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They could take a Sesame St script and make a terrific drama
(or comedy) out of it. Hell, they could make whatever they
like of it and it would still be absorbing and amusing.
Space Cowboys is the story of Team Daedalus, a 1950s'
team of ace military pilots who have been trained to be the
first Americans into space. At the last minute their mission
is cancelled and a chimpanzee makes the historic journey instead.
Forty years on, a giant Soviet space satellite is quickly
disintegrating and, because it is so old, all the experts
at NASA are unable to deal with the obsolete technology. So,
who can save the day? Team Daedalus, of course!
Unfortunately for the pensioner-age astronauts, the NASA
chief is an old adversary (played in a nastily bureaucratic
way by James Cromwell) who does his best to not only keep
them on the ground, but put them through hell at the same
time.
While the old guys are technically trained for the job, their
age raises eyebrows - particularly those of the flight director
(William Devane). He doesn't want the mission jeopardised
by a pack of fogies and would prefer a young team selected.
So, to prove they are up to it, the team is forced to undergo
the same basic physical training as the young astronauts.
The training scenes have some very funny moments, the pick
being the bench-pressing of a massive number of kilos.
As is the case with many movies of this style, it is a film
of two halves where the first period is spent establishing
the characters and the personal sub-plots, then it's on to
the action part.
The four main characters are likeable guys who all have their
quirks.
Clint Eastwood is a space engineer who is not regarded as
a team player, but it is his equipment that somehow made its
way on to a Soviet satellite.
He holds a grudge against Tommy Lee Jones, a loner pilot
who takes joyriders up for a living, who he blames for not
getting them up into space.
James Garner is a lay preacher who has perfect hand-eye coordination
and can control the space shuttle's deployment arm and other
tasks with the precision of a computer.
Donald Sutherland is an elderly Don Juan, with new baby,
who is a very spiritual, at-peace-with-the-world type of guy.
Needless to say, the old codgers somehow pass the tests and
it's off into the deep blue of space. Up there, they suddenly
discover why officials had not wanted the Soviet satellite
to come back to earth.
The picture transfer is pretty special with a crispness and
clarity that space deserves. The colours are gorgeous. There
is a bit of aliasing but, fortunately, is a rare event.
Space Cowboys is a marvellous piece of entertainment
and, despite age being an important part of the story, doesn't
sermonise about how age is no barrier. It is engaging, funny,
dramatic and gets very exciting.
Marvellous entertainment from an acting lineup that always
will guarantee quality.
Conclusion: Movie 85%, Extras 85%
Continued:
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