Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
Average Rating: 8/10
Reviews Counted: 27
Fresh: 27 | Rotten: 0
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 9/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 0
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 21,264
My Rating
Movie Info
The operative word in Drugstore Cowboy is "drug". Matt Dillon plays the leader of a group of dopeheads who wander around the country robbing pharmacies to feed their habits. Dillon's chums include doltish James Le Gros and teen-age junkie Heather Graham; also along for the ride is Dillon's wife Kelly Lynch. Their nemesis is cop James Remar, whom Dillon takes perverse delight in humiliating. When one of the young addicts dies of an overdose, it promps Dillon to try to go straight, a task
Jan 1, 1989 Wide
Oct 19, 1999
Live Home Video
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Cast
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Matt Dillon
Bob -
Kelly Lynch
Dianne -
James LeGros
Rick -
Heather Graham
Nadine -
James Remar
Gentry -
William S. Burroughs
Tom the Priest -
Max Perlich
David -
Ted D'Arms
Neighbor Man -
Eric Hull
Druggist -
Ray Monge
Accomplice -
Robert Lee Pitchlynn
Hotel Clerk -
Beah Richards
Drug Counselor -
Stephen Rutledge
Motel Manager -
Grace Zabriskie
Bob's Mother -
Michael Parker
Crying Boy -
George Catalano
Trousinski -
John Kelly
Cop
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All Critics (27) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (27) | Rotten (0) | DVD (8)
All the actors are used expertly, but it's Burroughs, cropping up near the end, who articulates the film's sociopolitical moral in a contemporary context.
No previous drug-themed film has the honesty or originality of Gus Van Sant's drama Drugstore Cowboy.
Though hardly earth-shakingly original, Van Sant's low-budget movie takes a cool, contemplative and sometimes comic look at American drug-culture.
The film takes us so deeply into this shabby, transient world that we feel its texture -- both its scary thrills and its bleak, fatalistic uncertainty.
The movie stars Matt Dillon, in one of the great recent American movie performances.
The performers make their affectlessness expressive.
A frazzled, dangerous and dark comedy-drama.
One of those cult classics well worth investigating even if you have never so much as smoked a cigarette in your life.
Forthright junkie film.
Lyrically shot, this chronicle of a bunch of bumbling petty-criminals who steal pharmaceuticals is a tad too straightforward by Van Sant's standards, but the dialogue is funnt, the mood nonchalant, and Matt Dillon is terrific in the lead.
A darkly funny, stylish, and realistic look at the world of drug addiction in 1971.
Certainly one of the best drug movies ever made.
One of the best movies ever made about characters who live on the fringes of society. Gus Van Sant establishes himself as a major talent with this one.
Audience Reviews for Drugstore Cowboy
Super Reviewer
Drugstore Cowboy is Gus Van Sant's ultra-realistic drug addict movie. If you're like me, you are sick of seeing movies that overplay the life of an addict. In most of these movies, the lead character or the addict, is either extremely pleasant(when high) or is throwing stuff, throwing up, beating up his wife or girlfriend of any number of other self destructive things(when he isn't high). The fact is, is that the way the life of an addict is shown is normally unrealistic. Drugstore Cowboy avoids falling into the same trap most movies do. It is realistic. It shows us an unglamorous look at a group of junkies, whose only thoughts are, where their going to get their next fix. They aren't emotionally turbulent; in fact their pretty mellow. Even when our lead is withdrawing, he isn't much different.
Four junkies, headed by Bob, rob drugstores in order to get their fix. They will do just about anything to get high. The police are also tailing them, just waiting for Bob to screw up in front of them. Bob has alienated his mother who is sick and tired of worrying about her son being alive or dead. Bob's wife, Diane, is part of the quad-dopers, but Bob isn't satisfying her either. All he wants is drugs. Whatever will get him high and keep him high, until he can find is next high is what he wants.
Matt Dillon gives an incredible performance as addict, Bob. This is a role that is tailor made for Dillon. It is possibly his best performance ever and he's helped by a good supporting cast and incredible direction as always from Van Sant. As far as my favorites from Van Sant goes, this one is just below a few of his films like Elephant, Good Will Hunting, and Paranoid Park. This is also more accessible Van Sant. It isn't one of his awkward movies like Paranoid Park, where he let's his unknown actors freestyle lyrics. This is one of his movies that you don't have to be a lover of his indie style to enjoy. That isn't to say that it is mainstream because it still isn't. It's just easier for the casual viewer, than say Elephant is.
As far as the movie goes, it is certainly a must watch. It's an amazing take on the average druggie's lifestyle. It's just what you'd expect from Van Sant as far as his filmmaking goes. He's a realistic filmmaker who isn't going to help the audience along by using standard drug user cliches. Instead, he turned the average drug film on its heels and it's a better film for it. It is a must see movie for Van Sant fans, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone, even if you aren't a Van Sant fan. Drugstore Cowboy is an important and well made film that deserves attention.
Super Reviewer
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- Dianne: God damn it Bob? Why ya always gotta fix in the car?
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- Bob: You don't see people like me here. People like me kick alone in a holding cell.
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Foreign Titles
- Drogas, amor y muerte (ES)


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