American Cowslip (2009)

In Blythe, California, a small town in the remote California desert, Ethan Inglebrink is an eccentric, agoraphobic heroin addict who is obsessed with his garden. This dark comedy follows ... See full summary »

Director:

Mark David

Writers:

Ronnie Gene Blevins, Mark David,

Stars:

Ronnie Gene Blevins, Diane Ladd, Rip Torn

Cast

Credited cast:
Ronnie Gene Blevins	...	Ethan Inglebrink
Diane Ladd	...	Roe
Rip Torn	...	Trevor O'Hart
Cloris Leachman	...	Sandy
Val Kilmer	...	Todd Inglebrink
Peter Falk	...	Father Randolph
Bruce Dern	...	Cliff
Priscilla Barnes	...	Samantha
Hanna Hall	...	Georgia (as Hanna R. Hall)
Blake Clark	...	Grimes
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paula Broussard	...	Overweight Jogger
D.W. Brown	...	Kenneth Englebrink
Art Chudabala	...	Rolo
Erik Fellows	...	Rourke
Marcos A. Ferraez	...	Johnny Eyelash

Storyline

In Blythe, California, a small town in the remote California desert, Ethan Inglebrink is an eccentric, agoraphobic heroin addict who is obsessed with his garden. This dark comedy follows the last days of Ethan's life as he struggles to find purpose at a time when it might be too late to even matter. After convincing his senior poker buddies that he is diabetic, in order to explain his frequent use of syringes, Ethan shoots up while trying to win poker money to fund his gardening hobby and drug use. Nearing eviction, Ethan gardens furiously in hopes of winning the $10,000 first prize in the "Garden of the Year" contest so he can pay his delinquent rent. Between sugar-munching binges and exchanges with a motley crew of neighbors, Ethan tries to grow the perfect "American cowslip", a beautiful, rare flower that will be the centerpiece of his garden and the floral representation of his life. When his efforts are thwarted by his landlord/high school football coach/next door neighbor, ...

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Taglines:

It takes a village to raise an addict...

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive drug use, language and some sexual content/nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 September 2010 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Buffalo Speedway Film Company, Cowslip Film Partners, Zetta Pictures

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Peter Falk's final film.

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Quotes

Ethan Inglebrink: You know Billy?
Georgia: You mean the special kid?
Ethan Inglebrink: Yeah. He is special... He's also retarded!
Georgia: I think the proper term is "mentally challenged".
Ethan Inglebrink: You're telling me he's mentally challenged and retarded?... Tough break, huh?

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Soundtracks

"The Other Side"
Written by Chris Cann, Dean Truitt, Joseph Blaustein, and Mark David
Performed by Ultrarev
Courtesy of Feudal Records

User Reviews

#$#$ing AWESOME!!

Campus Circle > Film > Movie Reviews Archives FILM: MOVIE REVIEWS American Cowslip (Buffalo Speedway) By Candice Winters

Ronnie Gene Blevins as Ethan Inglebrink ShareThis

It's the age of addiction, and everyone's an addict. The media, politicians and anyone with power treats us that way – like we're a hopeless race of information junkies. We want news fast, answers even faster and if someone makes a mistake, you'd better believe the whole world will know in the time it takes to upload video onto YouTube.

Director and co-writer of American Cowslip, Mark David toys with the idea that the quirks in life are fueled and maintained simply by the addiction that has become America's disease.

In a small town in the remote California desert, Ethan Inglebrink (Ronnie Gene Blevins) is an agoraphobic heroin addict who is obsessed with his garden. The few enjoyments Ethan has in life are his poker nights with his elderly neighbors (Cloris Leachman, Diane Ladd, Priscilla Barnes) whom he has convinced that he has diabetes in order to explain his frequent use of syringes.

Ethan's plan to evade eviction for another month is to win the $10,000 first prize in the "Garden of the Year" contest. The druggie is particularly interested in perfecting his "American cowslip," a beautiful rare flower that will be the centerpiece of his garden.

This dark comedy follows the last days of Ethan's life as he struggles to find purpose at a time when it might be too late to even matter. Spiraling down a dark and messy hole of drugs, self-loathing and insanity, Ethan finds true love in Georgia (Hanna Hall), his beautiful 17-year-old neighbor who wants to leave the small town to evade her abusive father (Bruce Dern).

Without spoiling the end, Ethan pays for his self-indulgent lifestyle, though it is the entire neighborhood block that comes to realize that everyone is an "Ethan," because passion is at the root of human nature.

American Cowslip is a comedy that makes subtle jabs at the absurdity of the current "normal" American lifestyle. This film is reminiscent of 2000's Requiem for a Dream, though in many ways it also parodies this and other films directed toward making a statement about America's drug pastime.

In fact, this film is so absurd, you can't help but laugh as Ethan convinces his old lady friend to score him some heroin under the guise that it's insulin. And when it comes down to it, even death is a silly coincidence.

Grade: B