VALPARAISO — I was so relieved to read Julia Keller’s column about the movie “Dr. T. and the Women” (“Robert Altman brings `Dr. T’ to the pig, er big, screen,” Oct. 23). I’m sure there are a lot of women who will go to see this movie (as I did) based on the fantastic reviews it has gotten from male reviewers and completely unsuspecting of its misogynist overall tone. Are there any reviewers around that we can count on to have a reputable knowledge of films and also a feminist conscience? This is when I miss Gene Siskel most. He did take these kind of issues to heart. Who can I write to at the Tribune who might understand that there are some women out here who resent this kind of portrayal of women? Why don’t we see more reviews of major movies by women?
Thank you again for your column. I cut it out and am passing it around to my friends.
Susan Childress
ANOTHER WOMAN
CHICAGO — Thank you so much for writing and articulating what I have wanted to say about the movie “Dr. T.” I had a headache in the first 20 minutes but because of the “four” — count ’em — stars that the Trib’s Michael Wilmington gave the movie, my husband and I thought we were just being slow on the uptake of the movie. That was one of the most disgusting movies I have ever seen and was furious when we left the theater.
What a disappointment that some of those women in the film did not balk at such a disdain depiction of women in general. All for the long view of Richard Gere and his little overbite.
A giant step backwards for his enlightened Pygmalion view of women.
Will we ever get over “Pretty Woman”? How many versions of “My Fair Lady” can there be?
Micki Fogarty
AND A MAN’S VIEWPOINT
OAK LAWN — Thanks for the article on “Dr. T.” However, I must disagree with you on certain points. I know I’m a guy, but I am very pro-feminist, having been raised by three very strong women (my mother, aunt and sister). I work in a female-dominated profession (librarianship). And I know sexism and misogyny when I see it.
Robert Altman’s latest, “Dr. T and the Women,” is not hate-filled, not misogynistic. Eminem’s lyrics about abusing women are, Mancow Muller’s morning radio show (where he tells his female co-host to “shut up” because “nobody cares about your opinion”) is, and so was last year’s “American Beauty.” Yet they are often given a pass.
Is “Dr. T” a great film? No way. It rambles a bit. But it is not hate-filled. The actresses in the film have been given great (and, yes, sometimes underdeveloped) parts to play. It is not like “Shampoo” where the macho George (Warren Beatty) fools around and gets caught. “Dr. T.” is faithful until it looks as if he has lost his wife forever (Fawcett pushes him away, not the other way around). Altman has always given the audience interesting female characters, from Lily Tomlin in “Nashville” to Patricia Neal in “Cookie’s Fortune,” from Shelley Duvall in “3 Women” to Whoopi Goldberg in “The Player.”
They may not be 100 percent politically correct but at least they live and breathe.
Brian E. Wilson
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