Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A lady with giant thumbs becomes a professional hitchhiker, falls in with lesbian cowgirls who are trying to preserve whooping cranes, and they all get into trouble with the law…because of peyote.

🍿 Even Cowgirls Get the Blues: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Sissy’s Unique Thumbs and Hitchhiking Adventures

Sissy Hankshaw, played by Uma Thurman, is born with unusually large thumbs, which ironically become her greatest asset. From a young age, she embarks on a journey of hitchhiking across America, embracing a nomadic lifestyle and encountering various eccentric characters along the way. Her unique thumbs make her a natural at hitchhiking, leading to a series of colorful and sometimes bizarre adventures.

Modeling Career and Arrival at the Beauty Ranch

Sissy’s travels eventually lead her to a successful modeling career in New York City, where she becomes the face of a feminine hygiene product. Her agent, ‘The Countess’ (played by John Hurt), a flamboyant drag queen, sends her to a beauty ranch in California. The ranch is owned by the Countess and is supposed to be used for commercial shoots, particularly focusing on mating whooping cranes, adding a surreal element to Sissy’s journey.

The Cowgirl Rebellion and Peyote-Fueled Chaos

At the beauty ranch, Sissy befriends Bonanza Jellybean (played by Rain Phoenix), a charismatic cowgirl who leads a group of rebellious women. The cowgirls seize control of the ranch from the Countess, advocating for female empowerment and environmental awareness. They drug the whooping cranes with peyote, leading to a series of increasingly bizarre and chaotic events that culminate in a police siege of the ranch.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Sissy Hankshaw (Uma Thurman): Born with enormous thumbs, Sissy becomes a hitchhiker and model who finds herself entangled with a group of rebellious cowgirls.
• Bonanza Jellybean (Rain Phoenix): The leader of the cowgirls at the beauty ranch who forms a romantic connection with Sissy.
• The Countess (John Hurt): Sissy’s eccentric New York agent who owns the beauty ranch in California.
• Delores Del Ruby (Lorraine Bracco): One of the cowgirls at the ranch who participates in the rebellion.
• The Chink (Pat Morita): A mystical mountain man who provides wisdom and guidance to Sissy.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Sissy Hankshaw: “I’ve always believed that people were made the way they were for a reason.” – Sissy reflects on her unique physical attribute and her acceptance of it.
• Bonanza Jellybean: “Every living thing has a chemical composition, and anything that is added to it changes that composition.” – Bonanza Jellybean explains her perspective on drugging whooping cranes with peyote.
• The Countess: “Would you fancy some sherry? Oh goodness, I’m all out of sherry. How ’bout some Red Ripple?” – The Countess offers Sissy a drink upon her arrival in New York.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $8,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $1,708,873
• Worldwide Gross: $1,708,873

💥 Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Reviews

Personal Review

I wanted to love this movie because it has all the elements I usually enjoy: quirky characters, a road trip, and a touch of the absurd. However, I found it meandering and ultimately unsatisfying. The soundtrack is great, but the plot feels like a series of disconnected vignettes rather than a cohesive story. While Uma Thurman is charming, the movie just doesn’t quite come together. I feel the movie is best watched at home to better enjoy the great music while multitasking.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of quirky, unconventional films”
  • “Viewers interested in stories about female empowerment”
  • “Those who enjoy movies with a unique visual style”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Drug use (peyote)”
  • “Sexual content (lesbian themes)”
  • “Suggestive scenes”
  • “Occasional strong language”

Professional Reviews

• Rolling Stone: “Even the talented cast can’t save this disjointed adaptation of Tom Robbins’ novel. The film lacks focus and the quirky humor feels forced.
• New York Times: “Van Sant’s attempt to translate Robbins’ unique voice to the screen results in a confusing and unsatisfying experience. The film’s visual style doesn’t elevate the weak plot, leaving audiences disengaged.

Audience Reactions

The soundtrack is amazing!: Many viewers appreciate the k.d. lang soundtrack, even if they didn’t enjoy the film.

I had no idea what the plot was, and I still don’t: A general consensus is that the plot is confusing and hard to follow without knowing the original story

Overall Consensus: While the film has a strong cult following, many found it confusing, disjointed, and a poor adaptation of the source material. The cast and soundtrack are generally praised, but the plot and direction are widely criticized.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is based on the 1976 novel of the same name by Tom Robbins, who also provides narration for the film.”
• “Uma Thurman wore prosthetic thumbs for her role as Sissy Hankshaw.”
• “The film was shot on location in Terrebonne, Oregon, capturing the natural beauty of the area.”

🖥️ How to Watch Even Cowgirls Get the Blues?

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues is available for rent or purchase on various platforms. Check streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu for availability. You can also purchase the film on DVD or Blu-ray from major retailers like Amazon and Walmart.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, you might like these similar films:

• My Own Private Idaho (1991): Directed by Gus Van Sant, this film also explores themes of unconventional lifestyles and journeys of self-discovery.
• Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994): A road movie with quirky characters and a celebration of individuality and freedom.
• Harold and Maude (1971): A dark comedy with a unique and unconventional love story.

🛒 Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Related Products

• Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (DVD): Own the film on DVD and experience the quirky story and unique soundtrack. Includes bonus features like trailers and behind-the-scenes footage.
• Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins: Read the original novel by Tom Robbins and experience the full story, characters, and themes. Explore the author’s unique writing style and vision.
• k.d. lang – Ingénue Redux (CD): Own a copy of k.d. lang’s greatest hits CD and listen to some of her popular songs from the movie.
• Cowgirl-Inspired Wall Art Print: Unique movie poster, perfect for any bedroom or common area.

🎧 Soundtrack

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Just Keep Me Moving” – performed by k.d. lang
• “My Sweet Love” – performed by k.d. lang
• “Cowgirl’s Prayer” – performed by k.d. lang

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

Ever feel like the movie’s themes still resonate today? This short clip uses the title in a funny way that might just make you chuckle. It’s short, sweet, and oddly relatable!

Emmylou Harris — Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1983)

Did you know there’s a song inspired by the book and almost made it into the movie? Emmylou Harris’s performance is great, and the story behind the song is wild – it got rejected! Check it out and see what you think.

✨ Rate