view_and_review
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.
MartinHafer
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.
Fluke_Skywalker
Plot; Four pre-NASA era test pilots are called back into service to help repair a Cold War era Russian satellite before it crashes back to earth.There are many instances where Space Cowboys is actually less plausible than the absurd (but entertaining) Michael Bay film Armageddon (with which it shares some tangential elements and qualities). But under the deft direction of star Clint Eastwood and a the rock solid cast around him (including Tommy Lee Jones, James Garner, Donald Sutherland, Marcia Gay Harden, James Cromwell, Courtney B. Vance and the always welcome William Devane), it all holds together and touches down for a smooth landing.
Leofwine_draca
SPACE COWBOYS is an astronaut picture with a simple premise: a quartet of old-timers are sent up into space to repair an old-fashioned satellite whose technology is so obsolete that they are the only ones who know how to fix it. Interest is piqued by the presence of Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, and Jim Garner in the cast, and the addition of Eastwood himself as director. How could the film be bad with all that talent behind it? The answer lies in the script. This is an oddly uninvolving story that's never quite sure what it wants to be. There's plenty of humour and the natural camaraderie between the old-timers works well; it's great to see these guys on the screen again. The attempts at high drama and action don't work so well, however, and there's never a real sense of danger coming from the predicament. The dated CGI effects don't help much either. This is better than GRAVITY, although not by much; somehow Hollywood seem to struggle a bit with making convincing astronaut movies.
AD
