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Sundance Film Festival 2003:
'Buffalo Soldiers'
With Sharon Waxman
Washington Post Style Correspondent
Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003; 1 p.m. ET
Hollywood & Vine has taken its show on the road -- to Robert Redford's Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, the darling of the independent film community and has launched careers of filmmakers including Steven Soderbergh (1989's "Sex, Lies and Videotape"), Edward Burns (1995's "The Brothers McMullen"), Kevin Smith (1994's "Clerks") and Robert Rodriguez (1993's "El Mariachi"). Films that went on to acclaim, including "Real Women Have Curves" (2002), "Memento" (2001) "You Can Count On Me" (2000), "The Blair Witch Project" (1999), "The Opposite of Sex" (1998), "Hoop Dreams" (1994) "Blood Simple" (1985), first caught the eye of critics and audiences there.
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Scott Glenn in "Buffalo Soldiers"
(Miramax Films)
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Washington Post Style correspondent Sharon Waxman made her annual pilgrimage to check out the talent, and brought back a couple of guests: director Gregor Jordan and actor Scott Glenn of the upcoming film "Buffalo Soldiers."
"Buffalo Soldiers" is a darkly comic satire in the tradition of "M*A*S*H," about a group of soldiers stationed in West Germany in 1989 who use the Army as a base for dealing drugs, selling weapons and committing a host of petty crimes. Joaquin Phoenix stars as Elwood, a convicted criminal who joins the Army as an alternative to jail and is a successful black marketeer. Scott Glenn is his new regulation-minded sergeant, and Elwood's biggest nightmare. The film was bought by Miramax just before Sept. 11, and is expected to be released in May. Jordan was with us to answer questions about the film, as was Glenn -- on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 1 p.m. ET.
The transcript follows.
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Sharon Waxman: Hey all! We're coming to you live from the sunny, activity-packed Sundance Film Festival, where the movies have been winning lots of interest from distributors, journalists and fans. One of the most interesting films I've seen here is "Buffalo Soldiers," a military satire that is one of the more subversive films I've seen lately, particularly given the current war-minded climate.
Welcome to Gregor Jordan, the director of "Buffalo Soldiers," which Miramax is releasing (after some delay) in March, and to Scott Glenn.
GJ: Hello everyone.
SG: How you doin.
Sharon Waxman: SW: Gregor, can you tell us a bit about the genesis of this project?
GJ: It's based on a book by an American writer called Robert O'Connor. He'd been meeting a lot of soldiers who'd been coming back from Germany through his work as a counselor. He kept hearing these strange stories of gangsterism and corruption on these army bases, and thought it would be an interesting topic for a book.
I came to the project in late 99 and started my own adaptation of the book.
Sharon Waxman: SW: And what happened as I understand it from the press, is that Miramax bought the film just before 9/11, as in days before 9/11.
GJ: They bought it on the evening of 9/10.
SG: It was midnight when they closed the deal.
SW: We're talking about the Toronto Film Festival, where most activities stopped short in their tracks, of course, after the bombings. So, after that, the topic of the film, I'm sure, became much more --
GJ: It became, yeah, controversial. It became a bit of a black sheep of a film. Miramax tested the film in New York last January and the audience seemed to not be able to believe what they were seeing. They had problems with the credibility of the storyline in the world.
Washington, D.C.:
If Miramax bought this movie more than a year ago, why is it being released this spring?
Sharon Waxman: GJ (continuing): They tested the film at the same theater in New York just last December, and the reaction was totally the opposite.
SW: Wow.
GJ: Overwhelmingly. The audience said it was refereshing to see the army portrayed in a different light, non-glorified way.
SW: I'll say. Buffalo Soldiers makes Three Kings look like
GJ: Gomer Pyle?
SW: Exactly. For those who haven't seen it, which is all of you out there, it's not just petty crime. These soldiers are cooking huge vats of heroin in the dispensary buliding, and selling stinger missiles they've hijacked and are hiding at a nuclear base.
Washington, D.C.:
Scott, what made you want to play this character? He sounds awfully different than, say, Alan Shepard. Love your work, by the way.
Sharon Waxman:
Scott Glenn: The two things were, at the risk of embarrasing present company - I saw Gregor's film 'Two Hands' when I was at Mount Cook shooting 'Vertical Limit.' An actor-friend from that film had a screening in New Zealand at Mount Cook, and I thought Holy Cow. I thought it was an amazing film, and I said, "What's this guy like to work with?' He said, 'He's great..."
Just a few weeks after I finished Vertical Limit I was in New York, one of two places where I lived, and my manager called me up and said how would you like to meet Gregor Jordan who is doing a film called Buffalo Soldiers. I loved the part of sergeant Robert E. Lee. The reason I do everything I ever do is that I want to step into the boots of a character for a while. And I thought Robert E. Lee was fascinating for a lot of reasons.
Sharon Waxman:
SW: Scott's character is the polar opposite, in many ways, of Ray Elwood, played by Joaquin Phoenix. Sergeant Lee is not just a law-and-order type, he's done three tours in Viet Nam and you might say he has some anger management issues. He seems professionally wired to be set off by someone like Elwood, who's working the system for his own benefit.
SG: To some extent you're right. I, as Lee, feel that soldiers in the peacetime army haven't earned the right to wear the uniform. But not because they're so bad, more because they're not anywhere near bad enough. If they were criminals on a psychotic level and warriors on the same level, I could put up with them. But from my point of view they're just a bunch of degenerate punks. The best thing that could possibly happen to them is that they would die. There's definitely psychosis working there.
Arlington, Va.:
Mr. Jordan, can you talk at all about working with Miramax? Since they're releasing your film I wouldn't expect huge criticism, but I'm just curious about how Miramax works vs. other companies and studios.
Sharon Waxman:
GJ: It's been difficult and interesting so far. Mainly because this movie is a tricky movie to release properly at the best of times. Given the current political climate and the film's subject matter, to properly release and market this film needs a lot of special care. I guess I was frustrated by Miramax holding the release off. But based on the two test screenings we saw, I thought they were incredibly smart to do what they did.
I was always philosophical about releasing this film. I didn't want it to be put out at the wrong time and have the audience miss it, just because they weren't in the right frame of mind to accept what the film was about. And Miramax have been very clever in holding it back. I think now is a really good time for this film to come out because there is a big section of the community who are really questioning the government's actions in terms of the way it uses its military.
SW: Do you have an opinion about going to war in Iraq? And do you really think this film can be released in May if in fact we do go to war before then?
Sharon Waxman:
GJ: I don't think it's really my place to be making comments about one government's particular politics. I don't see myself as a political spokesman. Buffalo Soldiers is a political film to a certain extent, but to me what the film is more about are human truths. It asks questions about why people want to go to war, why wars keep happening, rather than commenting on any particular conflict.
It happens to be set in peacetime [1989], so it's quite ironic that there's so much death and mayhem, and that's what the film is making a statement on.
SG: I hate when actors pontificate on things like politics and philosophy.
GJ: That's my attitude as well. Who cares what I think?
SG: In sociology they've got this thing called the halo effect, which means if you're famous you can make pronouncements on just about anything and people will pay a lot more attention to you than you deserve. Obviously Saddam Hussein is a gangster and an easy target. Whether he's a real threat to the country, next to a place like North Korea, is questionable. Especially since he lives in a country much more easily militarilly bullied and filled with oil. It seems to me what this movie is about, like Gregor said, is the human condition.
The people I've talked to who've seen it have compared it more to Catch-22 than anything else. It has that kind of odd absurdity that seems to be highlighted by the military experience.
Having said that, I was a United States Marine, and therefore to some extent, still am, and proud of that.
Long Beach, Calif.:
I had a pal who was stationed in W.Germany during 'Nam, and he and his pals were Buffalo Soldiers for sure. They were on hash and acid ALL THE TIME. They had an apartment off base which they turned into a hash palace. They ended up dosing a "lifer" soldier who was riding them with LSD, and were arrested when the Military Police raided their apartment looking for a stolen leather jacket. They were arrested when the M.P.'s found some hash in a matchbox. The charges were dropped when their attorney asked the M.P. if he was looking for the jacket in the matchbox. Now, whenever I hear the old blues lyrics "will a matchbox hold my clothes," I think of my maniac drug crazed pal and his time in Germany.
Sharon Waxman: GJ: I don't quite know what to say. It's that attitude that's at the heart of this film.
Washington, D.C.:
Mr. Jordan -- Given the rah-rah atmosphere currently about the military, with the upcoming war in Iraq and the ongoing war on terrorism, what drew you to the material? Do you think it'll sell?
Sharon Waxman: GJ: I grew up on military bases in Australia and I guess I was always confused by the fact that my father, who was a pilot [Australian], and fought in Viet Nam, always talked about war with a certain amount of fondness.
This idea went against most of the depictions of war that I'd seen in other films, and the notion that there's a lot of people out there who really like war was something I hadn't really seen before. I guess to that extent this movie is always going to be topical. There's a line in the film which says 'There's always some where going on somewhere with someone.' The movie is potentially going to have appeal the same kinds of people who went to see M.A.S.H. in the middle of the Viet Nam war.
Washington, D.C.:
Mr. Glenn, sorry this is off topic from the movie you're here to talk about, but you played a Washington Post reporter in "Courage Under Fire," and now you're here on the Post Web site. Is that weird? Or have I had too much coffee?
Sharon Waxman: SG: I suggest you switch to green tea.
Washington, D.C.:
FYI -- at the movies yesterday I saw a poster for "Buffalo Soldiers" -- no trailer yet, but when I read today that you were going to be on, I thought hey, I know that movie. Have you adapted books for the screen before, or written other movies?
Sharon Waxman: GJ: This was the first novel I adapted for the screen. I never would have been able to have written this without that novel. The research and the knowledge of this strange world of Buffalo Soldiers that went into that novel was quite incredible. I guess the real credit for this film should go to the author of it, O'Connor.
Sharon Waxman:
SW: I had a thought during the film that this might be something that the growing anti-war movement might rally around, or embrace. Particularly in California, where I live, you hear a lot about this movement, and I believe they rallied in Washington again this past weekend in the tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands?
GJ: Anyone who goes to an anti-war rally is someone who thinks about the current political state of affairs. I think it's right for these people to be asking questions. I think everyone should be asking questions about this particular potential conflict. Buffalo Soldiers is a film that asks the same sort of questions, so yes, it can potentially appeal to these kinds of people.
SW: If I can argue for a moment. Buffalo Soldiers strikes me less as a film that asks questions about war; it's a deeply nihilistic view of the modern-day army, and that in itself is controversial given the ultra-patriotic atmosphere we seem to live in.
GJ: I wouldn't say it's nihilistic. The lead character Ray Elwood is a nihilist. But at the end of the day it's asking the question of why we keep going to war. There's a quote by Nietzsche that starts the book and is in the movie, which is, When there is peace the war-like man attacks himself.
SG: I think there's another audience for this film that really has not a lot to do with any of this. My manager's 16-year-old son went to a screening in New York and said that he wanted to see it again with his friends as soon as possible. His dad asked him Why, and he said, Because it's dark, edgy, sexy, scary and funny. That's fromj a 16-year-old kid's point of view.
SW: What a plug!
Bethesda, Md.:
Mr. Glenn, what's your relationship to Ed Harris's character in "Buffalo Soldiers"? And I'm sorry to note the obvious, but how cool -- a "Right Stuff" reunion.
Sharon Waxman: SG: My relationship to Ed Harris' character is peripheral at best. It was fun working with him, Ed's a friend of mine. It's the third film we did together.
SW: I hate to say this, but Gregor and Scott have to dash off to the premiere of their film here. I want to thank you both for coming on, and we look forward to seeing the film in theaters.
GJ: Thanks for all the great questions. Hope you like the movie.
SG: Me too.
SW: Thanks, see you.
Sharon Waxman: SW: Those guys have dashed out, but there's time for some more questions about Sundance...
Alexandria, Va.:
What was the reaction to the movie at Sundance?
Sharon Waxman:
Honestly, the film had been seen by most of the inside Hollywood community at Toronto, where it was a hot property until Miramax snapped it up. So it wasn't new to many people here, and Sundance is always about what's the latest, hottest, newest phenomenon.
Arlington, Va.:
As a film buff and a Suncance Channel subscriber, I completely buy in to the idea/philosophy that make both work. What's the difference between that idea/philosophy and the reality? washingtonpost.com:
Sharon's story today: Sundance, Casting a Very Long Shadow (Post, Jan. 21, 2003)
Sharon Waxman: Hmmm, I'm not sure what you mean. If you mean is there a market for independent film, clearly there is. Robert Redford announced here a new agreement with a theater chain, I fairly sure it was Loew's, to showcase four Sundance films in August. It's a way to give theatrical exposure to independent film. But it's certainly a struggle. You hear a lot of complaining this year about the difficulties of finding funding for films, the hangover from the flush days of the dot-com boom.
Washington, D.C.:
I read on Page Six (sorry, Washington Post) that Oliver Stone was shopping around his Castro project and is working on a film on Arafat. Any buzz?
Sharon Waxman: You can read about that in today's story too in the WPost, but not exactly as you've mentioned. The Castro film already belongs to HBO and will air sometime in the next couple of months. The Arafat film was shot last year, but as I understand it from Stone, he has not yet put it together. Right now he's very busy working on an "Alexander the Great" epic - one of a whole bunch of toga movies in the works - starring Colin Farrell.
Baltimore, Md.:
Sharon! Glad to have you back. What was the best film you saw at Sundance this year? How'd it compare to past years?
Sharon Waxman: Thanks. Inevitably it's a bit hit or miss when you come to festivals, and I'm not staying all the way through, so I will undoubtedly miss some great films. I'm hearing from a lot of people that "Pieces of April," starring Katie Holmes and Patricia Clarkson is wonderful, I'm sure someone will buy it. I haven't seen it, though. Probably my favorite film up to now was "The United States of Leland," starring Ryan Gosling. I wrote about it in the story that ran today.
Arlington, Va.:
I guess I meant that "independent" isn't exactly "independent" any more -- and that I keep hearing about Sundance getting more corporate and big money-oriented. True? False? Should I stop watching E!?
Sharon Waxman: I'd tell you to stop watching E!, except it's one of the great guilty pleasures in life. But I definitely wouldn't rely on them for news.
Sundance seems to have more movie stars every year, and yes, there is a certain money aspect in the bidding wars that go on. But I must say that the festival at its heart really still feels like it is about having a place for creative films, or daring or experimental films, or films that would not get made within the Hollywood establishment. That also goes for the films here that have movie stars.
I really try not to spend my time here milking the movie star moments, and try just to watch a lot of films. There's always a surprise gem to be found at Sundance.
(That said, it's also extremely useful to me to bump into people who in Los Angeles it takes me weeks to contact.)
Washington, D.C.:
Sharon -- sent this question early but not sure if you got it. I'll shorten. I'm heading to Sundance tomorrow to hangout with my best friend, an aspiring filmmaker whos trying to pitch a couple of screenplays he's penned. Question: whats the best way we can use this experience to forward his interests/career? (Broad Q, I know.)
Sharon Waxman: Hmmm. Just being here is an enormous advantage, because there are constant opportunities for serendipitous meetings everywhere you go - on the bus, in line for tickets, in the restaurant bathroom. (And many people wear their credentials, so you can even see their names!) Don't forget that Ed Burns got 'discovered' when he shoved a tape of "Brothers McMullen" into Redford's hands in an elevator during Sundance; Redford actually went home and watched it. The Hollywood people who are here are really looking for talent, so keep your eyes and ears peeled and you are bound to make some useful connections.
Sydney, Australia:
I'm coming from Australia to the festival as part of my U.S. vacation. Besides watching movies, what do you do? How do you Sundance?
Sharon Waxman: Hey Sydney. You'll find a lot of compatriots here, and not just Gregor Jordan. I think it's definitely one of those you'll-figure-it-out-when-you-get-here kind of things. Sundance is very chaotic, and you're as likely to fall into a free screening of somebody's movie in the basement of a restaurant as to encounter Ryan Gosling on the slopes. Last night Steve Buscemi - Steve Buscemi! - was actually handing out flyers for a screening he's hosting of a documentary. That's Sundance.
Sharon Waxman: That's all we've got time for today since I have to go catch a plane. But thanks for coming, thanks for all the great questions, it's been great fun. Ciao and Happy Sundance!
washingtonpost.com:
That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the
discussion.
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