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Drugstore Cowboy Details

1989 Certificate 18
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 3862 members

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

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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 Certificate 18
Collections 100 Eighties Greats
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Dubbed French, German, Spanish
Hearing-impaired English, German
Subtitles DVD: Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
Released DVD: 16 Sep 2002
Production year: 1989
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (3) of Drugstore Cowboy

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    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brings an extraordinary visual style to this credible, non-judgemental portrayal of addiction, which is based on an unpublished semi-autobiographical novel by prisoner James Fogle.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.

    • Radio Times
  • Bob (Dillon), his wife Dianne (Lynch), Rich (Le Gros) and Nadine (Graham) are junkies who survive by robbing pharmacies... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Most helpful member's review of Drugstore Cowboy

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  • 17 out of 17 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    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.

      • A customer from London
  • Most recent members' review of Drugstore Cowboy

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  • 2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Have a good trip

    This film is well worth a look. Its a story which takes you on a journey along the path of a dedicated, professional junkie. It is by no means a heavy film about drug addiction but on the other hand its not light either. Not as pacy as trainspotting and in many ways better because of that.

      • Frase from Southampton, England
  • News and features

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    The Italian

    Dillon honoured by Italian island

    • 04 Dec 2009

    Movie star Matt Dillon has been made an honoray citizen of Ischia after visiting the island during a recent trip to Italy. The Drugstore Cowboy star was thrilled when locals celebrated his arrival by handing him a key to the Mediterranean paradise, famous for it's therapeutic mud and thermal vents. But he was a little taken aback by the honour. He says, "It was nice, a good time." Dillon loves the idea of being linked to something Italian - because he's a big fan of the nation: "Every summer I Read more

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Rating breakdown

3,862 Member ratings
  • 100
257
  • 90
311
  • 80
826
  • 70
851
  • 60
760
  • 50
368
  • 40
240
  • 30
129
  • 20
89
  • 10
31

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    • 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 ...