Midnight Cowboy - Review by Thomas Rosie

Overview

Midnight Cowboy is a 1969 drama starring Jon Voight, father of the lovely Angelina Jolie, who plays a Texan called Joe Buck who sets off to New York in pursuit of what he believes is the American Dream. When arriving in New York, he realises the busy city isn't as welcoming as he first thought, after a few early mishaps, he meets Dustin Hoffman's character Enrico (or Ratso as he's lovingly known) and we see their unlikely friendship beautifully blossom as Ratso shows Joe the ways of surviving city life, but not before he steals $20 off him and tries to set him up with a pimp who is actually a homosexual religious fanatic. Who needs enemies when you have a friend like Ratso.

Favourite Quote

"I'm looking for the statue of liberty" - after first arriving in New York, Joe looks to be trying to mingle in and get to know locals, not realising that people who live in big cities don't have time for this. Seemingly innocent to begin with, it's actually code for "I want to have sex with you", the first woman he asks realises this and walks off from him, however, on his second attempt this actually works! When a middle aged woman living in a fancy apartment responds "Its probably taking a pee in central park" this means "Yes, you can come in", i'm a bit puzzled as to how this code speak exists, but it soon won't work when there won't be any statues left to enquire about. I must get to Oxford fast and tell women "I'm looking for the statue of Cecil Rhodes" before i'm too late.

I also must mention one of my other favourite quotes "Hey i'm walking here", when Ratso just walks out on a yellow cab without looking and nearly gets run over. I am pretty certain, i've heard this said many times in films set in New York over the years that i believe this must be part of their highway code, just step out and tell people you're walking and you should be fine.

"Don't have an oil well... GET ONE!" - this billboard just as Joe is leaving Texas is so American, it deserved a mention.

The Lowdown and Final Words

What starts as a film that looks like its going to be lighthearted and perhaps even comical, actually turns out to be more dark and quite sad and depressing throughout Joe's arrival in New York, city life is nowhere near the glitz and glamour he thought it would be. We see a series of flashbacks from Joe's childhood, where we discover he suffered abuse from town locals whilst being bought up by his grandmother and religion seemed to be a huge part of his upbringing. By the end of the film i did feel very sad for Joe, he had nothing in the world except for his radio he constantly listened to whilst walking the lonely streets of New York, and his new friend Ratso, which is a short lived friendship as he discovers he's terminally ill, but the time the two get to spend together and help each other try to achieve their dreams, is truly magical.

I score Midnight Cowboy - 4 "where are your statues" out of 5