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TheJuice enthuses about SPACE COWBOYS
Hey folks, Harry here... this Sunday is a nationwide paid sneak for SPACE COWBOYS... thereby showing confidence from Warner Brothers in this film... and according to THEJuice.. it is warranted. Having read the script, given the cast and crew... I'd say so too. Let's hope Clint pulled it off...
Harry, THEJuice once again has used his spy powers to pour himself into a
screening of the geriatric astronaut thriller, "Space Cowboys".
I'll be honest; I went in ready to tear this flick "a new one"…but my evil
anticipation soon gave way.
Eastwood's recent directing track record didn't help my pre-screening
feelings either. Absolute Power and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,
while both excellent books, are failures on the big screen. True Crime?
Barely watchable. What (other than the fact Clint is still the man) should
and could give me hope for his newest endeavor.
Was I so blind to not acknowledge the cast beforehand? Tommy Lee Jones in a
role where he isn't chasing an escaped convict! Donald Sutherland as a dirty
old man with the skills (and medication) to get on the ladies (amazing Clint
did not cast himself in this role)! James Garner, James Cromwell, and of
course Clint Eastwood, team leader and the man!?! I mean come on…I dare you
find me a more kick ass collective cast of aging actors.
The more I think about it, the more it makes me feel like an idiot for
doubting this film so much.
I guess I got hooked at the beginning, when we are treated to a black and
white look at the early exploits of our Air Force team. The intriguing aspect
of this intro was that although entirely different people play the older
actors, their own voices are dubbed into the dialogue. So we see a young
rambunctious pilot named Hawk scream in delight, except it's Tommy Lee Jones'
voice. A dashing young man (whom I must admit had gotten the Eastwood stare
down well) begins to speak with Clint's legendary voice...well it almost
brings chills. Not only was this part technically sweet but it finally got me
thinking about what an entirely new take on the, "Astronaut's…go save world"
genre we have gotten accustomed too.
The somewhat cliché plot goes like this; NASA contacts Engineer Frank Corvin
(Eastwood) when a Russian "communications" satellite is found faltering in
the sky. If the satellite falls into the earth's atmosphere all of Russia's
communication will end and the nation will go fall a state of panic.
Strangely enough an electronic system that was designed by Mr. Corvin is
instituted on this Russian spacecraft. None of NASA's hotshot young engineers
can crack the coding so it is up to Frank to assemble his team of old Air
Force friends (who were shafted once before by Cromwell) to finally get their
trip to space.
The movie actually has a heart (something Armageddon didn't), and it doesn't
need sappy love sub-plots to do it. You care about these characters, most
notably Tommy Lee Jones, who once again does a tremendous job. Eastwood's
performance is much better than his past few films, in this movie he finally
shares the limelight with his elder partners. Unfortunately I found Garner's
role as the preacher man rather lacking and Sutherland's ladies man character
rather one-dimensional (although he plays that one dimension perfectly).
Luckily the film doesn't dwell on the people waiting for the safe arrival of
their friends and loved ones (unlike Perfect Storm and Armageddon), while I
do admit that technique can be effective, it has become a bit over used. We
are mostly treated to glorious space action (and not too shabby special
effects), with earth reaction shocks on few occasions. The humor keeps a
steady pace throughout the flick, and the old guys can take a few jokes
that's for sure.
My expectations for Clint Eastwood directed films were in the doldrums, but
he finally made a movie that was perfect for his style and for his talented
cast. Congrats to him, oh yeah and the final shot of the movie KICKS TOTAL
ASS.
Few problems with the flick, yeah it is two-hour long old fart joke, but damn
if it isn't a pretty funny joke. Action is adequate, special effects
excellent, the pacing good, and Eastwood has directed his best film in
years…what more do you want from my review, and what more convincing do you
need?
Go on get outta here, oh yeah and till we meet again...
Later,
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When is Richard Corben's Jeremy Brood gonna be made into a Science Fiction movie? How come we cant have a "adult" science fiction movie made? Flesh Gordon, Outland and even 1977's StarWars come to mind. Make Jeremy Brood into a moobie. PORN IN SPACE!
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Jul 29, 2000 3:49:54 AM CDT
This movie will do $75Million domestic gang. Or maybe only $65M
by bari umenema
Or only $55Million. Or it could even do $85Million. Or $100Million!! Now that would be something to see, along with this fun high-spirited romp of a movie. Go see this in theaters instead of What Sucks Beneath. This is a Summer Movie! Let's give Clint a big hit, he's earned it...
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Go, Clint, go. Clint is one of those actors you never get tired of seeing him play himself in every movie he does. Kinda like Jack Nicholson. I mean, Jack Nicholson doesn't really play his movie character; he play's "Jack Nicholson" in every damn movie that he does and we love it (well, I do anyway). I think the strength of this "SPACE (GERIATRIC) COWBOYS" movie will be the trio of Geriatric actors sloggin' across the screen. Clint, Tommy Lee, Donald...um...what the hell is this movie about? WHO CARES! Classic screen legends working together. I'm there.
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Jul 29, 2000 4:55:50 AM CDT
Houston, we have a problem..Donald Sutherland swallowed his dent
by psyclops
I'm sorry, but isn't Clint Eastwood starting to become a caricature of himself? Besides, it may very well be a good movie, but there is no way in hell that the younger audience (you know, the ones who push crap like M:I2 past 200 million) will sit through this thing. That is the sad but true state of the movie going audience between 18 and 25. Even more sad...I fall within that demographic.
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Clint is The Man!!
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With some of the top Actors ever to grace the silver screen this film has all the potential to be one of the best films of this year. But as I wait here in the UK for the film to come out, I think about all that can go wrong. The Script, The FX, The cast the editing or the direction. I have to be honest this review has calmed me down some what. In reality I would rather see a new Dirty Harry Movie than this but with the talent in it, it has to be one of the top movies of 2000 (I hope).
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...Jack Nicholson supposed to be in this film? I could just see him playing the same pompous, womanizing astronaut character he played in "Terms of Endearment"; opposite Clint would have been film magic. I've been looking forward to this movie since Harry first started talking about (actually, I think it was first brought up in one of Elston Gunn's reports); but the idea sounded like a pretty good one. I think it'll do pretty good
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Being in the said group (but not 18-25) that pushed M:I-2 over $200 million, I'd like to prove you all wrong by going and seeing it. But as soon as someone, ANYONE, says "I'm too old for this shit!", I'm walking out.
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Jul 29, 2000 10:16:46 AM CDT
Question about the footage of the actors as young men (and this
by gilmour
I haven't seen the film so i'm not going to dissagree with our critic but in the previews it actually shows old footage of the actors from like 30-40 years ago and digitally inserted into the film. I could be wrong but i didn't think they used actors for that footage.
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Old or not, he ALWAYS KICKS ASS! Same thing with Gardner, Sutherland and Lee. They deliver the goods! I hate to see us(HARRY'S TALKBACKERS) when we're their age! I just do't plan on wearing any D-pends!
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"Salvage I" - remember that cringy 1979 ABC TV-movie? Old ex-astronaut goes to the moon to pick up junk from the Apollo missions? Cranky Guy in Space. Yawn. This is going to be a geriatric version of "Space Camp." Definitely a skip-it.
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...people are making "Clint is old" jokes, despite the fact that that's the freakin' point of the movie!! "Act your age?" Being a member of a team of geriatrics isn't acting his age?!? Geez, I actually think Clint is one of the few Hollywood action heroes who actually admits how old he is, it's just that no one wants to see him in a romantic comedy. So he's found some pretty inventive ways to have his characters be old and yet kick ass.
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Did anyone see Conan O'Brien last night? It had Roger Ebert, and they made fun of a clip from "Space Cowboys", it was funny, but not nearly as funny as The Hasidic Ninjas!
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Jul 29, 2000 12:58:15 PM CDT
Yeah Hasidic Ninjas Rule!!! Mel Brooks did "Jews In Space!" in H
by bari umenema
Those Jews in Space had a Star of David-shaped spaceship!! Funniest damn part of the movie next to "Hitler On Ice!" with a Hitler lookalike doing an Ice Capades skating routine!! What ever happened to that Very Funny Mel Brooks?? He seems to have lost his way, and went astray with "Life Stinks" and "Dracula", I read where he's now doing "The Producers" on Broadway, makes sense. Clint and Mel in Jewish Space Cowboys: Operation Matzoh Ball!! Over and Out.
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It's going to take something pretty damn special to make up for MITGOGAE (comatose) TRUE CRIME (movie-of-the-week), BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY (if you make it past the first hour, you must be on an adrenaline drip, either that or over 60). Face it guys, Clint may be the man, he may be an icon and all that, but i just can't shake the feeling that he doesen't have anything left to show us any more. Oh, you can knock Armageddon all you want, at least it had a certain dunderheaded intesity, it moved with such dumb-ass velocity you went with it or went under. Judging by Clint's recent output, this effort will probably have all the rip-roaring momentum of a snail injected with sleep agent. Shame, but i haven't loved an Eastwood movie since his Indian summer of 1992-3.
Oh, and does anyone know when 'Perfect World' is out on DVD? -
Why doesn't Caroenter put Eastwood in "Ghost Of Mars"? "All right you, Martians! Up against the wall! A martian's got to know his limitation!" Clint would single handedly round up the Martian bad guys an get the girl in the end.
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Eastwood belongs in a similar category to Redford: much better director than actor. Redford's films are a little more finely crafted, but Eastwood doesn't churn out garbage. For all the failings of "Midnight", it wasn't a crapfest, and most critics agreed that "Bridges" was way better than most expected. Eastwood shows great confidence directing himself, and yet his roles are never ego-projects. In most of the films Eastwood does play the hero, but usually a pretty flawed one. Absolute Power--a thief whose daughter hates him. True Crime--washed up reporter with SERIOUS family problems, drinking problem, hits on younger women. These are NOT glamour roles. He's not afraid to show his age. I didn't find anything bad about True Crime or Absolute Power; they weren't groundbreaking, but they weren't any worse than, let's say Presumed Innocent, and they're better than most of the Grisham adaptions. True Crime's scenes with Isaiah Washington were really moving without being overly manipulative. Not to mention the sense for comic relief that Clint has nailed down. His express tour of the zoo with his daughter in the stroller is painfully funny yet sad at the same time. The trailer for Space Cowboys does look a little weak, but I'll be there.
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Rrrrrrrrrriiiiiight, let me get this straight: the stupid *&$#in Ruskies tie all their communications systems to one single satellite and can't fix it or send up another one, and damn if the only folks in the entire Earth capable of fixing it are a gaggle of American geezers?! Methinks either Russia needs another $90 in aid or Hollywood needs writers who graduated from high school.
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...jackass
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Jul 29, 2000 10:47:25 PM CDT
Am I the only one who liked Midnight in the garden of good and e
by swavill
Oh well this one sounds promising. Too much talent to be bad.
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MI:2 rocked da house IMOHO. It was the James Bond movie I expected to see but DIDN'T last year when I went into THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH. As for SPACE COWBOYS, everything I've heard about it so far says that it will be great. Of course, the script is what really matters but the acting talent is certainly there. So far, most of the films I've seen this year, barring MI:2, CHICKEN RUN and X-MEN have been duds, so I hope this one kicks it through the roof. Go Clint!
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Space Cowboys....third movie an Eastwood Character's name is 'Frank'.
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I agree that Eastwood's career is, well, in need of some kind of boost, although I profess to thoroughly enjoying everything about Absolute Power, except maybe the end which seemed glossed over in comparison to the rest of the movie. True Crime was deplorable, except for James Woods who has been a pleasure to watch in the last few films I've seen him in. Still, I remain optimistic and will be in line to see Space Cowboys.
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I think this is the first time Clint Eastwood and Donald Sutherland have been in a movie together since "Kelly's Heroes" thirty years ago. By the way -- and I'll bet Warner Brothers would thank me for reminding everyone of this -- "Kelly's Heroes" comes out on DVD this week. But getting back to "Space Cowboys"... how come they missed casting Richard Crenna in this picture? Remember when poor Luke McCoy sacrificed himself in "Marooned"? Very sad. They could have done the same here. Crenna's now an old enough fart. But maybe they should have cast another "Kelly's Heroes" alumni, Don Rickles, and killed him instead. Yeah, kill Don Rickles -- before time does. Anyway, I'll also be going to "Hallow Man" this weekend -- but largly because Jerry Goldsmith has done the score. Hey, this is the weekend of old farts.
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Saw the sneak tonight, and really liked the film. The whole audience seemed to enjoy it too. This movie is REALLY funny, then, like flipping a switch, it turns into a really smart space movie. After all the crappy space films lately(you hear me DePalma?), its cool seeing one that actually has a brain. Good job Clint
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I too saw the sneak tonight. Apart from possibly Chicken Run, and these guys are no spring chickens, this is the most entertaining movie of the summer. The special effects and model shots are among the best I've seen. The original review is absolutely right about the last shot in the movie. Just in case you aren't ready for it, it begins a few miles above the moon.How did they do that?
Clint plays his age in this movie, even down to having a wife about his own age - he doesn't even do that in real life! -
I love Eastwood movies but I thought it might suck when they couldn't show the HBO Behind the Scenes special. My hopes got higher when I saw they had confidence to sneak preview it, got higher with this review and now with Ebert & Roper giving it two thumbs up I hope it is as good as I hope. Man that last scene must be a doosie as Ebert mentioned it too. Now the hard part... which first Hollow Man or Space Cowboys???? both.
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Jul 31, 2000 8:43:17 AM CDT
HOW CAN YOU CALL TRUE CRIME DEPLORABLE! IT WAS A MASTERFUL PIECE
by marty mcsuperfly
Offensive, lazy, predictable, unintentionally hilarious. I felt soiled after watching it and could feel my life slowing down as scene by scene plodded by. I'm amazed I sat through it all.
It should be shot into space on a shit missile then exploded over Uranus. -
....but do I want to see these old guys in space. Yeah, I know, that the US sent that veteran guy ( Wasting money )out but do I belive this? Would they send these guys out there? Would they do it? A Clint Eastwood basher I am not.( That was a bit Yodaish way of saying things wasn't it?)I mean "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly" was great too. Now, I am not saying that this movie is bad or not. No. Instead I'll say this: Clint has done a hell of a lot better now than earlier. I mean, for Christ sake, Dirty Harry was even more lame than the old James Bonds. And yes, just like with James Bond, it was never the actor who played the main character that there was something wrong with but the script. "SpaceCowboys". Well, at least the title pretty much sums up the history of American pop culture.....
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Aug 01, 2000 10:21:49 PM CDT
Remember when poor Luke McCoy sacrificed himself in "Marooned"?.
by mbeemer
Yeah, except that he *didn't*. Crenna's character (Jim Pruett) had gone out claiming he was going to try to effect repairs to the engine. Instead, he was going to remotely shut off his buddy's oxygen so he could use it for himself. He accidentally tore his suit and died before he could murder his colleagues. The story given to/by the ground command was more heroic, of course.
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