Time for a weekend post!

Books I’m reading: Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, by Tom Robbins.

Movies I’m watching: “Drugstore Cowboy,” directed by Gus Van Zant. “Infernal Affairs,” (rewatching) directed by Andrew Lau.

“Drugstore Cowboy” is great. It’s about a pack of wastrels who feed their habit by breaking into drugstores. I did not expect to enjoy this movie, because it deals with druggies. I’ve met my share of junkies, and the best compliment I can give them is that their seemingly-bottomless spew of cliches in defense of their life-philosophy only caused me to vomit after 10 minutes. Whatever.

Reasons why “Drugstore Cowboy” is great:

(1) NO GLAMORIZATION OF HEROIN. I think “Trainspotting” is an awesome movie, because the characters start out as great friends, then they die, become jerks, betray each other. Just like real friends do. Hidden beneath all the heroin-paraphernelia is a nugget of spit-shined truth. But the movie is about sexy heroin, and it seems like too many drug movies are focused on the sexy drugs. “Drugstore Cowboy” is about the stuff your local pharmacy carries. There’s never any shady deals with Russian guys in fur coats. Our band of thieves bust into the Duane Reade after it closes, or they raid clinics. The abuse of prescription drugs is no less dangerous, and the police no less unforgiving. But “Drugstore Cowboy” reveals a side of the druggie world that rarely gets explored.

(2) CHANGE EMERGES FROM WITHIN. ***Spoilers ahead!*** Bob, the leader of this motley band of pharmacy-raiding freaks, ultimately gives up the life and checks himself into a methodone clinic. The social worker, impressed by his contrition, asks if he would be interested in counseling other drug abusers. Bob turns her down.

The way Bob sees it, preaching to a druggie is pointless. A druggie is looking to get high so he doesn’t have to deal with the world. No amount of talk can make such a person change. The druggies himself must choose to change. This movie was released in 1989, but more recent drug-related flicks like “Traffic” still convey that message. Am I saying all drug films have ripped off “Drugstore Cowboy?” No, I’m merely observing that, thirteen years later, there still doesn’t seem to be a more practical solution to the “drug problem.”

Bottom line: This movie manages to be anti-drug without skirting over the line into Made-for-TV propaganda. There are references to drug ads and the ridiculousness of them. The main character manages to make the transformation from junkie to decent citizen, and the reason for his change isn’t the fact that he’s played by Tracey Gold. I really liked this movie.

A second review for “Infernal Affairs” will be posted another time. “Banzai” is on tonight at 8:30. Watch it with someone you love!