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Uma Thurman, John Hurt, Rain Phoenix, Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita, Lorraine Bracco ... see more see more... , Keanu Reeves , Angie Dickinson , Sean Young , Crispin Glover , Roseanne , Ed Begley Jr , William S. Burroughs , Steve Buscemi , Faye Dunaway , Wade Evans , Heather Graham , Scott Patrick Green , Eric Hull , Carol Kane , Ken Kesey , Udo Kier , Oliver Kirk , River Phoenix , Tom Robbins , Lin Shaye , Victoria Williams , Grace Zabriskie , Buck Henry , Michael Parker , Lily Tomlin , Alexa , Richard Pagano , Debi Manwiller , Sharon Bialy

Writer/director Gus Van Sant's early bid for big-time commercial success -- a success he didn't manage to achieve until Good Will Hunting -- is based on Tom Robbins' 1976 feminist bestseller. Uma Thur... read more read more...man plays Sissy Hankshaw, a woman born with very large thumbs. After her parents (Grace Zabriskie and Ken Kesey) take her to a doctor (Buck Henry), who offers her parents no remedy for their daughter's condition, the film races ahead to the 1970s. Sissy is now a popular feminine hygiene spray model for a product called Yoni Yum, the product of a company owned by The Countess (John Hurt in drag). Sissy travels to the Rubber Rose beauty ranch, also owned by The Countess, to shoot a Yoni Yum commercial. At the ranch, she makes the acquaintance of the inscrutable Chink (Pat Morita) and Bonanza Jellybean (Rain Phoenix). But under the nose of The Countess, the cowgirls on the ranch are talking mutiny, with the women trying to liberate the Rubber Rose Ranch from the chains of patriarchal oppression. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

30% liked it

5,907 ratings

Critics

24% liked it

17 critics

R, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Gus Van Sant

Release Date: May 20, 1994

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DVD Release Date: November 2, 2004

Stats: 250 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (250)

  • ajv2688
    May 18, 2011
    ajv2688
    I only watched this because Crispin is in it, and he had an okay part, but I didn't care for this movie at all. It tries too hard to be quirky and cool that it just misses the mark. I couldn't stand this movie, and I don't recommend it.
  • cosmo313
    January 10, 2011
    cosmo313
    Deep down, I wanted to like this movie, and I wanted it to be good. I wanted to like it in general, but also because this film has an infamous reputation for being terrible. I thought that it couldn't be that bad, and that it had to have at least one redeeming value or two. Well,... read more it turns out that both I and the reputation are correct.

    This movie does suck..a lot. But it does have some interesting and quirky performances. However, all the absurdity in the world can't make up for the fact that this story and script are muddled, incoherent, and a rambling, random mess. I'm sure everyone had fun making this film, and I do appreciate nuttiness, but c'mon, what the hell even happens in this movie?

    I like the idea of a nice hippie with freaky oversized thumbs hitchhiking her way across the country. The idea of a bunch of raunchy cowgirls on a ranch is cool too. None of this comes together and really gels though. I like the cast. They are a large and diverse group of interesting characters. However, not all of the performances are all that great, and many of the characters are just goofy, shallow caricatures with little to no development. That said, they all try to put out a bit of effort at the very least. I do like John Hurt, though. In fact, he may be the highlight. He's a scream to watch run around in drag being flamboyant. This is probably one of his more brave, interesting, and eyebrow raising roles.

    I think a good way to describe this mostly, but not quite irredeemable failure is that it is kind of like a light and slightly sanitized version of a John Waters film..maybe. It's probably best as a campy cult classic midnight movie. I've never heard it get that status though. Everyone instead just seems to hate it. As camp, it is sometimes fun, but somehow this manages to be boring, even during some of the odder and more absurd moments.

    So yeah, this isn't a complete waste, but it is close.
  • LoughnerWasLucid
    February 8, 2009
    LoughnerWasLucid
    Gus van sant is probably the only director i know of who can make a film thats boring and interesting at the same time, in more than one case too... oh, yea and im most likely one out of like 5 people to give this more than a star!
  • mjgildea
    October 31, 2006
    mjgildea
    Not Van Sant's best work.
  • michaelcorleone
    January 8, 2011
    michaelcorleone
    A boring, almost incoherent film that fails to latch onto anything memorable throughout its entire runtime. Despite the occasional inspired creative flair from Gus Van Sant, this is a chore to sit through.
  • envel2
    January 9, 2009
    envel2
    This has to be one of the worst films ever written.....seriously!
  • ileo
    December 25, 2007
    ileo
    A favorite from my childhood.
  • jrmcm
    October 14, 2007
    jrmcm
    I don't understand how people enjoy Van Sant's other films and then call this one of the worst movies ever. It's not that bad if you have a sense of humor. The cast itself is hilarious and the story is so absurd you can't help enjoying yourself.
  • robinbirdjay
    March 28, 2007
    robinbirdjay
    How to rate this. The bravery it takes to act in and direct something like this earns a big thumbs up (pun intended). Other then that, it is not a film that moves the soul!
  • omikan27
    December 30, 2006
    omikan27
    Bizarre. I liked the book. I thought Uma was an excellent choice to play Sissie. But it all got muddled somehow. Someday I'd love to see Van Sant adapt Tom Robbins' ANOTHER ROADSIDE ATTRACTION and do it better justice.

View All Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Reviews

Critic Reviews

Rob Gonsalves
July 30, 2007
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

Despite a promising start, Cowgirls is one of the most boring movies of all time, a ridiculous stew of mysticism, flat satire, and whimsy. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 9, 2007
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Arguably Van Sant's weakest film, this adaptation of Tom Robbins's feminist anarchic manifesto is poorly conceived, directed, and acted. Full Review

Jon Niccum
June 17, 2005
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World

One of the most unwatchable disasters of the '80s

Alex Sandell
March 15, 2003
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

I thought this was okay. I'm very embarrassed by that.

Ken Hanke
January 16, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Not as bad as claimed, but not very good either.

Chris Hicks
January 1, 2000
Chris Hicks, Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Muddled, confused, ridiculously vulgar, with jokes that fall flat and performances that range from uneven to downright embarrassing... Full Review

Deborah Young
September 24, 2008
Deborah Young, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Caryn James
May 20, 2003
Caryn James, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Trivia

  • Who directed Last Days, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues and My Own Private Idaho?  Answer »
  • What movie premeired Uma Thurman as "Sissy Hankshaw" with abnormaly large thumbs, used for direction and hitch hiking?  Answer »
  • In 1993 Uma Thurman had a crush on a handsom indian man befor falling in love with a crazy cowgirl played by Rain Phoenix in Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. who played the indian man?  Answer »
  • Uma Thurman + Enormous Thumbs = ?  Answer »
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