Space Cowboys (2000)

Simply Perfect

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Some over-the-hill ex-astronauts are called on for assistance. Though they are only wanted to help train Frank Corvin (Clint Eastwood) wants more than that. He's gathered "the old gang"--both literally and figuratively--and he wants them all to have one last hurrah.It is a movie with humor, drama and suspense. It's a swipe at all those who would believe that once you reach a certain age then you're done. It's a victory to all those who are considered "old" yet still have the mind and the body to be productive. Sure, they're not what they used to be but that's not to say they're used up.

There is so much about "Space Cowboys" that is unrealistic and, if you think about it, silly. But, it manages to tell this story in an entertaining fashion. So, my advice is just turn off your brain and enjoy.The story begins in 1958. Despite all their training towards orbital travel, NASA is created and the Air Force folks who were working towards space were told to stand down. This part of the story is true and some of the pilots from all different branches of the military went on to become NASA astronauts. But some didn't...and the story now jumps to the present (2000). Frank (Clint Eastwood) is still rather bitter he never got a chance to go to space when his project for the Air Force was canceled...but now, in his senior years, an opportunity arises. A Soviet satellite is falling out of orbit and somehow the only person on a planet of 7,000,000,000 people who can fix it is Frank!! He insists that he doesn't want to tell a young astronaut how to fix it but will go to space himself...provided NASA also allows his three friends who were ALSO with project Daedalus to join him on the flight. What follows are lots of old geezer jokes and montages. Eventually, the four guys are shot into space with two young hot shots. Unfortunately there are two huge problems. The satellite is NOT a communications satellite AND one of the crew members might just endanger millions because he's a horse's butt.So is any of this believable? Not really. But it is engaging and the special effects quite amazing for 2000. My only real quibbles are that James Garner's character is poorly written, as he acts nothing like a Baptist minister (how many Baptist ministers say the Rosary as well as quote Alan Shepard instead of making a simple prayer??) and a lot of what surprises everyone in the film seems telegraphed. But the good far outweighs the bad and the picture is never dull.

I must have watched this on an aeroplane flight the first time, after it first came out - OK, never recommended!Gave it a second shot tonight, and it's one of Clint's best. Not a spectacular 10/10, but good solid entertainment. Good script and great effects. I enjoyed it far more than 'Interstellar' and 'Gravity', though they were both good. I really don't look for deep meanings in movies any more, like many reviewers, but simply want to be entertained, and this did just that. Thankfully, it appeared in some internet list of the top ten space flicks, and I think it deserves to be up there.

Although the premise "old guys still have a lot to offer" is well worth pursuing, this film takes the suspension of disbelief too far to be enjoyed even on a superficial level. Indeed the more you think about this film, the more unintentionally funny it becomes. It was obviously a vanity project by director/producer Eastwood to show that there is life in the elderly yet but it quickly develops into old men's fantasies about their virility and competence.The idea that NASA or indeed the USA would allow a crew of 70 year old men up to perform the physically taxing task of saving a satellite is ludicrous. That these have not been part of the space program for 40 years but are deemed OK to fly after a few weeks training adds to the ridiculousness. We see these 4 sweating and wheezing their way through training, which apparently did not concern their supervisors but Jones' pancreatic cancer is sufficient to prevent him from the mission? Even this is then immediately brushed away.NASA does seem to be slack in its selection process. The poor eyesight of Sutherland is not picked up. At least he has the decency to show this and some other signs of ageing (ie false teeth) although inexplicably these make him absolutely irresistible to young women. The rest of the crew of pensioners are perfect (although their sagging physiques on display during an unfortunate nude scene suggests differently) with 20/20 vision etc until Jones' cancer is discovered.This cancer comes as a blow to his lover. She is the leader of the project, a woman at least 30 years his junior, who falls madly in love with Jones after seeing his nude sagging body in the changing room. No word of a lie.Next the Russian spokesman does not see fit to tell anyone that the satellite in question is armed with nuclear weapons, something which is a rather important detail. He apparently was hoping, with the cameras of the world watching, that no one would notice.Then one of the 2 young bucks allowed on board inexplicably saunters out into space and, defying direct orders, starts fiddling about with the satellite despite admitting earlier he had no idea as to what to do. At least he gets his comeuppance later when he and the other young crewman (both in comas) are unceremoniously thrown out of the shuttle. Since the survival rate for such a drop was estimated as 20% even among the conscious, one must assume they were thrown to their deaths.This does not impact upon the joy which greets the safe landing of the shuttle. And no one says "whoops, do you think we should have thrown them out"?