‘Barstool Cowboy’ is a great example of an indie movie in it’s purest form… a movie that tells an interesting story and doesn’t get bogged down in trying to look glitzy and glamorous. I love it when true indie filmmakers, especially those from the Midwest, set out against all odds and make a movie. ‘Barstool Cowboy’ was written, directed and produced by Mark Thimijan and was shot in Nebraska.

‘Barstool Cowboy’ stars Tim Woodward as Mick, an unemployed country boy who vows to spend three months perched on his barstool. Mick’s had enough of women and their breaking his heart. As Mick sits in the small town bar, drinking and philosophizing about love, women and life, his fellow pub patrons keep him company as he dwells in his failed relationships.

Rachel Lien plays Arcy, a teenage girl turns up one day drawing in her sketchbook outside the bar. Mick and the guys in the bar are befuddled by the girl who strikes them as strange. In a moment of weakness, Mick betrays his vow and goes outside to see what this girl’s all about. What he finds is an interesting young woman that touches his curiosity and renews his attitude towards life.

Mick and Arcy quickly become unlikely friends, keeping each other company and inspiring each other to become better people. Mick goes back to finding work and Arcy finds herself more inspired as an artist. This strictly platonic friendship is more intellectual chemistry than anything sexual, but the film does sometimes feel influenced by the classic tale of ‘Lolita’. Mick finds himself down right giidy about his new-found soul mate and goes to great lengths to impress her. Will Mick have finally found someone he can be happy with, or is he merely fooling himself about the opposite sex?

‘Barstool Cowboy’ offers light humor and intelligent storytelling and enough technical savvy behind the camera to keep us in the story. Personally, I found the ending had a darker tone to it than I had expected, adding texture in place of a candy-coated Hollywood ending. ‘Barstool Cowboy’ is available on DVD from the Official Website.

[rating:3.5/5]