I seriously didn't like this movie and I like most of Hoffman's movies and older movies in general. The flash backs made no sense to me and other things didn't either. Both character were not that interesting and the whole movie was bad to me. It seems most people enjoy this movie though.
shareIt's good to hear dissenting opinions, but your post is a bit vague (no offense).
Can you elaborate what you found confusing about the flashbacks, and the other things?
~ That's much too vulgar a display of power, Karras.
Okay, some of the flash backs didn't give enough detail/didn't explain what was happening. I felt like they had too many flash backs and the party scene was confusing, boring and long winded. The whole movie didn't really lead anywhere either. I understand it was trying to show the dark side of being a gigglo but it seemed like the characters never moved forward. Hoffman's character was well acted. I also didn't understand why they couldn't of seen a doctor where they lived and why they had to travel to see one. This is all i can think of what i though of the movie right now.
shareAs much as I like the film, I agree somewhat with the OP. The party scene was overlong, which included that actor who played on General Hospital in the 80's. The only reason for the party seemed like an intro for Brenda Vaccaro to enter the picture. The flashbacks were very brief; as always, because the director knows what something means, doesn't mean we do. It seems like scenes were edited out, which usually happens in most films.
shareYou just have to accept the characters for what they are and you'll appreciate this masterwork more. Keep in mind that NYC is the 3rd major character. If you cannot get interested in these unique people then maybe you just don't like character studies. As far as the flashbacks and dream sequences try to appreciate the brilliant editing (the best Iv'e ever seen). This a close to a perfect film as ever been made.
shareBy the way they were not traveling to see a doctor. Hoffman didn't want a doctor, no cops. He wanted to get to Florida his fantasy place and Joe was determined to get him there because he was dying. I bet even Joe knew time was running out for Rico. "Call me Rico in my own damn place."
shareI agree that I would have liked more clarity on some of the flashbacks. I assume he had a rather odd grandma who brought him up and an ex girlfriend he was reasonably serious about but I don't think we ever really understood the context of either of these relationships.
However I did enjoy the film.. I thought both Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight were brilliant in their roles and I thought the end scene on the bus was great.. Jon Voight really managed to portray vulnerability and a real sense of feeling lost and alone.
And as the previous poster said - they weren't going to Florida to see a doctor, Ratso didn't want to see a doctor, but it was his lifelong dream to go to Florida and so Joe made it his mission to get him there
To clear up a few of the confusing parts, the flashbacks show what happened in Joe Buck's past that explains his motivations for wanting to travel to New York. He was sexually abused as a child by his aunt, and he and his girlfriend were also raped by a gang of Texas hoodlums. The book goes into more detail, and the aforementioned scene is really a condensed and simplified version of how Joe was really gang raped by a hustler and a gay Indian in the book. Joe's girlfriend was also institutionalized, but that is left out of the movie. It gives insight into Joe's damaged and somewhat warped psychology, and how he doesn't really care about turning tricks for homosexuals, even though he's not one himself. It also explains why Joe is so naive and crashes and burns so quickly in the city, and why he became violent at the end.
Also, as was explained in the movie, Ratso didn't want to see a doctor, because he knew he would be placed in an institution (seeing as he was homeless). He wanted to make it to Florida to live out his dream.
~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.
I agree with you. I cannot imagine what this was a hit, I disliked both characters intensely. Who do they appeal to anyway? I ended up disliking both actors intensely as well.
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