source: Drugstore Cowboy

Trailer—Drugstore Cowboy

Drugstore Cowboy

Alternating between amusing and distressing, this film is one of the best of the drug culture genre. I like it's simplicity and its West Coast-ishness. Matt Dillon is amazing. The script is great - Dillon has tons of great lines. Good performances all around actually. Well worth seeing.

30th Anniversary: 1989 - the Best Year in Cinema Marathon Film #74/100: "Drugstore Cowboy" (1st Viewing.) I'm no druggie, but I can spot one from a mile away and one thing that this movie made perfectly clear: Not a single actor in this film has ever used up to this point. I NEVER ONCE believed any of these people were high or long-term users. While the film was well made and mediocrely acted, it was so hard to get past the fact that these people obviously never met an addict. Oh, well. No recommendation due to the unbelievable portrayals.

A pharmacy-robbing dope fiend (Matt Dillon) and his crew pop pills and evade the law. I was never really into the drug culture. I had friends who were, and some who still are. None who reached the point of robbing pharmacies, but still knee-deep in their own way. This film does a great job of showing the best and the worst of that world. Before "Trainspotting" or "Requiem for a Dream", this really got the point across... and with an incredible cameo from William S. Burroughs. This is easily Matt Dillon's best role. He had a good run in the 1980s and 1990s, but seems to have fizzled out after "Something About Mary" and "Wild Things". A shame, really. Even Heather Graham is pretty good here, and she was still in the phase of being a love interest for the two Coreys.

Excellent movie that stands the test of time and is likely even more relevant today than when it was made. Not exactly a feel good flick but if you're in the mood for a little depressing drama, this movie will not disappoint. Excellent characters, script, and acting. Matt Dillion crushes this role and a young Heather Graham is icing on the cake. Really a well done film across the board, definitely worth seeing

Drugstore Cowboy takes a look an element of the drug/crime subculture without glamorising, sensationalising or demonising it. I honestly can't think of another film on a similar subject that has managed to pull off this balance so successfully. We care about the characters, but are completely aware of their (many) flaws. We are shown that drugs are pleasurable, but given a realistic portrayal of the great damage they can do. The crime scenes are exciting but we never lose sight of how risky and sometimes pathetic the crimes are. This film is moral without moralising and humane without romanticising or sentimentalising the subject. Drugstore Cowboy may lack the visceral punch of a film like Trainspotting, but has a subtlety, depth and heart missing from other more voyeuristic cinematic treatments of drug use.

It's 1971 American Northwest. Rob (Matt Dillon), his girlfriend Dianne (Kelly Lynch), his second Rick (James Le Gros) and Rick's girl Nadine (Heather Graham) are all drug addicts. They rob drugstores with well planned schemes. Federal agent Gentry (James Remar) stakes out the group waiting for them to slip up. Director Gus Van Sant brings a jazzy hypnotic sense to the feel of being on drugs. He infuses the movie with an off-center sense of humor. The four leads all contribute some great work. Matt Dillon is a terrific lead. Kelly Lynch is a perfect match. She has the same power without the manic personality of Dillon. James Le Gros is a great second and Heather Graham is build to be a victim in this movie.

This is easily Gus Van Sant's best movie and contains Matt Dillon's best performance. The other cast members are also terrific, but the part of "Bob" is greatly realized by Dillon and he shines. The movie is difficult to watch at times but you get something out of it to think about when its over. I also must mention a great scene between Lynch, Matt & Matt's mother, played by Grace Zabriskie. To top it all off, this is also Heather Graham's best movie and she delivers as well. A blues soundtrack and beautiful cinematography make this one to remember.