Space Cowboys

Storyline

Space Cowboys, When a Russian satellite orbiting the Earth starts to veer off course. It seems like the guidance system in the satellite is of American origin. It’s important to try and fix it before it comes into the atmosphere. N.A.S.A. man, Bob Gerson (James Cromwell) tries to find out who designed it, and discovers that it was designed by Frank Corvin (Clint Eastwood), an Air Force pilot who, forty years ago, was part of a team who was originally suppose to go to space, but when N.A.S.A. was formed and Gerson’s influence, they were dropped. Gerson asks Frank to help, but Frank still holds a grudge. But after some prodding, he agrees but only if he and his team can go there so he can fix it. Gerson reluctantly agrees, so Frank recruits his former team members, “Tank” Sullivan (James Garner), Jerry O’Neill (Donald Sutherland), and “Hawk” Hawkins (Tommy Lee Jones) to join him. After some strenuous tests, they’re cleared. And they go up with two other astronauts and check out the satellite and discover that they weren’t told the whole truth.

Happy 60th, Tommy!

Space Cowboys, Since today (well, yesterday the 15th was; I think that it’s already now the 16th) is Tommy Lee Jones’s 60th birthday, I saw fit to review one of his movies. “Space Cowboys” is more Clint Eastwood’s movie, but everyone in it does a neat job. It portrays some aging pilots teaming back up to stop a rogue satellite. In the team, Eastwood is the nominal leader; Jones is the nervous one; Donald Sutherland is the goof-off ladies’ man; and James Garner is the let-whatever-happens-happen. Most of the movie is a comedy, but it levels out towards the end, and the final scene was a little ambiguous.

But anyway, it’s a pretty interesting romp. There may be some scenes that make you think “OK, that’s more than I needed to see.” Overall, you’re sure to like it. Also starring James Cromwell, Marcia Gay Harden, William

Enemy Mine