Concrete Cowboy

Builds an entire world in the span of one corner of North Philadelphia, bringing to vivid life this culture of urban cowboys and those struggling to preserve it.

The film captures a fascinating urban subculture threatened with extinction -- and Elba's fans will follow the Golden-Globe-winning Luther star anywhere, including horseback.

Some incredible cinematography, but it's incredibly sleepy all the way through.

It's worth watching because the setting is so interesting and the performances so strong, but it's a little uneven.

Your classic story about an irritable young man redeemed by an animal, and the embrace of a community. But it's satisfying even so, largely because watching Elba is such a pleasure.

Concrete Cowboy is gorgeously photographed, with many of the riding scenes taking place in the magic sunset hour or under the lights of the city and in the rain...

Concrete Cowboy holds a formulaic, unsurprising coming-of-age story that could have been more captivating had it focused on the main narrative.

This is a film with a unique slice of life that has an authentic look and feel while telling a timeless story of fathers and sons.

Cole's story runs parallel to the stable's to brilliant effect... [yet] the film dives into Western territory during the second half, and at times it does it well, but sometimes it gets lost along the way. [Full review in Spanish]

The film’s predictability turns out to be its biggest weakness. Not a single plot point, story beat, or character angle will surprise you. Instead it’s the vibrant community setting that feels fresh and unexplored.