Space Cowboys [2000] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Amazon.co.uk Review

Space Cowboys is a slice of cornball Americana that's so much fun you'll be tempted to stand up and salute. Director and co-star Clint Eastwood manages to turn what might have been ludicrous into a jubilant tribute to age and experience, and Space Cowboys succeeds as two movies in one--a comedy about retired pilots given one last shot at glory and an Apollo 13-like thriller with all the requisite heroics. With a dream cast of Hollywood vets playing old farts described in tabloids as "The Ripe Stuff", the movie jumps from a 1958 prologue (establishing their lost bid for space travel) to 40-plus years later, when the retired Air Force aces (Eastwood, James Garner, Donald Sutherland, Tommy Lee Jones) volunteer to rescue a falling Russian satellite that only Eastwood's character can repair.

It turns out that Russkie bird is a Cold War leftover equipped with live nuclear warheads, and the movie revs up to a rousing climax in which our heroes prove their mettle. But first the comedy: watching these codgers struggle to pass NASA's physical tests is a total hoot, with running gags about wrinkles, dentures, and oysters for sagging libidos. (Sutherland is the scene-stealer, but they're all having a blast.) Once in space, the movie gets down to business, and the visual-effects wizards at Industrial Light and Magic provide stunning vistas from Earth's orbit; a shot looking down at the boot of Italy is particularly beautiful. A sub-plot involving a weasely NASA administrator (James Cromwell) is rather perfunctory, but it hardly matters. Space Cowboys earns its wings, once again demonstrating Eastwood's comfort with any genre he chooses. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

On the DVD: Even though it boasts no sub-title like "Special Edition," this DVD has some of the nicest extras you'll want to see. There's nearly an hour of behind-the-footage material, all of it superior made-for-cable featurettes so often included on DVDs. The technicians divulge little tricks of the trade, revealing more computer effects in the film than you think. Longtime Eastwood editor Joel Cox provides insight into the director's work routine. The highlight, though, is an extended version of the four principle's appearance on The Tonight Show with Leno providing some interesting comments on how he chooses what films will "appear" on his show. --Doug Thomas, Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

The Space Cowboys Academy Award nomination for Best Sound Ef.......2005-12-04

The Space Cowboys was directed by Clint Eastwood
Written by Ken Kaufman and Howard Klausner
Space Cowboys was made in 2000.
Academy Award nomination for Best Sound Effects Editing.

There is also a great cast of actors which make this movie seem so real and great to watch:

Frank Corvin - Clint Eastwood
Hawk Hawkins - Tommy Lee Jones
Tank Sullivan - James Garner
Jerry O'Neill - Donald Sutherland
Bob Gerson - James Cromwell
Eugene Davis - William Devane

The story begins in 1958 when Hawkins and Corvin were flying a test plane when they suddenly encounter some problems, they then lost control of the air craft and part of the wings broke off and, so they had to jump parachute. After they then reported the incident to their commanding officer, Gerson who had already plan to have the team replace by sending instead a monkey up into outer space.

From there we come straight back to the present were Frank Corvin is already retired, Tank Sullivan is a minister in the Church, Jerry O'Neil works as a designer of roller coasters, and Hawk Hawkins gives plane joyrides.

The whole thing starts when an aging Russian telecommunications satellite, is falling into the Earth. NASA recruits these old geezers because; their young technicians don't understand the old design and how to repair it and, how it works. It has the same system as the one that Frank designed for the NASA's Skylab, so Gerson enlists the aid of Team Deadalus.

I enjoy very much the Special affects its just great to watch, especially when Frank, Hawk, Tank and Jerry did the space walk the whole thing looks very real to me it's just awesome to watch them and they seem to be having a great time doing it too. I particularly like the music score sang by the late Mr Frank Sinatra, Fly Me to the Moon. And also the sound affect for which the Space Cowboys received Academy Award for Best Sound Effects Editing.
The Script I found it very enjoyable, including that a couple of old wrinkles, retired senior citizens can still make a difference in saving our planet Earth from nuclear weapons. The message that I got when I first saw the Space Cowboys, is that, our senior citizens are a valuable part of our community and we have to treat them with respect both in our workforce and in our own lives living with them.
I like the jokes they play with each other are very funny, the whole thing reminds me of the movie cocoon older people doing things that the young cannot do. I don't think that NASA cannot come up with one Top Gun to stop this Russian telecommunications satellite from crushing down to Earth and detonating its nuclear weapons on entry into the Earth atmosphere. The problem that I have here is that the movie does not answer the question how the Russians obtain the plans of Frank Corvin design of the Skylab? It just went through it very lightly other than that it's a great movie to watch.

It's a good movie to watch with the whole family it's funny, and lots of action and drama.

Space Cowboys.......2005-06-30

Never made as a film to take seriously, the whole point of this film is to watch 4 legendary names of Hollywood go to work on a hugely preposterous plot and just generally have fun with the wild idea of sending 4 geriatric airmen into space.

Putting together Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland and James Garner sounds like an idea that just can't fail to work on paper. But what I think does make it work in reality is that the actors themselves don't seem to be taking the whole project seriously and because this transfers onto the audience, you can easily put aside the trumped up plot idea and just let the action unfold.

The film does raise the serious point of ageism though and does it in a nice subtle way. No ramming messages down the throat here.

As I say, just sit back and enjoy the film for what it is and don't try to hard to think about the story. Enjoy the wonderful sight of the four "Cowboys" striding up to the front doors of NASA resplendent in leather jackets and shades. Enjoy the lovely sweet romantic moments between Tommy Lee Jones and Marcia Gay Harden. Chuckle along at the witty old-dog one-liners from Sutherland and revel in Eastwood's macho posturing which is still as good as ever.

Space Cowboys - Yippie Ki Yay!.......2004-05-27

A wonderful movie from that wonderful man Clint Eastwood.
Really funny and very tender and suspenseful in all the right momments. Eastwood, Jones, Garner and Sutherland all work together in such a way you'd think was a fly on the wall NASA documentary, and the space sequences are great to watch.
But what sells it for me is the remarkable chemistry from Eastwood and Jones. They work so well together and produce such memorable screentime!!

A must see, and must buy for that matter!

These Men are Truly Ageless.......2003-04-27

Impressive. Plain and simple. Clint Eastwood has proved himself, yet again, as a remarkably competent actor and director. Space Cowboys is both heartfelt and funny. Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, and James Garner round out the middle age cast of space-goers assigned to go into orbit to fix an ailing satellite.
Sending this group of retirees in to space was not exactly the perfect plan for NASA. But Eastwood's character, Frank Corvin, was determined to get Team Datalys in to space after they missed their chance some forty years before. Jones was great as "Hawk;" there was amazing tension but ultimately respect between Frank and Hawk. Sutherland and Garner were both great additions to the cast as well. James Cromwell plays a rather fitting NASA naysayer. The whole of Team Datalys were grounded by this man. . .

It was rather fascinating to see the concept of age in this movie. It is plausible that Eastwood is himself, feeling his age. Though it was clear that these gentlemen were quite capable, they knew that the days ahead of them were fewer than the days behind. Coming to grips with this and living life to the fullest are paramount.

This is a great movie, and a must-have in any DVD collection.

epc

Old Cowboys showing the Right Stuff!!.......2002-12-06

Clint Eastwood and James Gardner were stars back in the 50's telly with RAWHIDE and MAVERICK, and later many other vehicles. Donald Sutherland and Tommy Lee Jones made a big splash in the 70's, and have gone on to prove they are some of the best actors around today. But all are showing a little wear and tear on the leading man image, but they clearly demonstrate they are spark as tacks and still the best.

They are ageing ex-astronauts that never made it into space - a thorn in their sides. Eastwood went on to design guidance systems for the space platform. One of the communication satellite that used his system is decaying and, unfortunately, none of today's hotshots know how to fix it. So the old space cowboys get a second crack to make it into space.

All four leads give warm, funny and outstanding performances, backed by powerhouse William Devane and James Hampton.

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