Cowboys and Illness
Tonight I watched MIDINIGHT COWBOY for the second time in my life.
The last time was over 20 years ago. I know that the catalyst for seeing it the last time was simply because it was the only X-rated film to win an academy award. Times have changed and for the moment it is R-rated. Who knows with the current sociopolitical climate what this film will be rated in the future if viewable at all.
I was planning on pointing out similarities between this and BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN but there are none. The relationship between Joe Buck and Ratso Rizzo is not so much a love affair as I remember.
This viewing brought on a whole new dimension to the film.
When Joe meets Ratso its clear both of them are unsuccessful hustlers. Ratso is clearly sick with an unknown affliction. He refused to get medical treatment. This hit a little too close to home for me. This viewing was painful. With HIV and AIDS a part of my life this was a tough watch indeed. The two characters are drawn together out of necessity and the relationship grows from there. No one has cared for Ratzo No one will. Ratzo has successfully pulled off the biggest hustle of his life by befriending Joe. It’s a huge achievement for the character. Joe in turn get… gets nothing but a life experience. An experience that clearly continues after the film ends. Both men dreamers in a predictable world. A world they both claim to know but somehow they just don’t get. This film stands the test of time and is ,I feel, more relivent today than when it was originally released.
SOAPBOX ALERT!! SOAPBOX ALERT!!
My theory about film is this:
Anything that was popular during the vienam war era can be popular today. The policical climate is more less the same. Hence the success of BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. While not a great film and clearly not as well acted as MIDNIGHT COWBOY it does reach an audience. If this were relased again as is i think it would have a brief but successful run. SONY should look into that!
It seems that several films from that era have been remade. All with moderate to great succsess. I think that if someone were to release a rip off of MASH or ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST it would be successful.
END SOAPBOX ALERT.
So if Jack Twist suffered an illness it may have been a better film for me. Sick (no pun) but true.
posted by Gavin Elster at 10:40 PM
6 Comments:
the white poodle, the telephone, the movie theater, the bus ride, the diner
Bill thats the film in a nutshell. More over its Sylvia Miles claiming shes only 28 years old! That produces a spit take even if I'm not drinking!
I know
Midnight Cowboy is a classic; two lost souls searching for something tangible in life and finding each other. Hoffman's best role, IMHO.
Funny, film from this era is making a splash with the college crowd. This played back-to-back with A Clockwork Orange and Taxi Driver at the campus theatre.
All three films together, Jim, would cause anyone to walk around with a copy of CATCHER IN THE RYE stuffed in their back pocket.
I think they must be similar because they're both about cowboys. If you liked this film, I recommend "Midnight Cowgirl"...is waaayyyy better.
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