MovieChat Forums > Midnight Cowboy (1969) Discussion > Joe is just so dumb and naive

Joe is just so dumb and naive

posted 7 years ago by mattblaze77
3 replies | jump to latest

I mean cmon man, who the hell is stupid enough to think you can travel to New York City with like 100 bucks and a hope to be a male gigolo and make a life for yourself. I love this movie, but cmon Joe Buck.

[–] Edward_de_Vere 7 years ago

Joe's career plans weren't really any more naive than all the people who go to LA after high school or college and expecting to be big Hollywood stars, and then wind up waiting tables for the rest of their lives (at best) or working in the sex and/or drug trade instead.

[–] zensixties 7 years ago

That was the main subject of the film: Joe's naivete. But it was a sympathetic portrait of him (even though he ended up committing murder and theft).

For who would bear the whips and scorns of Hollywood... (;-p)

[–] Edward_de_Vere 7 years ago

The reason Joe remains sympathetic in spite of his episode with Towny is that it's clear that he isn't by nature a cruel or violent person. He's portrayed as a rather stupid, happy-go-lucky innocent who is corrupted by his surroundings. It doesn't excuse his actions, but at the same time it's also clear that Joe isn't a sociopath or a hardened criminal, he's just acting out of desperation.

I think the film's end strongly implies that Joe manages to put his past behind and finds legitimate work and a respectable life in Florida as he planned (throwing away the cowboy outfit is a symbolic act).