Skinny, ugly, unkempt and unlikeable Billy Brown (Vincent Gallo) is released from prison after 5 years and decides to drop in on his uncaring parents (Angelica Huston and Ben Gazzara) who only truly love the Buffalo football team (carefully not identified as the Bill's). Since he has told his parents that he is successful government employee with a loving wife he kidnaps the remarkably forgiving Layla (Christina Ricci) to pretend to be his wife. Unbeknownst to everyone Billy is out to kill the former field goal kicker for Buffalo whom he sees as being responsible for everything that went wrong in his life.
This is a very quirky and compelling film with some good performances and a lot of nuances, this seems to be very much a film about perceptions.
For Christina Ricci this one of a string of good performances that saw her breach that gap between child and adult roles apparently without a hitch.
The winter scenes of Buffalo are very bleak and really seem to ring true.
Despite his profoundly un-enjoyable follow-up effort "Brown Bunny" Vincent Gallo is obviously a talented film maker and it is unfortunate that he has not contributed more.
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