Lonesome Cowboys

"Lonesome Cowboys," directed by Andy Warhol and co-directed by Paul Morrissey, is a peculiar and psychedelic excursion into the American Wild West of 1968. A satirical take on the conventional Western genre, this film is innovative, controversial, and a reflection of the era's countercultural movement.

The film stars Warhol’s multi-talented ensemble known as the Warhol Superstars, which includes the glamorous Viva and leading characters played by Tom Hompertz and Louis Waldon. Filmed on location in the desert outskirts of Arizona, the film beautifully blends the surreal aesthetics of the Warholian world with the barren landscapes of the Southwest.

The story revolves around five aimless and eccentric cowboys on their journey through the desert. Tom Hompertz leads the pack as cowboy Julian, alongside Louis Waldon as his brother and cowboy Luke. They're accompanied by the other outlandish cowboys: Eric, played by charismatic Eric Emerson, Sonny, portrayed by Taylor Mead, and Little Joe, brought to life by the talented actor Joe Dallesandro.

Together, these ragtag cowboys embody a kind of raw masculinity. They're depicted as an intimate, interconnected group who are always engaging in oddball antics and humorous dialogue. Their day-to-day activities consist primarily of idling around, having roaming discussions sprinkled with witty dialogues, strange musings about life, and robust debates about everything and nothing.

Then enters rambling neurotic Ramona, a character exquisitely played by Viva. Ramona is the sister of a rancher who brings an exotic flair to the dusty cowboy world. With her sophisticated air and enchanting charm, Ramona effortlessly brings a disruptive yet enriching femininity to the cowboys' troop. Her presence provokes interesting dynamics among the cowboys and the character interactions thus offer a fascinating study of gender politics of the time.

Another striking character is Ruff, a brutish sheriff portrayed by Julian Burrough. Ruff is positioned as a guardian figure who aims to control the passions and mischief of the cowboys. The relationship between Ruff and the cowboys adds another layer of tension and irony to the tale.

"Lonesome Cowboys" is not a typical Western, nor does it intend to be. Instead, it bypasses the traditional themes of the Wild West, forgoing heroic narratives or grand cowboy adventures. The film, instead, constructs an alternate universe of the cowboys that is characterized by sheer aspiration, youthful energy, spontaneity, and queer charm.

The film’s aesthetics is a classic Warholian: long, drifting camera shots, an unscripted, improvized script, and extraordinary attention to detail. As is typical with most of Warhol's films, "Lonesome Cowboys" uses unconventional storytelling techniques with an avant-garde style of filmmaking that eschews plot for character development and social commentary. The narrative picks up snippets of conversations, random observations, and strange asides, allowing the cowboys to ruminate on different subjects that range from love, life, and sex to meaningless chit-chat.

Another defining feature of "Lonesome Cowboys" is the brilliant color palette. Warhol shapes the desert landscape in sharp, stark, and discordant hues that add texture and vibrance to every frame. This vivid portrayal enhances the eccentric temperaments of the characters and the absurdity of their erratic adventures.

Littered with sarcasm and satire, "Lonesome Cowboys" also offers a critique of American lifestyle and mores of the 1960s. By using the quintessential American West and its regular tropes as a backdrop, Warhol subvertly criticizes societal norms and constructs, tosses around gender roles, and presents a decaying romanticization of the cowboy mythos.

While "Lonesome Cowboys" was met with controversy upon its release due to its explicit themes and unconventional approach, it has since gained recognition for its astounding depiction of countercultural ideologies and for pioneering a new wave in independent cinema. Today, it is considered a significant piece in the avant-garde cinema universe and a testament to Warhol's audacious and experimental filmmaking style. It is an important film for anyone interested in Warhol’s oeuvre, the Western genre, or the 1960s counterculture movement in America.