Just when you think that you know every coming-of-age story, you tend to find something that will change your mind. Sure, you have the general idea. But, the twists and turns in the journey make it just as fun as the lesson. And I think that in this case there is a new facet to a story we all know. The fact that it is based on a true story just makes it that much more delicious. The plot focuses on a boy who is constantly in trouble and ends up having to live with the father he never knew. Here is how the movie is described. Sent to live with his estranged father for the summer, a rebellious teen finds kinship in a tight-knit Philadelphia community of Black cowboys. Concrete Cowboy is a American Western drama film directed by Ricky Staub from a screenplay by Staub and DanWalser.
Its story is based upon the novel Ghetto Cowboy by Greg Neri, which is a fictionalization of the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club, an urban African-American horse riding culture in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The film stars Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin, Jharrel Jerome, Byron Bowers, Lorraine Toussaint and Clifford “Method Man” Smith. While there aren’t a lot of scenes between Caleb McLaughlin and Idris Elba, they both shine in a way that exhibits them well. The story is something a little different from the trope we are used to, giving you another way to think about growing up. The acting in the film isn’t horrible, but it feels like it just falls short. We all know what Idris Elba is capable of and so many people were excited to see what
Caleb McLaughlin can do. While you can see that they are putting in effort, it falls just short and it is hard to tell if it is the writing or something holding the actors back. There is nothing new or innovative about the film direction, cinematography or mood manipulation of the film. But, the story carries a newness that makes up for it. The basis on real life is unknown to me, but by the end we find out that there are actors who are actually Concrete Cowboys, which lends it a bit more credibility. The end scenes tell so many stories that tie in and how people are affected. Overall, I thought it was a decent film. It was something I think kids would learn well from, if they will actually pay attention and try to absorb it. And it isn’t bad for bored adults or anyone who wants to see Idris Elba in a skimpy white shirt. I would give it a seven, because it wasn’t something I truly enjoyed or would watch again. But, if you are bored or need to get through a bottle of wine it is something you can have one while you surf your phone!
