COWBOY UP

US, 2001, 105 minutes, Colour.
Kiefer Sutherland, Marcus Thomas, Daryl Hannah, Melinda Dillon, Molly Ringwald, Russell Means, Bo Hopkins, Pete Postlethwaite.
Directed by Xavier Koller.

Cowboy Up is a quite interesting film about the rodeo circuit, the men who ride the bulls, the graziers and their lands with the bulls, the training of up and coming riders. It also focuses on the women who ride in the circuit.

Surprisingly, the film was directed by a Swiss director, Xavier Koller. It is a good star vehicle for Kiefer Sutherland who portrays an older brother, who is working on the land, but also is one of those men who dress like clowns to entice the bull away from the fallen rider. Marcus Thomas plays his brother, a champion rider. Daryl Hannah plays a woman who is an expert in riding in the circuit. There is good supporting and interesting casting with Melinda Dillon as the young men’s mother, Pete Postlethwaite as the absent father, Molly Ringwald as the champion’s wife.

The scenes of the rodeo are very effectively filmed, especially the slow-motion close-ups in the opening credits. The film shows the reality as well as the achievement – and also the dangers and the injuries that can ensue.

There have been several films about rodeos, especially in 1972 where there were three, The Honkers, Junior Bonner, When the Legends Die. Another rodeo film was Eight Seconds, with Luke Perry.

This film shows the life and the vitality of the circuit, the fans, the business people associated. It is also quite a humane story about the relationship between the two brothers, the influence of the absent father, the desperation of the mother in her concern about her sons.

1. An interesting piece of Americana? The west? The cowboy tradition? The rodeo tradition? As directed by a Swiss director?

2. The California settings, the ranch, the homestead? The town? The various circuit venues? The cattle yards, the ring? The diners and hotels? The final glitz of Las Vegas? The musical score?

3. The opening, slow-motion, close-up – audience response to the animals, the riders, the daring, the eight seconds to survive on the back of the bull? The injuries – and the dangers, doctors’ advice?

4. The effect of injury on born champions? Recovering? Wanting to get into action again? Ely and his abilities, born to ride? The initial injuries? The six months’ recuperation? His travelling again with Hank, getting on the bull, riding, succeeding? His age, experience? His memories of his absent father? His relationship with Connie? The circuit and the temptations? Connie and her wanting him to tell the truth, his lies about what he was doing? The separation? His interview with the journalist? His confronting his mother, leaving home? Relying on Hank? His meeting with Celia? The relationship? His disappointing Hank? The coldness between the two brothers? His decision to ride, the championship? Hank’s advice, that he should let everything go, ride with an empty spirit and heart? His going to see his father, his disappointment in his father, not revealing who he was? Listening to his father’s boasting? The autographed photo? His return, his success, his fall, Hank coming to help him? His grief at Hank’s being gored? Hank’s death? His return home, the previous phone call to Connie, the possibility of reconciliation? His working on the farm – and doing what Hank would have done?

5. Kiefer Sutherland as Hank? A good man, his devotion to his mother, his memories of his father and the flashbacks? His mother’s anger with his father? His training the bulls? Training the men to ride? His work as a clown? Getting on well with people? His supporting Ely, the younger brother? His concern, the initial injuries? Going on tour, Ely riding again, Hank accepting this? Hank and his attraction to Celia, her not responding to Hank? His disappointment with Ely’s relationship with Celia? The coldness? Ely and the final talk, Hank’s support? The finale, Hank and his trying to distract the bull, the brutality of his being gored?

6. Rose, the background of her marriage, her husband’s walking out? His recklessness? Her love for her sons? Her concern at Ely’s injuries, not wanting him to ride again? His defying her, her strong stances? Ely and his leaving home? Rose and her dependence on Hank? Her friendship with Connie, supporting her? Watching the television? Ely’s achievement, Hank’s death? Her grief and anger, wanting to shoot the bull?

7. Connie, her relationship with Ely? Love? His lies, her desperation? Her own work, the doctor, Ely coming to the house and finding the doctor there? Her meeting with Hank and talking things over? The phone call from Ely, her going to see Rose, the final possibility for reconciliation?

8. Celia, her life on the circuit? Her scatty sister and the discussions? Her regard for Hank, the dinner, Hank not having any cash, Ely paying? Ely returning to see Celia, her liking him, the relationship, Ely breaking it off?

9. The people on the ranch? The hands and their training of the bulls? The young men and Hank’s instructions? On the circuit, the managers, the dealers? The journalists and commentators?

10. The sadness of the ending with Hank’s death? Ely and his discovering himself? The temptation to shoot the bull – but firing into the air, as Hank might have done?