'' is a
1989 Film written and
Directed by
Gus Van Sant .
Matt Dillon stars in the title role, and
Kelly Lynch ,
Heather Graham , and
William S. Burroughs are also featured. ''Drugstore Cowboy'' was filmed mainly around
Portland ,
Oregon . The film's score was written by composer
Elliot Goldenthal . ''Drugstore Cowboy'' was Van Sant's breakthrough picture.
''Drugstore Cowboy'' was listed on the top ten list of both
Gene Siskel and
Roger Ebert for films released in 1989. The film was very well-received critically, allowing Van Sant to make next ''
My Own Private Idaho '', a more personal film.
The story follows Bob Hughes (Dillon) and his "family" of
Drug Addicts as they travel across the US
Pacific Northwest in the early 1970s, supporting their habit by robbing pharmacies and hospitals. A highlight of the film is an appearance by recovering addict
William S. Burroughs as Tom, a defrocked
Priest who lectures Bob on the dangers of temptation. After a tragedy strikes the "family" 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.
Van Sant's screenplay is based on the then-unpublished novel by
James Fogle . The novel was published in
1990 (ISBN 0-385-30224-X), by which time Fogle was released from prison - Fogle, like the characters in his story, was a long-time drug user and dealer.
- Bob: ''"Most people don't know how they're gonna feel from one moment to the next. But a dope fiend has a pretty good idea. All you gotta do is look at the labels on the little bottles."''
- Bob: ''"There's nothing more life-affirming than getting the shit kicked outta ya'."''
- Diane: ''"Bob's like a rabbit, in and out and no nonsense. That goes for a lot more than a hospital pharmacy."''
- Bob: ''"All these kids, they're all TV babies. Watching people killing and fucking each other on the boob tube for so long it's all they know. Hell, they think it's legal. They think it's the right thing to do."''
- Bob: ''"To begin with, nobody, and I mean nobody can talk a junkie out of usin'. You can talk to them for years, but sooner or later they're gonna get hold of somethin'. Maybe it's not dope, maybe it's booze, maybe it's glue, maybe it's gasoline. Maybe it's a gunshot in the head. But somethin'. Somethin' to release the pressures of their everyday life; like havin' to tie their shoes."''
See Also: Drugstore Cowboy (soundtrack)
The soundtrack includes songs that are contemporaneous with the film's setting, along with original music by
Elliot Goldenthal .
''Drugstore Cowboy'' won the following awards.
allmovie.com
