Drugstore Cowboy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Drugstore Cowboy

Video Poster
Directed by Gus Van Sant
Produced by Karen Murphy
Cary Brokaw
Nick Wechsler
Written by Gus Van Sant
Daniel Yost
James Fogle (Novel)
Starring Matt Dillon
Kelly Lynch
James Remar
James Le Gros
Heather Graham
William Burroughs
Music by Elliot Goldenthal
Cinematography Robert Yeoman
Editing by Mary Bauer
Curtiss Clayton
Distributed by International Video Entertainment
Avenue Pictures
Release date(s) October 9, 1989
Running time 102 min.
Country United States
Language English
Budget $2,500,000[1]
Box office $4,729,352[1]

Drugstore Cowboy is a 1989 American crime drama film directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Van Sant and Daniel Yost, based on a autobiographical novel by James Fogle. Matt Dillon stars in the title role, and Kelly Lynch, Heather Graham, and William S. Burroughs are also featured. It was Van Sant's breakthrough picture.

The film's score was written by composer Elliot Goldenthal. It was very well received critically,[2] being listed on the Top Ten list of both Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert for films released in 1989.

At the time the film was made, the source novel by Fogle was unpublished. It was later published in 1990,[3] by which time Fogle had been released from prison. Fogle, like the characters in his story, was a long-time drug user and dealer.

Contents

[edit] Background

Drugstore Cowboy was filmed mainly around Portland, Oregon, at the Pearl District, in an area that used to be a railyard, with a viaduct going over it; now the district has turn into full urbanization, with the viaduct taken down and many new condominiums brought to the downgraded places.[4]

The film is based on the autobiographical work of the same title by James Fogle, who has been in trouble with the law many times before and since the film's release. On May 27, 2010, Fogle was arrested, along with another man, of robbing a drugstore in Redmond, WA. He was held on $500,000 bail as he awaited trial.

Fogle was again arrested for robbing a Seattle pharmacy in 2011. On Friday, March 4, 2011, he was sentenced to 15 years and nine months in prison.[5]

[edit] Plot

The story follows Bob Hughes (Matt Dillon) and his crew of drug addicts as they travel across the US Pacific Northwest in the early 1970s, supporting their habit by robbing pharmacies and hospitals. After a tragedy strikes the group, Bob decides to try to "go straight", but finds that there is more to extricating himself from the drug user's lifestyle than just giving up drugs.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Soundtrack

The soundtrack includes songs that are contemporaneous with the film's setting, along with original music by Elliot Goldenthal.

[edit] Awards and honors

Drugstore Cowboy won the following awards:

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Navigation
Interaction
Toolbox
Print/export
Languages