pound outside, it has nothing on the tension that’s building around the characters.

Dustin Hoffman plays Teach with the kind of caged energy he used for Ratzo Rizzo more than twenty-five years earlier in Midnight Cowboy, but not nearly as effectively. Much of the time, it feels like he’s trying to ape his own character, and he seems miscast somehow. Al Pacino played Teach on stage, and perhaps he would have been better here. Dennis Franz does an excellent job as Don, but then after a couple of seasons as Detective Andy Sipowicz on NYPD Blue, he had perfected the role of a man racked with uncertainty. Should he trust Bobby? Should he trust Teach? Meanwhile, Sean Nelson, brings a mix of innocence and street tough to his portrayal of Bobby, but doesn’t have the screen presence to hold his own with more experienced co-stars.

Though flawed, American Buffalo is an intense ride. The tension at the end is nearly unbearable. The story starts a bit slow, but hang in there, and viewers will be rewarded with an interesting tale about loyalty, betrayal, and the ties that bind.

Presented in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Twilight Time has provided American Buffalo with a solid 1080p transfer. The image is sharp throughout. The only exception to this is a few specks of dirt noticeable largely during the second half of the film. Colors are vivid, and skin tones are consistently realistic. Contrast is dialed in.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo sound mix does its job, and does it well. Dialogue has been well recorded, and placed in the center channel. Thomas Newman’s score and the sparse sound effects are clear and precise.

English SDH subtitles are included.

The following extras are available:

  • Audio Commentary with Nick Redman and Julie Kirgo: The film historians undertake an interesting discussion regarding the play and its various stars (they both have seen it performed), the film version and performances, Mamet’s writing style, and more.
  • Isolated Score Track: Thomas Newman’s spare score is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo.
  • Theatrical Trailer (SD, 1:50)
  • MGM 90th Anniversary Trailer (HD, 2:06)
  • Six-Page Booklet: A nice selection of color stills, original poster art on the back cover, and film historian Julie Kirgo’s learned analysis of the film.

 

There are only 3,000 copies of this Blu-ray available. Those interested should go to www.screenarchives.com to see if product is still in stock. Information about the movie can also be found via Facebook at www.facebook.com/twilighttimemovies.