Dreaming of a more glamorous existence, an idealistic Texas greenhorn (Jon Voight) walks out on his mundane dishwasher's life and hops a bus bound for New York City, certain he'll find instant success as a high-priced gigolo. The city, as always, has different lessons in store. Soon, our cowboy's strapped for cash and out on the street, too soft for the harsh realities of his dream job but too proud to accept anything less. In desperation, he hooks up with a similarly out-of-luck grifter (Dustin Hoffman) and the two develop a chemical bond that sees them through some dangerously lean times, while the busiest metropolis on the planet buzzes and bustles, blissfully oblivious, on the other side of the wall.
Notorious as the first X-rated film to see wide release, Midnight Cowboy earned its reputation with a risqué subject matter, explicit nudity, glamorized drug use and frank depictions of homosexuality (with a whole boatload of associated slurs). A lot of it still seems daring and edgy today, so I can only imagine how it looked to the viewers of 1969. Then again, there's a chance the setting itself adds a thing or two to the modern shock value. This is a real time capsule of a picture, a breathing document of a city that no longer exists, with an emphasis on subcultures and undercurrents that were pushed out of all the glossy framed photos. It's sixties New York, all right, but this particular close-up is more interested in the warts on its subject's nose and the dirt under its fingernails than the carefully-primped clothes and hairstyle it wears to mask the unsightly bits.
The unflattering depiction is fascinating, particularly to someone like me, who didn't live through that era, but the story often plods and telegraphs its intentions, with an unconventional series of flashbacks only further complicating matters. Hoffman and Voight are dynamite together, an unlikely duo whose connection resonates through the smoggy haze, and serve as major boons to a film that could have floundered otherwise.
Amazing acting and fantastic filmography, but what the heck story did I just watch? Such a strange journey and disappointing ending.
where does the will to grift come from? can it live in the sunshine?
A very depressive and accomplishing story with some good acting performances. Dustin Hoffman is simply amazing!
From the west of the 70s.
Don't know why the comments here are so negative, I really enjoyed this movie.
Epic acting performances and a really smart film direction, production and editing, topped with an amazing soundtrack.
Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman are both good. I thought the editing was great, especially all those quick cuts in the montages. It did get a little too weird for me at that party.
Shout by FauxLiegeBlockedParent2015-04-28T21:51:48Z
Not sure why this was best picture in 1969. The other choices must have been terrible.