The Cowboy Way (1994)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Gregg Champion

Writers (WGA):

Robert C. Thompson (story) and
William D. Wittliff (story) ...

Release Date:

3 June 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

How the East was won.

Plot:

Two buddies and championship rodeo partners travel to New York to find their missing friend, Nacho Salazar...

Plot Keywords:

New York | Daughter | Rodeo | Friendship | Cowboy

Cast

Woody Harrelson	...	Pepper Lewis
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Sonny Gilstrap
Dylan McDermott	...	John Stark
Ernie Hudson	...	Officer Sam 'Mad Dog' Shaw
Cara Buono	...	Teresa Salazar
Marg Helgenberger	...	Margarette
Tomas Milian	...	Manny Huerta
Luis Guzmán	...	Chango
Angel Caban	...	Boca
Matthew Cowles	...	Pop Fly
Joaquín Martínez	...	Nacho Salazar
Kristin Baer	...	Melba
Christian Aubert	...	Jacques
Emmanuel Xuereb	...	Gaston
Francie Swift	...	Desk Clerk at Waldorf Astoria

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Australia:M | South Korea:15 | Philippines:R-18 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Imagine Entertainment

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sonny and Pepper are in the truck, just as they get to the warehouse, and Pepper is explaining to Sonny about why he did not show up for the big rodeo, you can see Pepper is taking rounds out of a bullet belt and putting them in his pocket. When the camera is facing Pepper he stops doing this about halfway through and puts his hands down in his lap by his knees. However, when it's facing Sonny, he continues to pocket the bullets for the whole speech. One moment he's got his hand in his pocket, when the camera faces Sonny, then in a split second, his hands are in his lap as the camera faces him.

Quotes:

Pepper: If it's got hair, I can ride it. If it's got a beat, I can dance to it.

Movie Connections:

References The Pelican Brief (1993)

Soundtrack:

Freedom Stomp

When Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys

As a native New Yorker I always look askance at The Cowboy Way because that last chase scene involving our heroes Kiefer Sutherland and Woody Harrelson is geographically impossible. Anyone who has some knowledge of the New York City Subway System can tell you that. Still The Cowboy Way is rollicking good entertainment.

The rollicking part is courtesy of its two leads. They play a pair of feuding rodeo cowboys. Sutherland is mad at Harrelson because of his general irresponsibility. But a good friend of their's is in trouble and Sutherland's got to put aside his attitude about Harrelson in order to help out. Harrelson of course doesn't make it easy.

Tomas Millian has paid money to smuggle his daughter Cara Buono from Cuba and now the coyotes are holding him up for more. He goes to New York and gets killed for his trouble. When Harrelson and Sutherland discover that, they're not about to wait for regular law enforcement to do its thing. That's just not The Cowboy Way.

As a sideline fashion designer Marg Helgenberger thinks Harrelson has possibilities as an underwear model and maybe she'd like to explore that with him. They also have a wonderful scene at the Waldorf Astoria hotel and restaurant where these two think its just your basic motel, a little upscale.

The guy who carries the serious part of the film is villain Dylan McDermott and he's as serious as a crutch. But apparently he's starting to listen to his crotch before his head where Buono is concerned. It's a weakness of the film, because when the good guys are closing in, McDermott probably could get away if he wasn't dragging Buono along with him.

Of course the highlight for me is that wonderful scene at the Central Park Petting Zoo where Sutherland and Harrelson teach McDermott henchman Luis Guzman the way Pancho Villa used to get information from people not willing to give it up. It involves a weaning calf and it's hilarious and a little frightening to the male of the species.

Despite its story weaknesses, The Cowboy Way is one hysterical film and you'll have a good time seeing it. And since this film is about rodeo cowboys, this review is dedicated to the recently retired Justin McBride of the Professional Bullriders. A man definitely dedicated to The Cowboy Way in his sport and in life.