One of the best films i have seen

A different way of telling a story

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Blistering performances.

Continuing my plan to watch every Clint Eastwood movie in order, I come to a new millennium and Space Cowboys (2000)Plot In A Paragraph: When Frank Corvin (Eastwood) a retired engineer, is called upon to rescue a failing satellite, he insists that his equally old teammates accompany him into space.I love this movie. OK, its plot is more than a tad silly and unbelievable, but I find it so enjoyable, so charming, and damn it, it just makes me smile!! In his 5th decade of being a leading man in movies, Clint is makes a few jokes about his age, and for once he is a settled family man. No love interest for him this time, that's left to Tommy Lee Jones and Donald Sutherland who (like in Kelly's Heroes) steals every scene he is in. James Cromwell does his usually solid performance and William Devane is impressive too. One problem I do have with the cast is that Tommy Lee Jones seems so much younger than the other three, but it's a minor gripe, and doesn't ruin anything, and his sub plot is a touching one. Lennie Niehaus's score is as superb as always, and I'll probably be singing 'Fly Me To The Moon' by Frank Sinatra for the rest of the day. Clint went into the new Millennium with his highest hit since In The Line Of Fire in 1993, as Space Cowboys grossed $90 million at the domestic box office to end the year the 25th highest grossing movie of 2000.

This is a joy of a movie. Light, very light amusement, but made but with pleasant enthusiasm and irony. Sure, the actors go overboard. When Donald Sutherland shows his fake fake-teeth, when Tommy Lee Jones' tears start to flow every time his wife is mentioned... gross. But hey, this is a feelgood movie and so what. Four egos, for lead actors, and still there seems to be real chemistry. A steady roll of jokes well told, ironic situations, soft spots exposed keeps the viewer amused while the big question is: will they go up in space? Cleverly plotted out, this story. Sure, drumming up befriended senior actors for action encores is becoming a formula in itself, but so what if done well. Where Clint Eastwood formally has the lead role, it is Tommy Lee Jones who gets the love interest. And Donald Sutherland gets the prize for most obvious flirts with the camera, Interestingly, Will Devane shows much character development is his role as the man from mission control, he outshines the main actors in the last part of the story. It even gets exciting up there in space. Well done. Incidentally, Chris Nolan's widely acclaimed mega-production Interstellar was showing on TV the evening I watched this. Why that movie is an 8,5 and this one a meager 5,5 I just don't understand...

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.

In 1958 four Air Force test pilots, Frank(Clint Eastwood),Hawk(Tommy Lee Jones), Jerry( Donald Sutherland), and Tank would test jets to the limit. They are Team Daedalus always pushing the limits, and hopping one day be the first ones on the moon. One day Hawk along with Frank push a jet too hard and they have to bail from the air craft. Frank and Hawk parachute out and the jet crashes. Frank and Hawk report to Major Gersion office( James Cromwell), to explain why they crashed a four million dollar jet. After the brief Gersion has Frank come to a press conference. The big news is that the Air Force Test program will be handed over to a new agency NASA( National Aeronautical Space Administration). They will be taking over everything, and will be sending the 1st in to space. Meet Mary Ann, an ape, she will be the first to orbit around Earth. When Frank is introduced to her he is P****D off. He will never forget this day and never forgive Gersion.It is forty years later, Johnson Space Center, Houston TX. NASA has discovered a problem with a fourteen year old Russian Satellite. It is going to crash soon, and they need help finding the person who designed the guidance system. The problem is that this guidance system pre-date micro-processors, it old. Sara(Marcia Gay Harden), is an engineer with NASA, and she has to find out who is responsible before it crashes. Gersion tells her, so she and Ethan(Loren Dean) who is an astronaut find Frank. When they arrive at Franks home they explain the situation. Frank finds out that his guidance system made it's way on a Russian Satellite during the Cold War, he flips. He is shocked and wonders how it got on there is the first place; but no one knows. At first he refuses to help, he asks them both to leave; especially Ethan. Later on Frank re-thinks it, and eventually helps out. When he shows up in Gersons office, who has an Administration Job with NASA. Frank and Gersion go back and forth, arguing. The only way Frank will help out is if Gersion sends up the original Team Daedalus. Gersion is reluctant ; but knows Frank is is only hope.Frank is on is way to round up his team; and quickly. Jerry, who now is a structural engineer who deigns roller coasters. Tank is now a Baptist preacher, who jumps at the chance. Then the toughest is Hawk who now is a crop duster. Hawk and Frank haven't talked in forever so Frank knows this will be tough. Hawk is a no go; but to Franks surprise shows up with the rest at a road side diner. When Team Daedalus show up at Johnson Space Center they meet Gene(William Devane) the flight director. He tells them they must meet the same requirements the other astronauts do. If He finds out Franks team isn't cutting it mentally or physically the plug gets pulled. It is also required that they take two of the top astronauts, come mission time Ethan and Roger( Courtney B. Vance). Team Daedalus begins the training, during this relationships form and Hawk gets some unexpected news before the mission. When the mission comes to retrieve the satellite; the team finally gets their chance to go to space. Once there the team notices the satellite and it's huge. Frank doesn't like the look of it and it doesn't look like an ordinary satellite. When they attempt to get close to it, the satellite has a target system on it. It starts to defend itself, thinking the space shuttle is a bogie. When the team along with Ethan go to investigate it they realize this satellite is armed with nuclear warheads. They return to the shuttle inform Gene and tell him what is going on. While this is going on Ethan goes out unnoticed, arms the satellite. Frank and Hawk go after him to stop him from doing something stupid. It's too late, the satellite is armed and it will crash into Earth unless something is done. A quick plan comes up; and at first it's a big NO. They finally realize this plan is the only way to stop a catastrophe. In the end it was successful; but costly for one in the end.I love this movie, serious actors in a comedy . I loved the story, the relationships that form with all the characters; and the excitement near the end . This film will definitely put a smile on your face; and warmth in your heart. THX, Kris L. CocKayne