Drugstore Cowboy Information

Drugstore Cowboy is a 1989 American crime drama film directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Van Sant and Daniel Yost, based on an 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.

At the time the film was made, the source novel by Fogle was unpublished.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

Plot

The story follows Bob Hughes (Matt Dillon) and his crew of drug addicts as they travel across the U.S. Pacific Northwest in 1971, 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.

Cast

• Matt Dillon as Bob Hughes
• Kelly Lynch as Dianne
• James Le Gros as Rick
• Heather Graham as Nadine
• Max Perlich as David
• James Remar as Gentry
• Grace Zabriskie as Mrs. Hughes
• William S. Burroughs as Tom

Production notes

Filming locations

Drugstore Cowboy was filmed mainly around Portland, Oregon, including in an area in the Pearl District that used to be a railyard, with a viaduct going over it.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack includes songs that are contemporaneous with the film's setting, along with original music by Elliot Goldenthal. It is one of his earliest works; in it he does not use an orchestra but a whole range of different instruments treated in a synthesizer. The score and soundtrack were also the first that Goldenthal worked on with Richard Martinez, a music producer whose "computer expertise and sound production assistance" became the basis for frequent subsequent collaborations. Allmusic rated this soundtrack three stars out of five.

Side One

1. For All We Know (4:58) - Abbey Lincoln
2. Little Things (2:25) - Bobby Goldsboro
3. Put a Little Love in Your Heart (2:38) - Jackie DeShannon
4. Psychotic Reaction (3:06) - The Count Five
5. Judy in Disguise (2:56) - John Fred and His Playboy Band
6. The Israelites (2:47) - Desmond Dekker & The Aces

Side Two

7. Yesterday's Jones (0:45)
8. Morpheus Ascending (1:17)
9. Monkey Frenzy (2:20)
10. Wonder Waltz (1:19)
11. White Gardenia (1:54)
12. The Floating Hex (1:37)
13. Mr. F. Wadd (1:02)
14. Elegy Mirror (0:48)
15. Panda The Dog (0:51)
16. Heist And Hat (1:36)
17. Strategy Song (2:04)
18. Bob's New Life (2:48)
19. Clockworks (0:32)
20. Cage Iron (1:03)
21. Goodnight Nadine (1:28)

Reception

The film was very well received critically, being listed on the Top Ten list of both Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert for films released in 1989. It holds a rare 100% rating at Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 8.9/10 based on 27 reviews.

Awards and honors

Drugstore Cowboy won the following awards:

• L.A. Film Critics Association (1988) "? Best Screenplay (Dan Yost, Gus Van Sant)
• National Society of Film Critics (1988) "? Best Film, Best Director
• Independent Spirit Award (1989) "? Best Actor (Matt Dillon), Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (Max Perlich)
• New York Film Critics Circle (1989) "? Best Screenplay