SPACE COWBOYS
SYNOPSIS:
When Team Deadalus was grounded in 1958, four very disappointed (pissed off, more like
it) men were left out of the race into space: Frank Corvin (Clint Eastwood), Hawk Hawkins
(Tommy Lee Jones), Jerry O’Neil (Donald Sutherland) and Tank Sullivan (James Garner).
Four decades later, the Ikon Russian satellite, supposedly purely for communications, is
threatening to fall out of the sky after a circuitry malfunction that can’t be fixed
– because the design technology in it is too old. When NASA’s Bob Gerson (James
Cromwell) discovers that the design came from the brain of Frank Corvin, he enlists
Corvin, but only under duress. Corvin takes on the task for his nemesis from 1958, but
only if he can take the old Deadalus Team into space with him to make repairs. The
friction and adventure that is triggered in this agreement is set to rewrite history.
"A terrific script drives these veteran actors to pull out all their techniques
and twirl about in a movie that manages to combine self deprecating humour, wily stunts
and bravado adventure in a riveting and thoroughly entertaining mix. Just as we are lulled
into thinking the film is going to be a broad comedy of ageing jokes (the old would-be
astronauts are dubbed The Ripe Stuff), the script ups the ante into full-scale space
adventure, and does it far better than Mission to Mars did. There is probably a bias in my
enjoyment of these veterans turning into vanquishing heroes, but my younger companion
seemed to share the thrill of the ride. I guess there aren’t too many deep and
meaningful messages here, although some of the old Cold War wounds are given a little
scrape and the inter-personal conflicts make for plenty of texture. So do the action
scenes in space. Eastwood demonstrates his mastery of film technique as director and star,
and shows the young cats a thing or two about getting maximum mileage out of even the odd
cliché. For a top remedy against movie tedium, go for a ride with these cowboys;
you’ll be saddle sore but happy."
Andrew L. Urban
"The set up is irresistible, the impact is hugely entertaining and the resolution
satisfying. Space Cowboys is a launch pad winner! In fact, you get twice as much as you
expect. Firstly, there are the delights of the cast. I mean, what can you say about Clint
Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland and James Garner? And together in this witty,
slick scripted space adventure cum comedy, we see them as we have never seen them before.
There's plenty of repartee, great lines and the theme that the voice of experience speaks
louder than young, fit athletes is one that we embrace. They may not have the protocol and
the jargon, but these guys, who are getting a little long in the tooth, have an
inextinguishable and inspiring spirit. The story, told with a light touch and plenty of
charm, has a commendable balance of light and shade. We are rooting for the team from the
very start, and the attitude, the challenges and the obstacles are all hurdles that we
can't wait to overcome. But that's not all. The bonus is the spectacular space adventure
whose emotional impact is a welcome surprise. This is the film that Mission to Mars should
have been. The effects are extraordinary and the miniature work from Industrial Light and
Magic is astonishing. We feel as though we are in space – the exhilaration, the
terror and the reality. James Cromwell heads a great support cast as the sceptical NASA
bureaucrat, with Marcia Gay Harden appealing as the engineer with heart. The great look of
the film is achieved by production designer Henry Bumstead, and all the production team
are stalwart Eastwood regulars. Eastwood is a great director and one who knows exactly
what he wants. The film must have been a blast to work on – it looks as though
everyone had a heap of fun. It's long, but who cares? Spectacular, gripping, moving yet
very funny, Space Cowboys is a journey you shouldn't miss."
Louise Keller
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 HEAR Andrew L. Urban & Louise Keller talk about the film in Real Audio.
CRITICAL COUNT
Favourable: 2
Unfavourable: 0
Mixed: 0
See Jenny Cooney Carillo's interview with
CLINT EASTWOOD
 TRAILER
SPACE COWBOYS (PG)
(US)
CAST: Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, James Garner, Marcia Gay
Harden, William Devane, Loren Dean, Courtney B. Vance and James Cromwell
DIRECTOR: Clint Eastwood
PRODUCER: Clint Eastwood
SCRIPT: Ken Kaufman & Howard Klausner
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Jack. N Green ASC
EDITOR: Joel Cox
MUSIC: Lennie Niehaus
PRODUCTION DESIGN: Henry Bumstead
RUNNING TIME: 130 minutes
AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR: Roadshow
AUSTRALIAN RELEASE: October 5, 2000
VIDEO DISTRIBUTOR: Roadshow Home Ent
VIDEO RELEASE: July 11, 2001
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