Director: Gus Van Sant

Keywords: Crime, Drama

A hat on the bed??

Name	Occupation	Birth	Death	Known for
William S. Burroughs	Author	5-Feb-1914	2-Aug-1997	Naked Lunch
Matt Dillon	Actor	18-Feb-1964		Drugstore Cowboy
Heather Graham	Actor	29-Jan-1970		Rollergirl in Boogie Nights
James LeGros	Actor	27-Apr-1962		Living in Oblivion
Kelly Lynch	Actor	31-Jan-1959		Drugstore Cowboy
Max Perlich	Actor	28-Mar-1968		Brodie on Homicide
James Remar	Actor	31-Dec-1953		The Warriors
Beah Richards	Actor	12-Jul-1920	14-Sep-2000	Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Grace Zabriskie	Actor	17-May-1941		Sarah Palmer in Twin Peaks

REVIEWS

Review by Wayne J. Cormack (posted on 27-Sep-2005)

Gritty, uncompromising and a very stark glimpse into the lives of four young drug addicts. They rob pharamacies, hole up in low places, shoot up, believe in jinxes, exchange humorous dialogue, and then move on, to do it all over again. This film has depth. Matt Dillon, as the 'leader' has rarely been this believable in a role. Kelly Lynch is gorgeous, even when she's strung out. Her character is finely tuned. Little Max Perlich, the rat faced character actor who usually can be counted upon to show up somewhere in a film about drug addiction, plays his doper/punk like it was just another day in the office.

Shot in the Pacific Northwest, this is no glamour run. These people are serious about their drugs and going about getting them, is what drives their very existance.

I enjoyed the late 70s backdrop and the light, breezy music juxtaposed against the grim reality of drug addiction is high art. The Matt Dillon character, the most insightful and reflective of the group, call his contemporaries, "TV babies". It is a befitting epitath for this lost generation, whereas instand gratification is of paramont importance. Outwitting the cops, taking it on the lamb and breaking into drug store pharamacies, may not be John Dillenger robbing banks, but for these characters, this setting and these activities, provide the perfect backdrop for their desperation and self-mockery.

The film deserves closer examination. It's not just another drug explotation film. It treats it's subject matter seriously, but knows when to throw in the hard earned laughs, as well. The acting is stellar. I actually did enjoy this one more, the second time around. Probably picking up on more subtlety and nuanced comedy, than after the first viewing.

The ending, is not a Hollywood ending, by any means, but there is a shot of redemption thrown in for good measure. Do yourself a favor and catch this underrated, if not underexposed little gem. If for no other reason, than to see Matt Dillon act and the late William S. Burrows salivate over a gift of pharmacutical diluadid.

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