Van Sant's 'Drugstore Cowboy' - More Than Just Junkie Chic?

Okay, cinephiles, Sarah here, diving into Gus Van Sant's Drugstore Cowboy (1989). I just re-watched it and I'm still struck by how much more it is than just another sensationalized drug movie. Like, yeah, the drugs are there, and Matt Dillon is amazing as Bob, spiraling into this superstitious, self-destructive cycle. But I think Van Sant's playing with something deeper about the myths we create for ourselves, the rituals we cling to when facing chaos. Think about the scene where Nadine overdoses. It's not just shocking; it's like a twisted dark comedy. The whole 'don't say the word' thing, the weird superstitions around hats on the bed... it's all so bizarre, but also so real. Like, these rituals are attempts to exert control in a completely uncontrollable situation. And Dillon sells the desperation perfectly. He's not just a junkie; he's a believer in his own fucked-up religion. And the washed out color palette and the almost documentary-style filming really adds to that feeling of bleak realism. I even think the supporting characters are crucial to understanding this idea. They're all lost souls, clinging to Bob's warped sense of order. And the ending, with Bob's attempts at recovery... it's ultimately tragic because he's still searching for that structure, that meaning, even if it's in a different form. Still, despite the bleakness, there's something strangely beautiful about the film. What do you guys think? Is it too much to call it a study of human nature under extreme pressure, or am I just reading way too much into a flick about robbing drugstores? Let me know! One of the things I found interesting is how Van Sant is using a story about drug additction to talk about fate, or at least the myth around that concept. Is it just a way for these guys to cope?