Drugstore Cowboy
dir. Gus Van Sant · 1989
Feature
Moral Ambiguity
Mood
Dark / Melancholic
Look
gritty realism with a muted color palette
Structure
episodic with a focus on character vignettes
Plot
Portland, Oregon, 1971. Bob Hughes is the charismatic leader of a peculiar quartet, formed by his wife, Dianne, and another couple, Rick and Nadine, who skillfully steal from drugstores and hospital medicine cabinets in order to appease their insatiable need for drugs. But neither fun nor luck last forever.
Why watch
"Drugstore Cowboy" immerses viewers in the chaotic world of addiction, where the thrill of theft and the weight of consequence collide. Gus Van Sant's gritty portrayal of a band of drug addicts reveals the fragility of dreams and the haunting allure of the underbelly of society.
Cultural context
1970s counterculturethe rise of drug culture in Americasocietal disillusionmentthe impact of addiction on relationships