June 9, 2005 Ride 'Em Cowboy If you've never had a chance to see the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy, kick up your spurs and gallop to the Skirball Center for a screening tonight. The film "tells the story of Joe Buck (Jon Voight), a naïve hustler trying to make his fortune in New York, and the friendship he strikes with a homeless con man, Rico 'Ratso' Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman)," according to the Skirball Web site. But that's the safe-for-print version. The truth is that Midnight Cowboy is a racy, film with adult themes, even by today's standards. And for its time, it was downright groundbreaking. But how adult can it be? After all, this is Angelina Jolie's DAD we're talking about. Well, the film still holds rank as the only X-rated movie to garner an Oscar — though the rating was downgraded to R sometime after its release. And yeah, it's Voight — but as a strapping young buck. In cowboy gear. In New York City. It's tragic, and it's beautiful and it will wrench your heart. But if that still doesn't have you shouting "Ye-haw!" here's another reason to go: Andy Garcia, will be on hand to introduce the flick, and discuss it after. Happily, you don't have to wait until midnight. This screening starts at 7:30pm. Midnight Cowboy plays tonight at the Skirball Cultural Center as part of the Cinema's Legacy series. Admission is $10. Tickets are available through TicketWeb. Or call 866.468.3399.