American Cowslip (2009)

American Cowslip: Directed by Mark David. With Ronnie Gene Blevins, Diane Ladd, Rip Torn, Cloris Leachman. An eccentric, agoraphobic druggie tries to win the $10,000 first prize in the “Garden of the Year” contest so he can pay his delinquent rent and fix the life that he has screwed up so badly.

“Campus Circle u0026gt; Film u0026gt; Movie Reviews Archives FILM: MOVIE REVIEWS American Cowslip (Buffalo Speedway) By Candice Wintersu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eRonnie Gene Blevins as Ethan Inglebrink ShareThisu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eItu0026#39;s the age of addiction, and everyoneu0026#39;s an addict. The media, politicians and anyone with power treats us that way – like weu0026#39;re a hopeless race of information junkies. We want news fast, answers even faster and if someone makes a mistake, youu0026#39;d better believe the whole world will know in the time it takes to upload video onto YouTube.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDirector 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 Americau0026#39;s disease.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn 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.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eEthanu0026#39;s plan to evade eviction for another month is to win the $10,000 first prize in the u0026quot;Garden of the Yearu0026quot; contest. The druggie is particularly interested in perfecting his u0026quot;American cowslip,u0026quot; a beautiful rare flower that will be the centerpiece of his garden.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis dark comedy follows the last days of Ethanu0026#39;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).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWithout 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 u0026quot;Ethan,u0026quot; because passion is at the root of human nature.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAmerican Cowslip is a comedy that makes subtle jabs at the absurdity of the current u0026quot;normalu0026quot; American lifestyle. This film is reminiscent of 2000u0026#39;s Requiem for a Dream, though in many ways it also parodies this and other films directed toward making a statement about Americau0026#39;s drug pastime.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn fact, this film is so absurd, you canu0026#39;t help but laugh as Ethan convinces his old lady friend to score him some heroin under the guise that itu0026#39;s insulin. And when it comes down to it, even death is a silly coincidence.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eGrade: B”