J.W. Coop

J.W. Coop is a distinctly American drama from 1971, directed by Cliff Robertson, who also stars in the title role. The supporting cast boasts renowned actors like Geraldine Page and Cristina Ferrare. The film takes viewers deep into the American midwest - a world brimming with rodeo culture, small-town life, and changing mores - and explores complex human emotions and a changing societal landscape.

The film centres around the eponymous protagonist, J.W. Coop. Coop is a rodeo cowboy, a cowboy of the old-school mold, who finds himself out of place in the rapidly changing world of the late 1960s and early '70s. The story begins with Coop being released from prison after serving a ten-year sentence, having been incarcerated for writing bad checks. As he steps out into society, he is determined to return to his roots - rodeo - but finds the world, and the rodeo circuit itself, have changed drastically.

J.W. Coop finds that life outside the penitentiary is a far cry from what he remembers. The people he knew, the world he was familiar with, and the societal codes that he held dear have all shifted beyond recognition. The transformation of American society through the Civil Rights Movement and anti-war activism, punctuated by the countercultural revolution, especially leaves him confounded.

Coop's struggles to readjust are manifold. He grapples with outdated skills in a modern, post-silent majority America. He finds it difficult to reconcile with the new political correctness that now dominates the rodeo circuit. In addition, he also has to deal with prejudice from those who view him as an ex-convict outcast.

Amid all these changes, he finds solace in the character of Bean. Bean, played masterfully by Geraldine Page, is an aging woman who was also once part of the rodeo circuit. She understands Coop's struggles and attempts to help him navigate the new world. There’s also Cristina Ferrare's character, who plays a large role in Coop's life but represents a vastly different person from what he expected in reconnecting with women.

The movie pensively charts the journey of J.W. Coop as he reenters society and tries to reclaim his position in the rodeo world. Through Coop's struggles, it effectively explores a period of time when America was transitioning culturally and socially, a theme underlined by his interactions with the rapidly changing world and its new norms.

Director Cliff Robertson manages to provide an amazing insight into the life of a rodeo cowboy while also offering a broad commentary on how societies change, and individuals struggle to keep up. What sets J.W. Coop apart is that, while it presents a series of events in the protagonist’s life, it doesn't rely on a strict narrative. Rather, the strength of the film lies in its exposition of character and exploration of cultural moments.

From a formal perspective, J.W. Coop stands out for its unique cinematographic style of the early '70s. The film integrates actual rodeo footage into its narrative, lending an air of authenticity and raw strength. These landscape and action scenes seamlessly amalgamate with the movie’s quieter, character-driven moments.

Overall, the film is not just about the world of rodeos, but it is a captivating depiction of a man grappling with change and trying to fit into a world that has moved on. Roberston's performance as the flawed, determined Coop is stirring, giving viewers a window into the life of a man living in a time that he barely recognizes.

In summary, J.W. Coop is a slow-burning, poignant reflection on societal change, personal struggle, and life's hard-earned realities, deeply embedded in American culture. Director Cliff Robertson portrays a bygone era in a way that's overwhelmingly American - a world literally wild and woolly, where the whistle of the wind, the roar of the crowd and the grunt of livestock were the only music a man needed to hear. It's a must-watch for viewers interested in character-driven stories, American cultural history, or the rodeo circuit.