Search - Buffalo Bushido on DVD

Exceptional Low Budget Indie Film

W.E. | New York, USA | 06/21/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Buffalo Bushido is a deep and personal film about a man trying to come home. Treating the state-of-mind genre is delicate and McGennis captures it subtly approaching his disconnect-connect role from a real life angle and letting his story seep out until the last act where it really kicks into high gear. The use of layering in the film is superb. Animation, fantasy and flashbacks all bring us inside his character's head and allow the audience to experience his struggle to control the voices. The story rings with truth as many schizophrenic patients cling to the details of early memories and mutations of the past. Although we have an eerie sense of where this film might be taking us, the path reveals constant surprises and we never know what to expect.

The ensemble cast deliver excellent performaces across the board. Leila Arcieri does a very convincing job climbing into the passenger seat of car wreck while Jesse L. Martin and Fred Weller double team as antagonists (which are the voices of reason). Lord Jamar plays the grown-up bully perfectly. John Savage sizzles in his over-the-top, catalytic performance as the manic parole officer but the steak belongs to Bruce Glover who appears in many different guises and voice over capturing the lunatic in the head theme brilliantly through the film's warped humor. The Glover-McGennis alter ego scenes at the lobby desk are fantastic, humorous and reveal McGennis' skill of showing how the things are crystal clear inside his head while outside he is completely unaware of his dangerous polarity.

Buffalo Bushido is a film that haunts and sticks with you which I've found is a testament to films that hit a life chord. The fact that McGennis accomplished this in his hometown on an ultra low budget serving as writer, director producer and lead actor is incredible. The production value is off the charts from cinematography (shot on film) to sound design (Japanese fused score). Odd, original, meditative, honest and very powerful "Buffalo Bushido" is a thinking person's film especially not to be missed by anyone who appreciates the spirit of a true independent passion project."

Tremendous

R. Rich | Buffalo, NY | 06/19/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Buffalo Bushido is a film that strips back the layers of a man tormented by his past and provides an interesting glimpse into his psyche and the demons that haunt him. Coupled with a great soundtrack, fascinating animation and cinematography, you do not want to miss this movie."