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Midnight Cowboy
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by Warner Home Video (M
Sales Rank: 86440
Price: $14.99
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The first, and only, X-rated film to win a best picture Academy Award, John Schlesinger's <i>Midnight Cowboy</i> seems a lot less daring today (and has been reclassified as an R), but remains a fascinating time capsule of late-1960s sexual decadence in mainstream American cinema. In a career-making performance, Jon Voight plays Joe Buck, a naive Texas dishwasher who goes to the big city (New York) to make his fortune as a sexual hustler. Although enthusiastic about selling himself to rich ladies for stud services, he quickly finds it hard to make a living and eventually crashes in a seedy dump with a crippled petty thief named Ratzo Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman, doing one of his more effective "stupid acting tricks," with a limp and a high-pitch rasp of a voice). Schlesinger's quick-cut, semi-psychedelic style has dated severely, as has his ruthlessly cynical approach to almost everybody but the lead characters. But at its heart the movie is a sad tale of friendship between a couple of losers lost in the big city, and with an ending no studio would approve today. It's a bit like an urban <i>Of Mice and Men</i>, but where both guys are Lenny. <i>--Jim Emerson</i>
Viewer Reviews
*** spoilers ***
Joe Buck is a guy who has a little too much confidence in his sexual prowess. He decided in his optimism to make a run to New York to become a hustler for rich women. He's in for a surprise as the only people into his cowboy schtick is the homosexual underground. He quickly becomes a victim to a seedy man by the name of Rico. and in a circumstantial set of events run into each other and becomes roommates.
In and of themselves, the actions of these two towards everyone they meet is despicable, but fits well with how the people treat each other in general in the city. Joe gets a rude awakening when he sees a man passed out in the middle of the sidewalk and no one interested in helping the man out. Joe and Rico steal money, addresses, try to take advantage of the lonely, but as their relationship progresses they commit these acts for the sake of the other person.
This culminates in the end, as Joe beats a man and takes his money to get bus fare so himself and a terminally ill Rico can go to Florida. The ending is depressing but to be expected.
In all, a testament to the bonds of friendship, even amongst thugs, and the terrible paths they take as they have nothing to lose. No character in itself is really redeemable in this movie, only the incredible bond between two human beings. A movie to ponder.
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Midnight Cowboy
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