Ever since "Twelve Just Men", including such pieces as "Death of a Salesman" (not the Hoffman version which I have not seen, I refer to a version way back in the 60s) or the tremendous "Whatever happened to Baby Jane?" and more recently "Peter's Friends", there has always been a certain appeal to me for theatre pieces converted into celluloid versions – especially if the job is well done. I think we can add "American Buffalo" to this list. May be it does not have the British subtlety for theatre, but at least it gives us an indication of where North American theatre has been going ever since Tennessee Williams or Arthur Miller. With only a cast of three obviously the accent is on interpretive skills; I can't help thinking Dennis Franz, in the rôle of a sleazy junk-shop owner and small-time criminal, gets the better of Dustin Hoffman, who tended to overact the difficult part of a no-good bum-parasite from time to time during the film. The third member of the cast, Sean Nelson, plays his part of an adolescent doing odd jobs around the shop more or less with correctness. Full marks for Michael Corrente's directing, but who really gets my vote is David Mamet whose dialogues (from his own play) are excellent - if one can overlook the (necessary?) use of strong language – and well handled by both Hoffman and Franz.

A film starring Dustin Hoffman, plus the chief super from the Hill Street Blues, from an adapted script by screen writing legend David Mamet, at a pocket-money price? Why hadn't I heard of it, what was wrong with it.

Nothing - except it's more a filmed play than a film, with almost all the talky dialogue taking place in a dusty old New York junk shop. Dustin Hoffman is superb, mixing a florid torrent of irrelevant comment, swearing and unease that is not a far cry from his brilliant turns in Rain Main and Midnight Cowboy. Dennis Franz, meanwhile is the shop's proprietor and is an almost opposite, a masterclass in understated body language as the rants from Teach (Hoffman) have become like water off a duck's back.

A third character, black youth Sean Nelson is the dog's body of the outfit and has his own agendas to deal with. The U.S coin of the title is one that might be worth a lot of money, or is it? Having sold it for more than they thought it worth, do they steal it back, just in case it's worth thousands?

Mamet's dialogue crackles with a crisp reality - Teach swears like a trooper, with F and C swear words jumbled up along with everything else. He's harmless, you conclude, if not obviously emotionally damaged. Donny, (Franz) says as much and as little as most shopkeepers say; only when it's needed to get a deal done; to clarify a point.

It undoubtedly would have had more impact and urgency within the confines of a set in an actual theatre, but on DVD it's OK. The shop, at least looks like a proper shop with a plethora of junk, the clutter adding to the feeling of messed up lives, somehow.

Sadly, this won't appeal to everyone. There's no real action to speak of, no pretty women to break up the squalid male-ness and like Teach's dialogue, the story goes round in circles. However, this tale of emerging bitterness and feelings of underachievement is palpable and engaging, if you let it. Personally, I'm glad I chanced upon it.

Another successful play conversion from a David Mamet play, with Dustin Hoffman replacing Al Pacino in the chief role. Maybe in this case the stage production would have been a superior viewing experience but there is still a lot to enjoy in the cinematic version. Some further strong supporting actors, get to grips with a wordy but engrossing dialog. Not as powerful as 'Glengarry G.R'' but 'cut from the same cloth' and certainly a worthy companion piece.