jizbang Review of Cowboys

Cowboys (II) (2020)

Very good performances, especiall by Sasha Knight.

[8/10 · 13 February 2021]

I did see the film at Outfest last july. The performances were great, a surprise from both Steve Zahn and Jillian Bell, who are mostly known for broad comedic roles, but here giving understated and authentic performances. The story was unexpected and atypical, with the trans daughter both closer to and accepted by her father, but not the mother. But it is the performance by Sasha Knight as their trans daughter that was a revelation. This was not a child actor playing trans, but a trans-identified child playing their truth. She won an outstanding performance in a US feature award for the performance at Outfest, and Steve Zahn won a best actor award at the Tribeca film festival. This film would have gained more attention if given a traditional theatrical release, but now, people will hopefully discover it.