The Peaceful Critic Reviews "Midnight Cowboy"

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The Peaceful Critic Reviews "Midnight Cowboy"

The first X-rated Oscar winner...

This stunning film from John Schlesinger won the Best Picture Oscar in 1969, a remarkable achievement for a film that was rated X. (Though the MPAA now rates it R...I guess male prostitution is becoming socially acceptable!). The Oscar nominated performances by Jon Voight (as a hustler) and Dustin Hoffman (as his sickly friend) are powerful, realistic and disturbing.

I have to wonder how this film would do commercially if released in today's market. It's a challenging film to watch...it is brutally honest and disturbing. The direction is sharp and clear, the script by Waldo Salt is insightful and contains remarkably fresh dialogue. This film probably deserves higher than the A- I give it. I'll stick with the grade for now, but the next time I view this film it may well move up again.

STARRING

Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight

DIRECTOR

John Schlesinger

SCREENPLAY

Waldo Salt

MPAA RATING

Rated X originally, Now rated as R

RUNNING TIME

116 Mins.

PRODUCTION BUDGET

Grade: A-

PEACEMAKER'S PERSPECTIVE

Coming Soon

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