Concrete Cowboy (2021, D: Staub) S: Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin -- Netflix
03-17-21 | 02:03 PM
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Concrete Cowboy (2021, D: Staub) S: Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin -- Netflix
While spending the summer in North Philadelphia, a troubled teen (Caleb McLaughlin) is caught between a life of crime and his estranged father’s (Idris Elba) vibrant urban-cowboy subculture. Based on the novel 'Ghetto Cowboy' by G.Neri, Concrete Cowboy is directed by Ricky Staub and co-stars Jharrel Jerome, Byron Bowers, Lorraine Toussaint and Clifford "Method Man" Smith. On Netflix April 2.
77% currently on RT: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/concrete_cowboy
03-18-21 | 12:31 PM
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Re: Concrete Cowboy (2021, D: Staub) S: Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin -- Netflix
Caught this at TIFF back in September and thought it was...OK. Using people with no acting experience to play fictionalized versions of themselves is always a risky proposition, but it pays off in a big way in this movie. Jamil 'Mil' Prattis plays Paris, a wheelchair-bound member of the Fleet Street Urban Riders who has a whole lot of experience and no time for coddling young'uns. Other members of the cast are also actual riders who are not actors and they're good, but Prattis totally owns the scenes he's in. If there were awards for Breakout Star then Prattis would definitely be a contender because he's one of the best parts of Concrete Cowboy.
Idris Elba is solid as Harp, the estranged father of Cole (Caleb McLaughlin). He's a little world weary and quite happy to be raising horses and helping out the riding community wherever he can. Harp isn't as enthused about suddenly having his son dropped into his lap for the summer and is perfectly willing to let Cole walk out the door since the boy is not thrilled about having to spend time with a father he barely knows.
Cole's first encounter with Harp's animals is pretty memorable, and as you would expect in this type of story, the teen learns about the Urban Riders and slowly becomes enamored with their lifestyle. But it wouldn't be a modern coming-of-age movie set in Philly if there's no crime subplot, right? That's where Cole's childhood friend, Smush (Jharrel Jerome), comes in. He's a legitimate friend to Cole and wants his old buddy to experience more traditional urban life, which in Smush's case includes dealing with a local crime lord. Method Man also shows up as Leroy, an ex-rider-turned-cop who doesn't have much to do other than give the movie a bit more star power.
Concrete Cowboy has several distinct threads: a father and son reconciliation, Smush's 'business dealings' going south, and the Fleet Street Riders facing the threat of losing their stables. Cole and Harp learning to bond works well enough with what's going on with the riders, but Smush's storyline feels tacked on to pad out the running time and to create more tension. I would've been happy to see that subplot dropped completely so the urban riders could get more screen time.
This isn't a bad movie by any stretch, but it's hurt by its inclusion of contrived conflict. It also ends on a hopeful note that'll ring a bit false
As a dramatized introduction to the Fleet Street Urban Riding Club, it's not too bad as it gives you a sense of the people who live as urban cowboys and Elba does a good job selling his role as a veteran rider.
Idris Elba is solid as Harp, the estranged father of Cole (Caleb McLaughlin). He's a little world weary and quite happy to be raising horses and helping out the riding community wherever he can. Harp isn't as enthused about suddenly having his son dropped into his lap for the summer and is perfectly willing to let Cole walk out the door since the boy is not thrilled about having to spend time with a father he barely knows.
Cole's first encounter with Harp's animals is pretty memorable, and as you would expect in this type of story, the teen learns about the Urban Riders and slowly becomes enamored with their lifestyle. But it wouldn't be a modern coming-of-age movie set in Philly if there's no crime subplot, right? That's where Cole's childhood friend, Smush (Jharrel Jerome), comes in. He's a legitimate friend to Cole and wants his old buddy to experience more traditional urban life, which in Smush's case includes dealing with a local crime lord. Method Man also shows up as Leroy, an ex-rider-turned-cop who doesn't have much to do other than give the movie a bit more star power.
Concrete Cowboy has several distinct threads: a father and son reconciliation, Smush's 'business dealings' going south, and the Fleet Street Riders facing the threat of losing their stables. Cole and Harp learning to bond works well enough with what's going on with the riders, but Smush's storyline feels tacked on to pad out the running time and to create more tension. I would've been happy to see that subplot dropped completely so the urban riders could get more screen time.
This isn't a bad movie by any stretch, but it's hurt by its inclusion of contrived conflict. It also ends on a hopeful note that'll ring a bit false
Spoiler:
As a dramatized introduction to the Fleet Street Urban Riding Club, it's not too bad as it gives you a sense of the people who live as urban cowboys and Elba does a good job selling his role as a veteran rider.
