Christina Ricci: 8 Roles That Have Defined Her Career
5. Layla Buffalo 66 (1998)
As Ricci hit legal adulthood, so too did the considerably more grown-up, considerably less Hollywood roles come flooding in. These included a profanity-laden leading role in black comedy The Opposite of Sex, and a noteworthy supporting role in Terry Gilliams cult adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. But actor Vincent Gallos directorial debut proved to be perhaps her most unconventional work up to that point, and arguably the role which most cemented her as an adult (as well as providing a mini-Addams Family reunion thanks to the casting of Anjelica Huston). Some might reasonably argue this particular role doesnt warrant mention as a definitve role, given how little Ricci seems to have been given to work with: we hear her name only once, and learn little to nothing of who she is. Ostensibly, Layla serves little function than to facilitate Gallos Billy Brown, a flaky, motor-mouthed ex-con who abducts her on a whim to pose as his wife at an uncomfortable reunion with his parents. Layla might also be classed as an early example of the now painfully over-familiar indie movie trope of the manic pixie dream girl (only without so much of the manic): she serves purely as the male leads means of redemption, with no real development of her own. Also, given Ricci had only just about turned 18 at the time, its not hard to find Gallos camerawork creepily voyeuristic at points, despite the absence of nudity. All this being said, if we can accept the film on its own terms as a grimy, working class fairy tale, then there is plenty to enjoy in Buffalo 66. Theres a wonderfully dreamlike quality to the film, it boasts one of Riccis most iconic looks, and despite the overwhelmingly downbeat narrative, its ultimate message is one of hope. Given that Ricci herself is the embodiment of this hope, its hard to look too unkindly on the film overall.
