Drugstore Cowboy

Right now you can watch Drugstore Cowboy in Australia on Hoopla, and in the US on Kanopy and Hoopla — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 621 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Matt Dillon leads a cast that carries the story without ever feeling mechanical. Start it on Hoopla whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Drugstore Cowboy is worth clearing space for. Drugstore Cowboy treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. Portland, Oregon, 1971. Bob Hughes is the charismatic leader of a peculiar quartet, formed by his wife, Dianne, and another couple, Rick and Nadine, who skillfully steal from drugstores and hospital medicine cabinets in order to appease their insatiable need for drugs. But neither fun nor luck last forever. Matt Dillon and Kelly Lynch lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1989. What makes Drugstore Cowboy hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in Drugstore Cowboy. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Matt Dillon anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.