loading...
Drugstore Cowboy
1989
Being a junkie is a full-time job for Bob (Matt Dillon), who leads his wife (Kelly Lynch) and another addicted couple (James LeGros and Heather Graham) on a reckless spree of drugstore robberies. When he has a brush with death, Bob realises he must leave both his addiction and his wife if he wants to survive. This indie classic .. Read more
| Starring | Matt Dillon, Kelly Lynch, James Le Gros, Heather Graham |
|---|---|
| Director | Gus Van Sant |
| Genres | Drama |
loading...
Drugstore Cowboy
Being a junkie is a full-time job for Bob (Matt Dillon), who leads his wife (Kelly Lynch) and another addicted couple (James LeGros and Heather Graham) on a reckless spree of drugstore robberies. When he has a brush with death, Bob realises he must leave both his addiction and his wife if he wants to survive. This indie classic by Gus Van Sant features an excellent performance by Dillon.
| Starring | Matt Dillon, Kelly Lynch, James Le Gros, Heather Graham, William S. Burroughs, James Remar, Grace Zabriskie, Max Perlich |
|---|---|
| Director | Gus Van Sant |
| Studio | MGM ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 45 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | 100 Eighties Greats |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | English |
| Dubbed | French, German, Spanish |
| Hearing-impaired | English, German |
| Subtitles | Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish |
| Released | DVD: 16 Sep 2002 Production year: 1989 |
| Format | DVD |
-
Critics' reviews (3)
View all -
This provocative and downbeat drama set in early 1970s Oregon looks at the sordid life of four junkies who rob pharmacies to support their habits. Director Gus Van Sant brings an extraordinary visual style to this credible, non-judgemental portrayal of addiction, which is based on an unpublished semi-autobiographical novel by prisoner James Fogle. Matt Dillon gives a compelling performance and The Naked Lunch author William S Burroughs appears in a cameo as a priest turned dope fiend. There's a good oldies soundtrack, too.
-
Bob (Dillon), his wife Dianne (Lynch), Rich (Le Gros) and Nadine (Graham) are junkies who survive by robbing pharmacies... read more on Time Out
-
Most helpful member's review
View all -
17 out of 17 people found this review helpful
Gus Van Sant : A Tribute
Right, I just wrote a 500 word review, posted it and the the hotmail link just expired, so i'm fuming right now. I can't really be bothered to pepper this review with funny anecdotes and quirky history lessons but let me just say, the film's pretty damn good. You probably know it's about drugs, but it's really not. It's about Matt Dillon being the coolest cat of the 80's in this wonderfully moving film about a druggie and his pals. And unlike Elephant it's not cold or distant, or seeped in sentimentality like Good Will Hunting, here it's pure unfettered emotion. Our 'hero' goes on a journey and in a sense so do we. This isn't a one note film nor does it glamourise the drug scene, it's darkly funny and very moving and for once, you give a crap about the characters and their lives without the need for special effects, ticking time bombs and car chases (not that there's anything wrong with that). Matt Dillon is simply sublime as Bob and so is his supporting cast, Van Sant is famous for directing so called 'pretty boys' and here he commands with considerable flair. I'm not one to rave about a film, but this one's pretty damn good. Catch it...but watch out for the hat.
-
Most recent members' review
View all -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Drugstore Cowboy
Brilliant film, managing to hold onto its appeal despite its age. Matt Dillon was fab playing a junkie who following a disconcerting situation tries to change his life. Also loved William Burroughs, who basically plays himself. Again, a brilliant film if you love the dirty underside of life or the antithesis of the American Dream.
-
More like this
View all
Related user collection
My Favourite Films (Ongoing) (50)
82.6% from 137 members
Showing 1 to 3 of 50
Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop
-
-
-
Drugstore Cowboy
Being a junkie is a full-time job for Bob (Matt Dillon), who leads his wife (Kelly Lynch) and another addicted couple (James LeGros and Heather Graham) on a reckless spree of drugstore robberies. When he has a brush with death, Bob realises he must leave both his addiction and his wife if he wants ...
-