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First Cow
First Cow
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First Cow

First Cow

2020
Drama, Western
2h 2m
A loner and cook (John Magaro) has traveled west and joined a group of fur trappers in Oregon Territory, though he only finds connection with a Chinese immigrant (Orion Lee). The men collaborate on a business, although its longevity is reliant upon the participation of a wealthy landowner's prized milking cow. (A24)

Directed by:

Kelly Reichardt

Screenwriter:

Kelly Reichardt, Jonathan Raymond

Starring:

Ewen Bremner, Gary Farmer, Dylan Smith, Rene Auberjonois, Toby Jones, Alia Shawkat, John Magaro, John Keating, Orion Lee, Lily Gladstone, Jared Kasowski, Scott Shepherd

Genres:

Drama, Western

Country:

USA

Languages:

English, French, Russian, Hawaiian, North American Indian
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First Cow

2020
Drama, Western
2h 2m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 64.44% from 670 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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paxtonPaxton
Rated 18 Jan 2024
57
34th
Last week I brought a ham sandwich to work and found myself eating it two hours later at 9:30am, so, no, I do not have the patience for this.
Rated 18 Jan 2024
natebarriosnatebarrios
Rated 03 Aug 2020
75
75th
The Treasure of Sierra Moo-dre! There's a kindhearted bent to this movie that I really enjoyed. It has a sense of adventure larger than the other Reichardt movies I've seen, even though it mostly stays put in one place. What a beauty.
Rated 03 Aug 2020
fenixdownfenixdown
Rated 17 Jul 2020
84
90th
Lovely historical piece, contemplative and authentic in equal measure.
Rated 17 Jul 2020
suture_selfSuture Self
Rated 29 Oct 2021
10
96th
First Cow is mostly about two things: 1) As any Marxist can tell you, economic reproduction is conditional on capital accumulation; and if capital doesn't grow, the whole process breaks down. First Cow is about the beginning of capital accumulation in the American West, as well as some of its first casualties. 2) As the lovely William Blake quote alludes to at the beginning of the movie, friendship is a force so powerful you can build a home around it. In short, greatest cow movie of all time.
Rated 29 Oct 2021
joelwatchesmoviesjoelwatchesmovies
Rated 07 Jan 2021
9
92nd
Anyone else tear up a bit at the banjo-backed scene of Cookie's first glimpse of the cow through the trees? It's that kind of film: so delicate and thoughtful in its cinematography, score, and edit that every detail of its earthy (pacific north)western setting and uniquely organic central relationship is infused with a powerful, patient beauty-except of course when both are threatened by cold colonialism. In hindsight, the prologue provides the perfect bittersweet commentary on this dynamic.
Rated 07 Jan 2021
edwardedward
Rated 07 Oct 2020
92
87th
In the spirit of Van Sant, or Malick at his best, in the sense that minimal dialog and great cinematography speak louder than words, Reichardt has created a delightful film about two unlikely friends in an era we don't see on screen too often. It's quiet and slow, unquestionably, but also quite peaceful. If you have the two hours to completely immerse yourself in this film, it won't be a problem. While the plot is critical, it's the attention to detail that truly makes this film worth watching.
Rated 07 Oct 2020
kasperlKasperL
Rated 29 Sep 2020
55
39th
Although it's a much more accomplished production than 'Old Joy', this resides comfortably right next to that film as my least favorite by Reichardt. It's simply too damn slow for me, particularly in the first act.
Rated 29 Sep 2020
sadmanSadman
Rated 03 Aug 2020
80
63rd
Kelly Reichardt and her team are at the top of their game here. The cinematography and production design is immaculate; natural, tactile and often breathtaking. Certainly among the most beautiful films I've seen in a long time. The acting is great as well. All in all, it is the kind of movie that I can't really find fault with but I admire and respect it more than I love it. That said, several shots and sequences have lingered with me long after seeing it, usually the mark of a great movie.
Rated 03 Aug 2020
aaautinAAAutin
Rated 28 Jul 2020
78
89th
(TEAT'S CUTOFF)
Rated 28 Jul 2020
twincinematwincinema
Rated 05 Apr 2021
90
92nd
We need more Westerns like this one. This film lulls you in with its beautiful sceneries, then keeps you engaged with its tender look at humanity.
Rated 05 Apr 2021
deaddillydeaddilly
Rated 13 Feb 2021
70
47th
Ironically, that poster looks like some millennial Capitalist "Got milk?" advertisement. I liked the movie, especially the period detail and warmth of the shots. A simple but elegantly told story. Not sure if it was my TV but the night-time shots were very dark and hard to make out what was going on.
Rated 13 Feb 2021
wwallce4prezWWallce4prez
Rated 30 Dec 2020
80
73rd
Kelly Reichardt, as per her usual, is just a master of small stories. Every character seems fleshed out and to have lived a life that is completely believable. This is literally about two friends selling some oily cakes and it couldn't be more enjoyable. That is her talent.
Rated 30 Dec 2020
bofbof
Rated 19 Dec 2020
85
92nd
Cowpitalism is theft. Sorrynotsorry. In the admittedly rather narrow subgenre "Alia Shawkat finds a dead body", this is right up there with Green Room; a slow meditation on just how so-called civilization is established - both in terms of ownership, and in terms of how we relate to each other.
Rated 19 Dec 2020
schnofelschnofel
Rated 17 Dec 2020
81
92nd
A lovely remembrance of the old west, of the hard lives of gentle souls, of that cow going downriver on a raft. It's just so well-rounded. The slowness blooms into atmosphere and worldbuilding - one has to appreciate the salamander being turned over to get to the taste of London in the cookies. Reichardt even answers the question she poses at the beginning in that classic short story sense: "Why are there two skeletons holding hands?" And well, it's the mysteries of love and capitalism.
Rated 17 Dec 2020
icarusIcarus
Rated 30 Oct 2020
92
93rd
Many will focus on the social implications of this film, particularly its interaction with capitalism. It's well done, to be sure, but for me, this film does something even more rare and important: it gives us a portrait of male friendship that is downright revelatory as it highlights companionship and mutual service in the hopes of attaining their common goals.
Rated 30 Oct 2020
ofterdingenOfterdingen
Rated 01 Oct 2020
72
81st
Mellow. If the silkiest bourbon was a movie.
Rated 01 Oct 2020
foxyrussianFoxyRussian
Rated 29 Sep 2020
25
9th
Usually a slow burn has that one scene. The scene that feels like the burn has created an explosion of emotion with you. A scene that will stay with you long after the movie ends. First Cow has none of that. It doesn't have anything memorable. It's a simple story, told in the most predictable way filled with actors and characters who are bland and lifeless. Nothing to recommend outside of it's score, which has some nice melodies.
Rated 29 Sep 2020
bownBown
Rated 10 Aug 2020
84
71st
Kelly Reichardt’s Deadwood. Only with less cursing and more biscuits.
Rated 10 Aug 2020
actionbergActionberg
Rated 10 Jul 2020
75
59th
The Piano meets McCabe and Mrs. Miller.
Rated 10 Jul 2020
rurusmasherRuruSmasher
Rated 24 Jun 2023
95
90th
A beautiful cozy queer romance in the 1820s about two guys opening a bakery... Until capitalism gets involved. But really, what a beautiful, gentle movie.
Rated 24 Jun 2023
staryarabbistaryarabbi
Rated 09 May 2023
85
88th
A political/poetic film about friendship, freedom, and capitalism that questions the US founding myth . Perhaps the American ethos is like the combination of this friendship; a bit romanticism and wonder at this generous nature, and a bit of ambition and greed. it is interesting that what causes their death is them not selling the young boy the muffin despite it was his turn. If the rules of the market were applied properly, that initial half romantic half capitalist ethos would work.
Rated 09 May 2023
alanlaidlawAlan_Laidlaw
Rated 11 Dec 2021
87
89th
Expertly economical tale about the expertise of economics.
Rated 11 Dec 2021
darrenDarren
Rated 05 Aug 2021
76
67th
Liked it the more I thought about it. It's such a joy to watch the way Reinhardt showcases friendship and love. McCabe and Miller it's not despite what the fake news film media would have you believe. Long live Gary Farmer
Rated 05 Aug 2021
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 29 May 2021
58
17th
A typically pensive and low-key effort from Reichardt (with echoes of MCCABE & MRS MILLER), made almost unwatchable by her insistence on propping the camera in one spot for each scene – an interesting idea at first, as it allows the eye to wander freely over the action, but ultimately becomes a claustrophobic distraction (the boxy aspect ratio doesn't help). Generally fine performances somewhat compensate (Magaro and Lee are perfect), but the stylistic choices leave a bit to be desired.
Rated 29 May 2021
p_u_l_pP u l p
Rated 03 Feb 2021
80
89th
This and The Cow (1969) are the best cow movies I've seen.
Rated 03 Feb 2021
corbadCorbad
Rated 06 Jan 2021
85
89th
A soft-spoken homosexual walks through the PNW harvesting mushrooms before setting up a baking business in a nasty little town with his entrepreneurial partner. A beautifully shot, patient, precisely told little Western. Any synopsis will undersell this: despite the lack of up front drama, the tale is all in the subtleties and atmosphere, and is engagingly told.
Rated 06 Jan 2021
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 06 Dec 2020
58
49th
If you're patient, you'll be rewarded with a half-decent second half, but the first hour is boring AF. And I think Kelly Reichardt can do better.
Rated 06 Dec 2020
jlfmJLFM
Rated 11 Nov 2020
87
93rd
Really lovely little yarn that managed to hit a couple of my personal sweet-spots (male friendship, the emotional connections we have with food) with the gorgeous backdrop of Oregon forestry. I would have loved to have seen this on the big screen.
Rated 11 Nov 2020
sdiamasdiama
Rated 09 Oct 2020
1
1st
The first 2 minutes a ship goes by, then 1 minute watching a dog, then for 2 minutes, a kid digging in the dirt, just to go back in another ship for 1 minute and back again to the dog for 1 minute. After 7 minutes of minutes, I stopped watching. This is not a movie, is a bad video from vacations for youtube :(
Rated 09 Oct 2020
matthagenmatthagen
Rated 22 Sep 2020
54
60th
A small story from a small production. The two leads share a strong chemistry. The simple story allows the realism level to be cranked to 11, nothing feels out of place or forced. There just isn't much going on, and there is little to contemplate afterwards.
Rated 22 Sep 2020
hofschneiderHofschneider
Rated 29 Jul 2020
93
95th
That moments Cookie puts up the flowers...
Rated 29 Jul 2020
sealsseals
Rated 11 Jul 2020
10
96th
find someone who looks at you the way Toby Jones looks at those oily cakes. this is at least Reichardt's 2nd best.
Rated 11 Jul 2020
aflickeringAFlickering
Rated 19 Jul 2024
6
86th
it's ultimately *just* a buddy movie, and can become both strained and vague when trying to make larger points about capitalism (reichardt has never been as subtle or incisive at political commentary as her fans would have you believe)... but WHAT a buddy movie. probably my favourite of her work outside the third segment of CERTAIN WOMEN.
Rated 19 Jul 2024
jpfergusonJPFerguson
Rated 26 Jun 2024
75
83rd
'Deadwood', but the chill version. In some sense this is a film about the economics of the American frontier - economies of scale - but as it is a Reichardt film it is really about intimate human relationships, in particular between two men (see also 'Old Joy). I have only now realised that Reichardt's skill is not just to portray the mundane practices of various forms of manual work in a poetic way, but to make period films about hands and feet, that is our lost capacity to know how to live.
Rated 26 Jun 2024
karlsonkarlson
Rated 12 Apr 2024
95
98th
Rewatch.
Rated 12 Apr 2024
sneezy0984Sneezy0984
Rated 04 Oct 2023
35
0th
I did not like this movie. It was a bit boring. It was an interesting story but it was just slow moving.
Rated 04 Oct 2023
phil_clownsPhil Clowns
Rated 23 Jul 2023
45
3rd
An exceptionally slow and soporific movie that tests the patience of even the most ardent fans of slow cinema
Rated 23 Jul 2023
rapmastergrapmasterg
Rated 05 May 2023
60
56th
Pretty basic, but the dialogue is fun
Rated 05 May 2023
panzerwolfpanzerwolf
Rated 31 Aug 2022
75
71st
I don't mind a slow movie if there is an interesting story beneath the meandering pace and First Cow really surprised me with how compelling is. For it's genre, it's definitely different. The surroundings felt genuine and calming and I just felt strangely relaxed and mellow after watching this.
Rated 31 Aug 2022
sirhcybesirhcybe
Rated 06 May 2022
79
32nd
I like a lot of slow movies but this one was a bit too slow for me.
Rated 06 May 2022
kavuKavu
Rated 25 Apr 2022
80
69th
Looks great, except when it's pitch black, with good pacing and great characters.
Rated 25 Apr 2022
ceekay19Ceekay19
Rated 08 Mar 2022
70
54th
King-Lu: "History isn't here yet. It's coming, but we got here early this time. Maybe this time, we can be ready for it. We can take it on our own terms."
Rated 08 Mar 2022
alanstrangalanstrang
Rated 27 Dec 2021
77
68th
A very slow-burning and nice smelling candle.
Rated 27 Dec 2021
xophorosxophoros
Rated 07 Sep 2021
2
11th
A very cheesy anachronistic romance is really what it is.
Rated 07 Sep 2021
peyrinpeyrin
Rated 16 Aug 2021
75
69th
I have to say the first third of this threw me off a bit. I like the idea of aimless wanderers coming together to find a purpose, but it also meant the film didn't quite click for me until about an hour in. Still, Kelly Reichardt has an increidbly unique talent for writing characters so sparsely that you can hardly get a grasp on them in the moment, but once you're near the end you suddenly feel their profound, otherworldly connection.
Rated 16 Aug 2021
mckmollymck_molly
Rated 11 Aug 2021
70
82nd
☆ So I watched this twice, which turns out to be quite the commitment. Coming in at almost 3 hours, this is a strange and mostly visual film that is pleasing and gentle to the eye. The cow whispering scenes do weird me out though, I'm sorry to say. ☆
Rated 11 Aug 2021
metismetis
Rated 06 Aug 2021
75
59th
8?
Rated 06 Aug 2021
iyisinekiyisinek
Rated 10 Jul 2021
75
67th
western, kaçak, ikili, inek, süt, kurabiye, hırsızlık SPOILER Ruslardan kaçan bir Çinli ile, bulunduğu kafile ile arası iyi olmayan bir Amerikalı Oregon'da karşılaşırlar. Bölgeye yeni gelen tahsildara ait ineği geceleri sağarak sütünden kurabiye yaparlar. Nihayetinde iş fark edilir. Aile Filmi, Sadece iki kötü konuşma var. Çocuklarla izledim. Kitaptan uyarlama.
Rated 10 Jul 2021
anniehallAnnieHall
Rated 09 Jul 2021
90
82nd
A peaceful, slow and naturalistic movie, costumes, cinematography, etc. are all effective. Reichardt takes us back to the same theme as we are used to from her previous films. Our story, which begins with a beautiful William Blake quote, gives us peace of mind as the friendship of 2 people we aren't used well know. I think first half slighlty overrated, second half much better ; ending scene was very good. I'm a super-slow guy and liked it. "The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship."
Rated 09 Jul 2021
neonmanNeonman
Rated 09 Jun 2021
73
46th
I loved the first half or so, as the music and editing was fantastic and absolutely transportive. It loses steam as it realises it's a slight work about friendship, something you don't quite get a grasp of -- but it's still fun to watch these guys secretly milk a cow that they shouldn't be. Don't watch on an empty stomach.
Rated 09 Jun 2021
punqPUNQ
Rated 06 May 2021
40
57th
Nature warming but slightly overrated cinematography. I mean, it's nice to look at, but it's not nice enough to actually carry the picture. The characters are more interesting, but the story doesn't take advantage of that as much. Instead it turns into the standard slow and aimless approach that so popularly kills movies these days.
Rated 06 May 2021
chengmingchengming
Rated 08 Jan 2021
30
6th
It's not rare that I disagree with the cinema-going public, but seldomly do I not get at all what they see in a film. The story is super simplistic, the cinematography is uninspired and despite the attention to detail, everything appears staged - in no small part due to the terrible acting (the first selling of cookies is straight out of a high school play). The criticism of capitalism is blatantly superficial and suggests she either does not understand it or willingly oversimplifies it.
Rated 08 Jan 2021
cesarcastagCesarCastag
Rated 05 Jan 2021
100
94th
É com esse processo de pensar a criação do país a partir de parâmetros de formação pictórica que First Cow se envolve. Cores, tecidos, padrões visuais e enquadramentos definem o modo como a natureza estadunidense e os meios de habitação aparecem no filme. E é neste ponto preciso que First Cow desdobra sua compreensão do envolvimento estético-político que descreve os métodos e movimentos da colonização.
Rated 05 Jan 2021
evilmangoesEvilMangoes
Rated 01 Jan 2021
87
65th
A-
Rated 01 Jan 2021
prophet92Prophet92
Rated 30 Dec 2020
77
52nd
Likable but interminable, really coulda cut a decent chunk off of this without losing too much.
Rated 30 Dec 2020
begbegbegbeg
Rated 28 Dec 2020
80
65th
The script is so subtle but powerful in giving a good take on the agents of industry. Everyone need to believe one day they will get a share of what society provides vulgarly and without justice.
Rated 28 Dec 2020
amerigoamerigo
Rated 11 Nov 2020
67
15th
You know those historical villages with volunteer actors doing reenactments? This film is what would happen if they decided to make a movie by consensus. So you get 10min of foraging, 10min of fishing, 10min of cleaning--it's unbearably tedious. There is almost no plot. The characters are weirdly lifeless and wholesomely cheesy. The cinematography somehow makes the natural beauty of Oregon seem like a 90s home movie with among the worst sound production I've witnessed in a professional film.
Rated 11 Nov 2020
moraesfelipemoraesfelipe
Rated 30 Sep 2020
75
80th
Now this is Slow West done right.
Rated 30 Sep 2020
psimpsim
Rated 29 Sep 2020
79
69th
Another very solid film about a pair of social misfits from Kelly Reichardt. Effortlessly moves between the absurd and the dramatic.
Rated 29 Sep 2020
ecitizeneCitizen
Rated 12 Jul 2020
76
78th
I quite enjoyed almost all of this movie, right up to the poorly handled ending. The plot started out a very slow and the slow burn continued for most of the run time. The two leads were surprisingly charismatic in their roles. The director took his time telling the story and was able to add some nice subtleties. My only real complaint is the very poorly handled final act. Despite the weakness at the end, it was worth watching and I can easily recommend it.
Rated 12 Jul 2020
omid_ranjbarOmid Ranjbar
Rated 12 Jul 2020
42
33rd
?? ??? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ??????. ????? ???? ?? ????? ???????? ???. ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ??????????? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ?????. ???? ?? ??? ???? ? ??? ? ?? ?? ???? ?? ??????? ????? ?????? ? ????????? ?? ??? ?????.
Rated 12 Jul 2020

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