Midnight Cowboy (1969) Review

"Neeson? How are you comparing Liam Neeson with Jon Voight? Jerry, we’re talking about Joe Buck. If you can play Joe Buck, Oskar Schindler’s a cake walk."

That was a quote from Jason Alexander as George in Seinfeld. I agree with George here in the fact that Joe

Buck is a very complicated character to play. He is the Midnight Cowboy that the title refers to played by Jon Voight. This movie was nominated for 7 Academy Awards in 1970 and won for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Out of all the nominations, Midnight Cowboy should have won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor which would have gone to Dustin Hoffman for his character, Ratso. The quick summary of this film is a Texas cowboy decides to go to the Big Apple with dreams of becoming a male prostitute. Once arriving in the city, we have little hope for Joe. He finds a place to stay and when he thinks everything is going well, the city turns on him. Before the world totally collapses on Joe, he meets Ratso, just a hustler trying to make enough money to get to Florida where he thinks paradise awaits. Joe and Ratso eventually begin to survive the harsh city together. 

There are a few key scenes in the movie for me than speak to who Joe Buck really is. One scene is in a movie theater bathroom and involves a watch. This part of is shown later as well in the same type of scene and we are shown how much Joe has changed. The other is towards the end of the movie when Joe is trying to spell words during a game. We really get see what makes Joe different than other people. He is a terrific character study. Joe and Ratso are perfect examples of static and dynamic characters. Joe is forever changed and Ratso stays Ratso. It would be interesting to see Ratso's life up to the point where him and Joe cross paths. He seems to have a dark past that never gets fully discussed in the movie. We are invited into Joe's past with very good flashbacks and audio clips. 

This movie actually needed to grow on me, but it didn't take long. The characters were too good. There is some dragging in the film, but you always are integrated in what these two will try next. The psychedelic climax at the party is almost too much for the senses to take; colors flash and pop and the edits come fast and often. I have to recommend Midnight Cowboy. If for nothing else, the character study alone if worth your time.