The best picture of 1969 was a strange slice of life picture depicting a naive, way too nice, wanna-be gigolo from TX who moves to New York to become a hustler, a man of the night. He thinks old women beg to have sex with young, cowboy-looking studs. Dustin Hoffman does an amazing job as a crippled hustler with whooping cough. He has a limp and sleezes through life without a job or purpose of any kind other than making it another day. It's really sad to see Voight getting crushed by New York. He is the farthest from smart that he can be. Hoffman originally tricks Voight, then becomes his only friend and roommate. They live in squalor together squatting in an abandoned building without heat or water. Small victories include donating blood for money and stealing a hat. It is a series of punches to the groin. It was groundbreaking at the time, splicing memories and trippy moments together. I really wasn't a fan, but I guess 42 years after the fact can age a movie.
Bottom Line: 6.7 out of 10. Strong acting and cinematography, but I really don't like a two hour series of punches to the gut.
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