Review of Space Cowboys (2000) by Carlos R — 18 Sep 2011

Being a Clint Eastwood fan (as an actor and as a director, even when there are several films of his I still got to watch for the first time), I am deeply disappointed by Space Cowboys. The film's lenght is 130 minutes and I think the first 2/3rds of the film were pretty good but not great.

There were several funny moments, a very good and interesting start, good character development and the performances were well done as well. Those 2/3rds weren't excellent precisely but just when I thought the film could only get better, the final 45 minutes arrived and the film was ruined. And I'm refering of course to all the space scenes, which were the climax of the film. I wasn't thrilled for any of those moments, and actually I considered to be pretty lame and boring. One of the major characters died and I didn't give a s#it about it, and I couldn't care less, and the final scene of the film, though original and symbolic, was somewhat ridiculous to me, and definitely not according to the film.

Eastwood's lack of real effort in the direction turned the film into nonsense and too predictable. I enjoyed much more his work in front of the camera than behind of it. I actually liked the first 80 or 85 minutes of the film, but its neverending finale ruined it for me.

OK, I wasn't initially expecting a masterpiece such as Unforgiven, Mystic River or Million Dollar Baby, but I was expecting something at least "good" like Hereafter, and I didn't even get that.