Review of Drugstore Cowboy (1989) by Ryan H — 21 Jul 2012

Bob: Most people don't know how they're gonna feel from one moment to the next. But a dope fiend has a pretty good idea. All you gotta do is look at the labels on the little bottles. .

Drugstore Cowboy is Gus Van Sant's ultra-realistic drug addict movie. If you're like me, you are sick of seeing movies that overplay the life of an addict. In most of these movies, the lead character or the addict, is either extremely pleasant(when high) or is throwing stuff, throwing up, beating up his wife or girlfriend of any number of other self destructive things(when he isn't high). The fact is, is that the way the life of an addict is shown is normally unrealistic. Drugstore Cowboy avoids falling into the same trap most movies do. It is realistic. It shows us an unglamorous look at a group of junkies, whose only thoughts are, where their going to get their next fix. They aren't emotionally turbulent; in fact their pretty mellow. Even when our lead is withdrawing, he isn't much different.

Four junkies, headed by Bob, rob drugstores in order to get their fix. They will do just about anything to get high. The police are also tailing them, just waiting for Bob to screw up in front of them. Bob has alienated his mother who is sick and tired of worrying about her son being alive or dead. Bob's wife, Diane, is part of the quad-dopers, but Bob isn't satisfying her either. All he wants is drugs. Whatever will get him high and keep him high, until he can find is next high is what he wants.

Matt Dillon gives an incredible performance as addict, Bob. This is a role that is tailor made for Dillon. It is possibly his best performance ever and he's helped by a good supporting cast and incredible direction as always from Van Sant. As far as my favorites from Van Sant goes, this one is just below a few of his films like Elephant, Good Will Hunting, and Paranoid Park. This is also more accessible Van Sant. It isn't one of his awkward movies like Paranoid Park, where he let's his unknown actors freestyle lyrics. This is one of his movies that you don't have to be a lover of his indie style to enjoy. That isn't to say that it is mainstream because it still isn't. It's just easier for the casual viewer, than say Elephant is.

As far as the movie goes, it is certainly a must watch. It's an amazing take on the average druggie's lifestyle. It's just what you'd expect from Van Sant as far as his filmmaking goes. He's a realistic filmmaker who isn't going to help the audience along by using standard drug user cliches. Instead, he turned the average drug film on its heels and it's a better film for it. It is a must see movie for Van Sant fans, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone, even if you aren't a Van Sant fan. Drugstore Cowboy is an important and well made film that deserves attention.