THE COWBOY WAY (1994) ** There are two distinct films here, though they aren't inextricably intertwined as is usually the problem. This is better, I think-the first film ends somewhere near the middle, and the second takes over without warning or explanation. Kind of like a coup, but without any positive implication of the concept. Woody Harrelson and Kiefer Sutherland could be expected to show up in just such bipolar stuff, and their chemistry is good, but it never quite gets going. In the first, comedic, presentation, Woody absolutely overwhelms Kiefer with his brilliant slapstick. Woody's great at it, and doesn't leave Kiefer any room at all to be dark, brooding, mysterious, or dangerous. Then, after the cinematic solstice, the funny stuff loses its edge as the story tries, mainly unsuccessfully, to turn into a dark and scary thriller fraught with moralisms. The comedic half is much better, but the second would have been ok standing on its own. There's no question about it, even given Woody's unstationary psychological elements, you'd rather have him pointing a gun at you than Kiefer. Gregg Champion shoots moving trains, taxis and horses so effectively that you almost wonder what you're getting excited about, but the reality is that it's that they're going to get Dylan McDermott. McDermott's a disturbing villain, whether he's in a decent film or not, projecting malignant powers and charms more than enough to manipulate ugly guys like Luis Guzman and aging businessmen, and easy women, and small children on the other side of the aisle. So it's all entertaining, but more frustrating than good, and you're never sure if it's supposed to be believable. I mean, it can't be, right? Two of the anthemic songs of the century ("Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys" and "Free Your Mind") are used effectively, though neither in its best and definitive version. Other than that, it's kind of cool seeing Travis Tritt hanging out at the rodeo.
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