A teenage boy is out of his depth in Concrete Cowboy, the feature debut of co-writer and director Ricky Staub.
Cole knew going to live with his father would be awkward. The two lived in different cities and barely knew each other, but nothing could prepare him for finding out he’d also be sharing quarters with a horse. Turns out his father is part of an equestrian club in the middle of Philadelphia, one that targets troubled youth and teaches them to care for and ride horses. It’s an oddity, particularly for a man so distant from his own son, and one that’s bound to rub Cole the wrong way.
Based on the book Ghetto Cowboy, itself taking inspiration from the real-life Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club, the movie offers a familiar father-son plot within an unusual setting. The well-trod aspects of the story should help Staub find his footing, as should the stellar cast he’s working with.
You can’t miss Idris Elba as the demanding father to young Cole, who provides a steady figure for the film to lean on. The real test here is for Stranger Things’ Caleb McLaughlin in his first major feature role. This will demand something much different from the gangly nerd we’re used to him playing, and hopefully, he’ll be able to pull off.
Concrete Cowboy is directed by Ricky Staub and stars Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin, Lorraine Toussaint, and Jharrel Jerome. It will be released on Netflix worldwide on April 2nd, 2021.
Will you check this one out? Let us know in the comments!
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