Yesterday was “Cowboy Day” at our church’s preschool.
What’s Cowboy Day?
Only the must fun (embarrassing), and joyful (humiliating) day of the year.
It’s really a right of passage for our staff members.
We are not required, but “strongly encouraged” to be a part of the festivities by putting on a Cowboy show for all the little boys and girls.
This includes but is not limited to:
- Singing
- Lousy accents
- Skinny jeans (which I don’t mind)
- Fart jokes (hilarious)
- Rope tricks (tying knots)
- & much, much, more (that’s really it)
As much as I cringe when it comes time to do Cowboy Day every year it is actually pretty fun.
Acting like a total fool in front of five-year-olds helps you not take yourself too seriously.
In honor of Cowboy Day here are five of my favorite Western movies:
5. True Grit (2010)
Amazingly funny and exciting. Jeff Bridges is fantastic.
4. City Slickers (1991)
This was one of the first “grown up” movies I remember watching. Billy Crystal tries to make sense of his life while herding cattle with Jack Palance and his buddies.
3. Open Range (2003)
Beautifully shot and acted. Kevin Costner, Robert Duvall, and Annette Bening all featured in this Western. Shot primarily in Montana, it is shockingly gorgeous and gritty.
2. Django Unchained (2012)
I surprised myself by putting this one on the list, but it is an amazingly good movie. It’s comedy, drama, tragedy, social commentary and very entertaining. Yes lots of blood and violence too. Remember, the ‘D’ is silent.
1. Unforgiven (1992)
Hard to have a top Western movies list without Clint Eastwood. I know, I know, I left out John Wayne, but come on, he was before my time. Unforgiven features three of my all-time favorites: Eastwood, Gene Hackman, and Morgan Freeman. It’s the story of a bad man turned good, who then is forced to choose whether to be bad once again.
________
I know I left off some great movies.
So let me have it…
Where did I go wrong?
What are your favorites?
Comments please.
No surprise, but I’d move Open Range to the one spot. Lots of great quotes about what it means to be a person of integrity and doing the right thing at the risk of your own life in there. And speaking of Robert Duvall, I’d find a place for “Lonesome Dove” although it’s a TV mini series. And speaking of Kevin Costner, “Silverado” is a fun, old time like western. “Red River”, “The Searchers”, “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon”, “Winchester ’73” and “Liberty Valance” are all great ones before your time. I’d probably watch a western before a comedy
I’m still reeling after reading that last sentence: “a western before a comedy”?!
Wow.
Lonesome Dove, Rio Bravo, Tombstone, Cat Balou, Quick and the Dead (both Sam Elliott’s & Sharon Stone’s,) 310 To Yuma…I could keep going!!!
And no one has mentioned Blazing Saddles…
I was going to say Blazing Saddles…but not everyone appreciates my families sense of humor so I decided to sensor myself. It won’t happen again!
Uh, Back to The Future 3 needs a spot. And I’ll take 3:10 to Yuma (both versions)
Comedy & Westerns. That’s the home we were raised in.
I can’t believe you left out John Wayne. I don’t care if he was before your time, I’m sure you’ve seen some of his movies. How about True Grit??? OR… Come on… Let’s hear it for Rooster Cogburn and the Lady with John Wayne and Katherine Hepburn?! And nobody has mentioned Blazing Saddles for obvious reasons…
All this thinking about the Best Western makes me want to go on a road trip vacation