The movie is largely a slog to get through, though Christina Ricci’s presence is undeniably charming, and the song “Heart of the Sunrise” finds its place effectively, contributing to a strong underlying theme. After spending five years in prison close to Buffalo, a despondent man (Vincent Gallo) is freed and promptly abducts a young girl from a ballet school (Christina Ricci). She unexpectedly consents to play along with his scheme, pretending to be his wife so he can deceive his eccentric parents. His apparent goal seems centered around eliminating a football player for the Bills who disappointed him five years prior. Anjelica Huston, Mickey Rourke, Jan-Michael Vincent and Rosanna Arquette each appear in smaller parts. “Buffalo ’66” (1998) is an unconventional independent film that Gallo wrote and directed himself. My only familiarity with him comes from Coppola’s “Tetro” (2009), where he displayed a charisma reminiscent of Marlon Brando—though not quite to the same degree. Ricci stands out as a bright spot, possessing a delicate beauty and undeniable charm. However, I feel that many portions of the narrative could have been trimmed significantly, perhaps by a third or even half. As it stands, they drag on, particularly the lengthy scene at his parents’ home. Ultimately, the final section redeems the film with the well-timed use of Yes' “Heart of the Sunrise” and a significant observation about how unwavering love can transform something seemingly insignificant. The movie has a runtime of 1 hour and 50 minutes and was filmed in Buffalo, New York, as well as nearby locations like Gowanda, Lackawanna and Woodlawn. GRADE: C+/B-

Source on TMDB