Review of Drugstore Cowboy (1989) by Gabe R — 23 May 2011

The Year 1971, the place, Portland, Oregon. Here Bob (Matt Dillon) leads his crew of thieves consisting of his wife Diane (Kelly Lynch), Rick (James LeGros) a small time ex-convict, and Nadine (Heather Graham), Rick's girl. Their targets are drugstores and hospitals, hit not for the cash but for the prescription drugs used to feed their addictions. Bob's been on a winning streak...but for how long?

A look at a "family" of self described dope fiends living a nomadic life style threwout Portland and the Pacific Northwest, the legacy of the 60's counter-culture movement. Director Gus Van Sant (this was his breakout film), adapts the novel by James Fogel (himself a drug addict/dealer and convict). Van Sant clearly has sympathy for his subjects, the principle characters are all likeable, and under different circumstances would even be considered deceint, which makes it all the more difficult to watch them knowing the path they're on will lead to ruin. Of this Van Sant makes very clear by casting William S. Burroughs as a defrocked Catholic Priest/junkie looking like death incarnate. Matt Dillon gives a strong performance in one of his best roles as a man faced with the choice to continue his path to ruin or to try and turn it around*. James Remar and Max Perlich give memorable supporting performances as Bob's nemesis, a cop named Gentry (Remar) at first your typical authoritarian hard ass** but is given a few scenes to let us see him in a different light, and David (Perlich) a local dealer/addict (Max Perlich has made a career out of playing characters neck deep in the drug culture and does it so well one wonders if he's really acting). Recomended viewing.

SPOILERWARNING ..............................................................................................................................................................

* I liked how Dillon delivers his lines after getting into rehab describing "normal" life living in the same apartment, going to work every day, like this is a world or a way of life he never knew could be possable.

** Gentry's a hard ass for the first half, I liked the scene where he shows up in Bob's apartment after hearing Bob's in rehab. He's shown to be genuanly concerned for Bob, truly wanting him to break free from his old ways. Gentry's not just looking to bust heads and take names, he feels sorry for Bob and the rest and James Remar plays this scene wonderfully (watch his eyes). James Remar is one of the film industries best unheralded talents, having a career that strectches back to the late 70's, I honestly can't think of anything where I haven't liked him in.