Soi Cowboy (2008)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Thomas Clay

Writer:

Thomas Clay (writer)

Release Date:

8 January 2009 (Thailand)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Unsolved Mystery | Erotica | Topless | Murder | Shot In The Head

Cast

Nicolas Bro	...	Tobias Christiansen
Pimwalee Thampanyasan	...	Koi
Petch Mekoh	...	Cha
Natee Srimanta
Somrak Khamsing	...	Uncle
Art Supawatt Purdy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Porntip Papanai

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

Thailand | UK

Language:

English | Lao | Thai

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

UK:15

Filming Locations:

Thailand

Company:

De Warrenne Pictures

this is one to miss!

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I'll keep it simple and general enough so as not to drop a spoiler. But this film doesn't deserve to be watched and if anything, people need to be warned against it, because there is nothing to spoil! I had reasonably high hopes of a film that has managed to grace (or sully) screens at various film festivals around the world. This one just keeps coming back for more - in this case at the Stockholm film festival - after getting knocked down at each festival. The creators don't seem to be able to take no for an answer. I went in with an open mind and here is the story that ensues...

We open in grainy black and white with one of the good-hearted, well-meaning sex-obsessed painfully-shy main characters, Tobias, lying in his bed and his almost-mute pregnant Thai hooker cohabitee also in the bed. An ex prostitute who is taken under Tobias Christensen's wing. And there is almost no character development. Every shot is long, drawn out and PROTRACTED to death. to DEATH. A whole minute was devoted to watching the toaster for F£$%^ sake.

After we understand that Tobias is the money cow to look after the ex Thai prostitute, they eventually go on a relaxing temple trip after some seriously awkward and IRRITATING waste of film. Again, more extremely long, protracted and BORING... no wait, POINTLESSLY long shots are included. Was the editor murdered or something? The granny on the zimmer-frame, what were they thinking? There were two people in the audience behind me who fell asleep and began snoring - genuine because others sitting nearby were amused and laughing at this, there were tsks and hisses and sighs alike coming from the crowd directed at the screen by this point. AWKWARD.

Then the film becomes COLOUR! And another character develops: the Thai prostitutes little brother. He's on a bounty mission. He succeeds. More long, pointless shots. DULL. BORING.

He returns with the evidence of the deed to be paid by the man who supposedly hired him and encounter possibly the most exciting and mildly titillating 3 seconds of film in the whole 2 hours. Tobias flanked by another Thai hooker and also the "money safe" scene.

The dialogue in the film is either superfluous, or limited - but sometimes serves a purpose in a "connect the dots" way to understand enough of what is supposed to be going on plot wise in this film. Next to NOTHING.

burning your eyes from your sockets would be visually more stimulating than this film, and a damn sight more exciting. DO NOT WATCH.