Dustin Hoffman Movie:

Editorial Review:
The first, and only, X-rated film to win a best picture Academy Award, John Schlesinger's Midnight Cowboy 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 Of Mice and Men, but where both guys are Lenny. --Jim Emerson

Midnight Cowboy [Region 2] Reviews:
The second time around....
2009-12-16 - Bought for my son's college class. Thought I would also see it again since I hadn't watched for over 30 years. With the elapse of time and the advance of film making (if that's what you want to call it) I wasn't enthralled with this film as when I first saw it. Listening to Nilsson's Everybody's Talkin was nostalgic. If you're a baby boomer child you'll probably like it better than the younger generation.

"A Masterpiece"
2009-09-30 - Jon Voight made a name for himself in Hollywood in "Midnight Cowboy" where he stars as a naive Texan who comes to New York City with dreams of making it big being a high-class male prostitute servicing wealthy older women. He eventually encounters a con man, played brilliantly by Dustin Hoffman, who encourages him to join him in his hustling profession by ripping people off. The chemistry between Voight and Hoffman is impeccable and "Midnight Cowboy" has gone on to be a cinematic classic. Although made in 1969 the film has aged remarkably well as the subtext of the film is still predominant today as people strive to better themselves anyway they know how in order to survive. The movie won three Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director for John Schlesinger, and Best Screenplay. "Midnight Cowboy" is the only film in the history of the Oscars to win Best Picture with an X Rating as the film shows many explicit sex scenes that were even more shocking in the late '60's. Both Voight and Hoffman were nominated for Best Actor. This beautiful 2 disc set features the film in breathtaking widescreen format cleaned from its original print. As a bonus there is an informative audio commentary by Jerome Hellman and a great featurette called "After Midnight: Reflecting On The Classic 35 Years Later". Siskel and Ebert give the film "Two Thumbs Up! It stands the test of time!"

THE EXTRA FEATURES ARE INVALUABLE!
2009-09-02 - Given all the praise the film itself has earned from Amazaon reviewers, it is pointless to do anything except punctuate that praise.

A couple of reviewers were upset that "no one" has discussed the second disc's features.

To me, the second disc extras (and the first one also has one major commentary) made the DVD invaluable. Its astute commentary by producers, directors, and the actors themselves not only offers insight into the decisions that created the film and the history of the times but also offers a profound insight into the nature of the characters leading in turn to their behaviors.

Just having the movie itself pleases me, of course, but not having the extra disc, produced in 2004, would sadden me because it was a time when the main actors and others affiliated with the movie were still alive and filled with vivid memories of the making of the film.
ENJOY!
Penny from Plano

Overrated And Pointless
2009-07-01 - This is a movie that has had a lot of hype in years past. It deserves little of that.

Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman both have strong acting performances, but those are contained in a show with little direction and no discernable plot. Simply put, it is rubbish.

None of the characters have any redeeming qualities. The two main ones move from con to con in a meaningless manner. My recommendation would be to skip this one.

midnight cowboy
2009-02-11 - I think the movie is great. I have viewed it several time over the years. I was living in Big Spring, TX during the time this film was made. I worked at the Ramada Inn coffee shop where the Producer, Director, Jon Voight, and Ruth White, and members of the production crew stayed ,during the filming of the part in Texas. I had never heard of Jon Voight. Little did I know at that time that he would become a great movie actor. As a waitress at the coffee shop, I served Jon Voight, but I didn't even get an autograph,let alone a picture with him. My loss!!!