Midnight Cowboy (1969)

[MikeK84]

Glad I held off on getting this one... LOVE this movie!

[Trace Buster Buster]

I already have the MGM blu ray and this is one of the few cases where I actually kind of like the crappy picture quality. It matches the aesthetic of the movie.

[Stanis]

Been thinking about getting the MGM blu, probably still will but that 90min documentary sounds fascinating!

[BuckNaked2k]

I'm fallin' apart here, reading this good news.

[Spiderwalk]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Holy sheeeeeeeeeeeeeit.

Midnight Cowboy is one of my top ten faves, so this'll be mine for certain.

My top ten too!

[Fat Phil]

I shall simply express my immense joy using this gif.

[English Patient]

Definitely a day-one purchase for me. One of my all-time favorites. Might still have to hang onto the old MGM blu-ray for the After Midnight/Controversy and Acclaim features, though (although I wonder if they'll be the "2 short 2004 documentaries" mentioned in the press release).

This was the movie that got me interested in grittier, edgier films that took more chances than the average Hollywood product. Joe Buck is one of the greatest characters in film.

[Kainefu]

Originally Posted by Spiderwalk

My top ten too!

This is my all time favorite film. And has been since I was a theatre major in the mid 90’s! This film taught me what character acting was all about. Beautiful film.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Great news. Really looking forward to this new Blu release. I'm sure it'll be an improvement on the previous one.

Like others, though I was expecting a lot from the older Blu version of Midnight Cowboy, it wasn't any better than the SE DVD version in terms of PQ - extremely disappointing.

This film is one of the best dramas I've ever seen, and one of the best films of the '60's. These days, it's tough to believe it was rated X on it's first release.

MC is also definitely one of the best - if not the best - cinematic depiction of what it's like to be alone in the big city. Also impressed by the film's themes of friendship, unrealistic & then deflated expectations, and renewal. MC also has some of the best editing I've ever seen in film.

One of my favorite scenes is directly after JB's romp with the Sylvia Miles character, and he is trying to "diplomatically" ask her that he expects to be paid. However, not only doesn't she pay him, but instead tearfully & successfully hustles him for $. Very ironic, and obviously not what he expected. This really sets the tone for what most of his experience in NYC will be like for the remainder of the film.

The ending of the film is both uplifting/hopeful & also extremely sad, a difficult dichotomy to achieve - however, it is pulled off very well here:

[Show spoiler]Joe Buck sheds his "cowboy" persona (buying new clothes & throwing out his old ones) & the grim/cold/grimy NYC winter is replaced by Florida's palm trees & sunshine; however, this is directly followed by the inevitable death of Ratso.

[NoirFan]

I’m watchin’ here!

[javi92]

At least now I won't have to see people guess this title every month

[Matt89]

I love this movie and held off on buying the MGM disc for years hoping that Criterion would eventually put it out.

And that cover art is AWESOME.

~Matt

[the sordid sentinel]

Originally Posted by Trace Buster Buster

I already have the MGM blu ray and this is one of the few cases where I actually kind of like the crappy picture quality. It matches the aesthetic of the movie.

You know, I have sometimes felt the same. That said I am definitely in. Just love the movie itself too much to pass. Never thought the existing transfer was the travesty some made it out to be, but certainly it can be improved upon. I feel the film will still look appropriately of that era..thinking something similar to the Taxi Driver 4k remaster.

[Lutz]

This is the movie I chose to blind watch when I was off work sick with a chest infection.

I'll never watch it again.

[BuckNaked2k]

Originally Posted by Lutz

This is the movie I chose to blind watch when I was off work sick with a chest infection.

I'll never watch it again.

Thanks for sharing.

[gkolb]

Originally Posted by Fat Phil

I shall simply express my immense joy using this gif.

Just YES !!!!!

And sorry, no, the art seems out of place for This film. (my humble opine)

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

MC is definitely not for everyone. The film is, overall, grim & depressing - with some amusing scenes. However, no matter what you think about the story - this film is an amazing time-capsule of NYC circa the late 1960's, and is also an important piece of cinematic history.

I really like the new colorful & psychedelic-like cover art - this truly encapsulates both the era & the movie. It's actually one of the best Blu covers I've seen for a 1960's film.

[Trace Buster Buster]

As depressing as this film is, there's lots of dark comedy throughout it. Most of the arguments Joe and Ratso (sorry, Enrico Salvatore Rizzo) get into crack me up.

[Ray_Rogers]

Neat.

[outrunner]

Add me to the list of those who never bought the previous Blu due to it not being much of an improvement over the CE DVD. This is one of my favorite Best Picture winners.