Watch Concrete Cowboy on Netflix
Written by: Ricky Staub, Dan Walser
Directed by: Ricky Staub
Starring: Idris Elba, Lorraine Toussaint, Caleb McLaughlin, Jharrel Jerome, Method Man
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
Sent to live with his estranged father for the summer, a rebellious teen finds kinship in a tight-knit Philadelphia community of Black cowboys.
Verdict
While it reveals a surprising cowboy community in urban Philadelphia, the father and son story is nothing new. The dying cowboy community is really interesting, but a tired father son aspect isn't the best way to delve into it. Unfortunately that's the focus, and that story isn't developed enough.
Skip it.
Review
There are any number of reasons Cole (Caleb McLaughlin) wouldn't like his father. None of them are revealed. I assume Cole's mom was tired of Harp's (Idris Elba) cowboy ways. What I don't understand is why Harp is so cold towards his son. Even if having to take care of his kid is an imposition, which isn't detailed, the real reason seems to be plot contrivance. I also have to wonder about the horse that stay's in Harp's living room. That house would have to stink. We never once see that get cleaned up. There just isn't enough detail around any aspects of the father son story.
 |
| Idris Elba and Caleb McLaughlin play Harp and Cole. |
If I didn't know this was based on a real community, the Fletcher Street Cowobys, I'm not sure I'd believe the premise. We see this new world through Cole, a teenager put to work that's none to happy about cleaning stables. This is all too predictable. Cole does all the grunt work, his father ignores him paying more attention to horses, Cole's cousin offers money and influence through criminals means. All that sets up an outburst when Cole yells at his dad expressing his frustration.
Cole's cousin Smush (Jharrel Jerome) is the criminal element, but the cool twist is that Smush is raising money to buy a ranch out west. The movie reference's Harp's brush with the law which I thought would be a connection between Cole and Harp but it doesn't materialize.
I like parts of this movie, but it doesn't come together. I wish this were about a dying community being forced out through gentrification that happens to include a father and son. Instead it focuses on the family aspect, but offers nothing new. If this were a bit grittier and focused on Smush trying to save the community, that struggle could be a lot more interesting. How often does a kid run afoul of a drug dealer while trying to save horses and save urban cowboys?
No comments :
Post a Comment