by Anthony O'Connor
Worth: Discs: 3, The Film: 4/5, The Extras: 4.5/5, Overall: 8.5/10
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Jon Voight, Dustin Hoffman, Sylvia Miles
Intro:
Bundled with a generous raft of extras including an entire documentary feature film about the movie you just watched, this is surely the definitive way to enjoy (or be emotionally clobbered by) this unique, iconic piece of art.
The Film:
Despite being released in 1969, Midnight Cowboy feels like the first true ‘70s film. It was one of the originators of a wave of movies that ushered in a new cinematic era. One that expressed cynicism at the mainstream view of the American dream, one that dealt with characters in an unflinching and unromantic manner. One that dared to move away from happy endings and easy answers. It’s not just a great film, it’s an important one, culturally and historically.
Mind you, it’s not always a fun watch.
Midnight Cowboy is the story of handsome Texan moron, Joe Buck (Jon Voight), who decides to quit his job at a local burger joint and heads down to New York City, dressed in snazzy cowboy regalia, to become a male prostitute. Joe figures that he’ll be able to service all those lonely rich ladies he imagines are waiting with baited undies for his arrival. It doesn’t take long for Joe to realise that his plans are, at best, stunningly naive. He goes broke in short order, especially after running into twitchy conman Rico “Ratso” Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman) who flogs twenty bucks off him on the pretence of introducing him to a pimp. Later, Joe runs into Rico again but finds himself incapable of beating the rather pathetic figure up and instead forms an unlikely and uneasy friendship with him.
This might, on the surface, sound like it’s about to morph into a wholesome and life-affirming story about the healing power of friendship but no, mate, this is not that type of film. John Schlesinger directs a script by Waldo Salt (based on the book by James Leo Herlihy) that is completely disinterested with either venerating, uplifting or indeed judging its main characters. This is a story about sad, lonely and deeply flawed people. Yes, Joe is spectacularly stupid but through surreal flashbacks we see the reasons for it are complicated and, frankly, disturbing. And certainly, Rico is a cunning, sly bastard but that’s because he’s been kicked in the face his whole damn life – how else do you expect him to act? Midnight Cowboy isn’t painting this duo as heroes or villains, it’s just telling their story, a yarn that goes from fascinating, to funny, to dark and finally tragic all in under two hours.
It’s an extraordinary achievement of a film, and gorgeous to boot, looking even more so in its 4K print so every pile of puke, twitchy junkie or wide eyed sex worker can be seen in haunting detail. Never before has the grime of this film glistened with such baleful glitter.
This isn’t a film that will please everyone, but for fans of gritty, uncompromising ‘70s cinema, Midnight Cowboy is an absolute must own and will stay with you, just like its catchy theme song “Everybody’s Talkin’” by Harry Nilsson.
The Extras:
Quite the array of extras here. There are two audio commentaries, one from author/critic Matthew Asprey Gear and one from director John Schlesinger and producer Jerome Hellman. There’s After Midnight: Reflecting on a Classic 35 Years Later featurette and a Salute to John Schlesinger: An Englishman in Hollywood featurette, as well as a handful of others, trailers and a 2011 interview with the director.
However, the jewel in the crown of this release is the feature length documentary Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy directed by Nancy Buirski. This is an engaging documentary that seeks to contextualise the impact that this great film had on the public upon release and the influence it continues to have today. It includes interviews and deep dives with cast and crew, and is a must-watch for fans of the film or anyone curious about how different the cinematic landscape was half a century ago.
The Verdict:
Midnight Cowboy absolutely blew minds, broke hearts and incensed wowsers when it was released in 1969. Even more impressively, it manages to be a potent and vital cinematic offering 56 years later. Buoyed by two superb lead performances from Voight and Hoffman and directed masterfully and unflinchingly by John Schlesinger, this is a vivid and unforgettable film. Bundled with a generous raft of extras including an entire documentary feature film about the movie you just watched, this is surely the definitive way to enjoy (or be emotionally clobbered by) this unique, iconic piece of art.
Plus, what a great excuse to start overusing “Hey! I’m walkin’ here!” much to the annoyance and dismay of family and loved ones.
