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American Buffalo (1996)

tomatometer

86

Average Rating: 7.4/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 1

No consensus yet.

audience

44

liked it
Average Rating: 2.9/5
User Ratings: 2,421

My Rating

Movie Info

David Mamet's play about three losers planning a robbery is brought to the screen in an admirably simple, straightforward manner. Don (Dennis Franz) is the owner of an "antique store" (read: junk shop) who discovers that the buffalo head nickel he recently sold to a coin collector was a lot more valuable than he imagined. Don hatches a scheme in which he and Bobby (Sean Nelson), a teenage kid who works at the shop, will steal the nickel back and sell it for a much higher price. Teach (Dustin

R, 1 hr. 28 min.

Mystery & Suspense, Drama

Jan 23, 2001

Hallmark Entertainment

All Critics (43) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (20) | Rotten (6) | DVD (3)

A three-character, one-set chamber piece, pic lacks the bravura moments of the film version of the playwright's Glengarry Glen Ross

April 29, 2005 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Dustin Hoffman channels his Ratso Rizzo character from the 1969 Midnight Cowboy.

October 1, 2010 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Mesmerized by the trademark Mamet gutter poetry, Corrente directs unobtrusively and respectfully.

July 23, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comment
eFilmCritic.com

In this overly theatrical version, Hoffman gives a mediocre performance in a role that Al Pacino excelled with on stage. Failing to open up Mamet's play, confined to one locale--a junk store--the film is claustropobhic and dull, lacking emotional payoff

February 12, 2007 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

A colossal letdown that ends up running in place.

January 23, 2006 Comment
Fantastica Daily

My example of a great Back Shelf Beauty

April 15, 2004 Comment
WaffleMovies.com

There is little sense of tension, nor any dramatically sound resolution. American Buffalo seems to end rather abruptly - but not a moment too soon

November 16, 2003 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comment
eFilmCritic.com

Powerful and overlooked,lost in the shuffle.

August 30, 2002 Comment
Zap2it.com
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for American Buffalo

A great movie version of a great play.

November 20, 2006
mjgildea

Super Reviewer

What are we talking about? We're talking business!

November 21, 2010
mattsigur1
matt sigur

Super Reviewer

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