★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
It’s been a while since either of us have written a review. That should tell you two things: we’ve been incredibly busy and this movie was so noteworthy I had to write something immediately to process the experience of watching it.
Quantum Cowboys is unbelievable. It is unable to be believed. I saw it as part of VIFF’s 2022 Altered States lineup which was my second clue to immediately leave the theatre (my first was the terrible review I Googled ahead of time). Altered States movies are, quite frankly, almost always bad. They never make sense and feel like the filmmakers are vaguely trying to tell us about a dream they had last week (and not in a cool Paprika way). To its credit, this is finally the film that got me to put two and two together and understand the category is called altered states because none of these films are ever intended to be consumed while sober. Unfortunately, I realized that as soon as the movie started so it was too late to make my experience a more enjoyable one.
Via Variety.
This is normally the point in the review where I talk about the plot and characters but I can’t even tell you what those were. Lily Gladstone and Kiowa Gordon bring strong performances where they can but when they’re given a script like this it’s hard to find the magic moments.
The only positive review I could find for this movie says that it “defies explanation” which is really the best way to put it. Whatever you think you’re going to see, this movie will show you something completely out of left field. Quantum Cowboys has the same energy as Cats, only instead of different cats there are different animation styles and also there is the same vibe as the meme of Charlie Day and the conspiracy board. If you told me this film was entirely created by an AI, I would believe you.
I’ve never hated a movie so much and yet immediately wanted to watch it a second time. I will absolutely catch a repeat screening (while high; obviously I am never watching this sober again). I can’t give this one star because I actually enjoyed watching it… but oh man. What a way to end the festival year.