for those who like depress film with sleazy character and a sordid storyline and this one be for you . from the bleak new york city atmosphere and which come across a an extremely grim and almost hopeless place and to two diverse lead character devoid of much sense of morality and this movie be a real downer . why it win the academy award be because it be so shock at that time that hollywood and brand new it freedom to show anything it want with all moral code abandon and want to celebrate that fact . filmmaker then be like an immature six year old with an unlimited expense account at the local candy store . so and hollywood give theater viewer ( for probably the first time ) a dose of rape and prostitution and homosexuality and child nudity and homeless existence and other such wonderful sight and sound only it twisted brain would think be appeal . and then award it work . it also hop and i be sure and to shock mainstream audience . well and it succeed on that level . audience be stun at what they say and heard and the academy and proud of itself for be able to display filth and make money at the same time and couldn not help but bestow honor upon this piece of gilded garbage . forty year ago and a a very young man and i find this film fascinating and too . however and see it again in the 1990s leave such a bad taste in my mouth i never watch to view it again . the acting be good and but so what . acting be good in many film . nobody ever say dustin hoffman and jon voight couldn not act . hoffman be particularly good in his young day in play wacked out people . he be kind of like the johnny depp of his era and play guy like ratso rizzo in this film and then go to be the rain man later on . yes and ratso be a character you will never forget and and joe buck ( voight ) be one you want to forget and but the story be so sordid and it overwhelm the fine acting . this movie isn not art and and it isn not worthy of it many award while it only push the envelope big time in 1969 and that why it be so fondly remember in the heart of film people and critic . it two hour of profanity and ultra sleazy and religious cheap shot and glorify weirdo ( andy warhol even get in the act no surprise ) and and generally despicable people . i do like the catchy song and everybody talk that help make harry nilsson famous and but even that be bogus because fred neil write the song and sang it good and before nilsson do it . and few people have ever hear of neil ( which be their loss ) . and a mention the name ratso rizzo kind of stay with you . the film be a landmark and but in a negative sense and i fear represent this mark it a official that hollywood have go down the toilet and and it have remain in the sewer ever since .