"SPACE COWBOYS" (2000) ****1/2 out of ***** Reviewed by R. L. Strong CLINT EASTWOOD; TOMMY LEE JONES; DONALD SUTHERLAND; JAMES GARNER; MARCIA GAY HARDEN; JAMES CROMWELL WRITTEN BY KEN KAUFMAN & HOWARD KLAUSNER PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY CLINT EASTWOOD Rated PG-13 for Mild language and Adult themes. Running time: 130 minutes. Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Panavision (2.35:1)
Clint Eastwood has long been regarded as one of the most professional and charismatic filmmakers today. With an oeuvre that includes such bona fide classics as "The Outlaw Josey Wales", "Unforgiven", and "Play Misty for Me", Eastwood has always been an expert storyteller and Director of surprising depth and humor. Directing his first Science Fiction film since 1983's "Firefox", Eastwood brings those same qualities to the genre in a way that raises the level of Science Fiction from fan boy comic book dramatics to honest human drama.
It is 1958, and a supersonic jet roars through the desert sky outside of Ridgecrest, climbing in altitude. The two pilots, Frank Corvin and William "Hawk" Hawkins rapidly reach beyond the stratosphere when the engine of the experimental jet fails, causing them to plummet back to Earth. Unable to regain control, Hawk detonates the pilot eject system. The jet crashes, but the two pilots parachute safely. Frank's anger at Hank leads to a scuffle, which is broken up by Jerry O'Neill. The two pilots report to their commanding officer Bob Gerson, who reprimands the two men before presenting them to a waiting press conference. The announcement is made that the Air Force will no longer be involved in the Space program, and that a new Civilian agency NASA would be taking over the research. Frank's utter disappointment is aggravated by the introduction of the first test pilot, a chimpanzee.
Jump forward to present day NASA headquarters. Bob Gerson (James Cromwell) is holding another press conference. Press liason Sara Holland (Marcia Gay Harden). With the announcement of the failure and eminent reentry of a Russian communications satellite, the Russian Government is adamant that the satellite remains in orbit and asks for NASA's assistance. The guidance code unfortunately is antiquated. No one at NASA is familiar with the code except for Project Leader Gerson. He knows that the author of the code was Frank Corvin.
Sara Holland contacts Corvin about his coming to NASA to work on the problem. Frank is understandably nonplussed about working for Gerson again. Corvin agrees to work on the problem. Corvin's solution is to send a crew up to the satellite and repair the failed circuitry. Frank demands that the only crew to go up would be his former Air Force research team, Team Daedalus including Jerry O'Neill (Donald Sutherland), Tank Sullivan (James Garner) and Frank's estranged co-pilot and friend Willian Hawkinns (Tommy Lee Jones). Gerson is shocked and surprised as the subterfuge, but he grudgingly agrees to Frank's terms with a plan to replace the older pilots, as they could not possibly pass the rigorous training.
Frank sets out to find his former compatriots, locating them one after another. Tank Sullivan is now a Preacher with his own congregation. Jerry O'Neill is a structural engineer for an amusement park. His libido still as overactive as it was during his days as a pilot. And finally Hawk, working now as a crop duster in Utah. Frank and Hawk's animosity has kept them apart since 1958 and the reunion is anything but cordial. But the chance to go into space (a dream of Hawk's since childhood), cannot be denied. With Team Daedalus back together the training begins. It soon becomes apparent that these old men are not going to give up on their dream of going into space. But the challenges are more than physical, as the real reason that the Russian Government wants the satellite to remain in orbit is far more serious that originally let on.
"Space Cowboys" is simply one of the year's best films. In a summer that is crowded with silly roller coaster type films, here is a story that revels in its characters. And what characters, the performances by the ensemble cast are perfect. Eastwood carries the film as the former (and current) team leader of these aging pilots, with a nice self-effacing style. His Frank Corvin is a nice anagram of his character in "Heartbreak Ridge" and (surprisingly) Philo Bedoe from "Every Which Way But Loose". The comedic and dramatic aspect is perfectly balanced, helping one to embrace this character easily and fully. Tommy Lee Jones continues to add to his growing reputation as one of our finest actors. His Hawk Hawkins is both playfully boyish, and resentful of his age. There is a resigned sadness within Jones' performance that is both touching and amusingly real. Donald Sutherland as Jerry O'Neill is simply charming. His character almost steals the film during it's first half. Jerry, the consummate aging lothario is one of the most amusing characters to grace the screen in some time and Sutherland brings such a joy to his performance that it's a shame that more is not done with the character. And James Garner as Tank Williams has his moments in the film as well, but unfortunately has the smallest part in the film. But Garner manages to make the character lovable and charming without upstaging his fellow performers.
The rest of the cast does their job well. James Cromwell as Bob Gerson continues his portraying gruff and corrupt government types. It's almost becoming cliché to see him in these roles, but there is no denying that he brings weight to the role. The surprise is Marcia Gay Harden as Sara Holland is simply wonderful. She manages to take this career woman and flesh her out into a character that realizes her needs are as much outside of her career as they may be within. She gives a full-bodied characterization that bodes well for this actress.
Jack Green's cinematography is, as always stunning simple and direct. His mastery of the Panavision frame is so exact as to call to mind the work of James Wong Howe and Vilmos Zigmund. Green's work never gets in the way of the story, but is always there with the enhancements, subtle and direct. Of course the surprise is in the amount of visual effects used in the film. The climatic space rescue is just stunningly derived. This is some of the nicest work Industrial Light & Magic has crafted, realistic and fanciful. The shots of the Shuttle gliding through space have the feel of an Imax documentary, while the action and pyrotechnics have the needed whomp to satisfy the child within us.
Clint Eastwood here continues to prove that he is one of the most underrated Directors working. From the previous mentioned films to this, Eastwood expands his craft is subtle and magical ways. But the greatest gift he has as a storyteller is that he gives us great characters and enlists performances that belay the speed in which he makes his films. "Space Cowboys" is simply put, pure magic. As marvelous and charming an adventure as one could hope to have.
The DVD release of "Space Cowboys" is very well rounded. The transfer is presented in an anamophic enhanced (16x9) transfer that captures all of Jack Green's marvelous compositions. With vivid color that is both natural and bright, the image has an honest film like look that helps in drawing one into the story. The sound (available in a French dub as well) is marvelously active. The 5.1 Dolby Digital sound mix is fairly subtle with some nice rear channel activity especially for the big set pieces. The climatic space voyage really gives the sound system a workout with the Shuttle liftoff, testing even the best subwoofer system.
The disc has a few extras that will be of interest to fans of the film. There are several behind the scenes documentaries including one on the visual effects. There are also DVD-ROM enhanced treats including access to the Warner Brothers website and an interactive game entitled "Space Shuttle Challenge" which allows the player a chance to pilot and land a Shuttle craft during a mission. The disc, while not loaded with features (a commentary track would have been a nice addition), will surly satisfy fans of the film.
Copyright (c) 2000,2005 R. L. Strong Nothing in this article may be reproduced or altered in any way without the expressed written permission of the author.
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