The Flick Filosopher responds:
I think the eloquence of your note proves that you wear that crown.
Thanks so much for writing. It's cogent, reasoned letters like yours that make working on my site such a joy.

Emil replies:
Subject: Re: Patch adams Review ( She rides a ==BIG== broomstick)
Lady, "You know what you are", your writing is trash as is your excuse for a mind that fuels you feeble attempts at constructive journalism..
A-Hole seems to fit your style like a glove....
With out reading any further it's apparent your another frustrated miserable feminist venting her repeated failures in life and relationships upon the Internet..
But your attack on a man that has brought such positive inspiration into a stagnant field "top heady" with incompetents is deserving of much more than I bothered with.
A shovel is probably most fitting to assist you in development of more of your mindless excretions. May I suggest a number three shovel..

The Flick Filosopher responds:
The wit! The charm! I'm in love!

posted 01.19.00
ERB@webtv.net writes:
Subject: Midnight Cowboy
What a lame reiew. Unsympathetic characters. What is your idea of sympathetic? Watch the movie again, pay attention this time.

The Flick Filosopher responds:
What a lame letter. If you read my reView again and pay attention this time, you'll see why I don't find the characters sympathetic.

posted 01.19.00
ROBERT J. MADEL screams:
Subject: YOUR COMMENTS ON "THE MATRIX"
YOU'RE A CONSTIPATED INTELLECTUAL. AND YOU ARE EXACTLY AS ASLEEP AS "THE MATRIX" ELUCIDATES. THE REALITY IS NOT SOMETHING CRATED BY "OTHER MACHINE INTELLIGENCE". YOU DOPE. IT'S THE BEUROCRACY, THE "SYSTEMS" YOU MORONS SIGN ONTO TO MAINTAIN YOUR DESIRE TO BE COMFORTABLE. THAT'S THE MESSAGE OF THE MOVIE. WHAT HAPPENED TO WARRIORS?

The Flick Filosopher responds:
At least intellectuals can make themselves understood.
In sum: Huh?

ROBERT J. MADEL screams back:
THAT RESPONSE WA SNOTTY.
EVIDENTLY INTELLECTUALS CAN MAKE THEMSELVES UNDERSTOOD . . . BUT THEY HAVE TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING. MY MESSAGE TO YOU WAS QUITE CLEAR AN TO THE POINT.

ROBERT J. MADEL couldn't wait for a reply from me, and continues screaming:
Subject: ADDENDUM TO MY LAST RESPONSE
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR PROBLEM IS WITH KEANU REEVES.
COULD IT BE HE'S A STRONG MALE? DOES FEMINISM COME TO MIND?
HE'S GOT THE LOOK, HE TALKS THE TALK, HE WALKS THE WALK. HE'S GENUINE.
HE PLAYED HIS ROLE IN "THE MATIRIX" PERFECTLY. I JUST WATCHED "SPEED" AGAIN,AND, AGAIN, HE PORTRAYS A GENUINE HEROE. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? HIM OR YOU?

The Flick Filosopher responds:
Sorry, I've got no idea what you're blabbering on about.

ROBERT J. MADEL screams some more:
YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M "BLABBERING" ABOUT . . .
NO KIDDING.

another premature ejaculation from ROBERT J. MADEL:
You ARE a vacant feminist.
But thanks for responding, and for the entertainment/confirmation.

The Flick Filosopher responds:
What is that supposed to mean? I'm just a stupid girl because I find Keanu Reeves cute but dumb? Hell, he admits himself that he's not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree.
You seem to have some issues with women. You might want to get some help for that.

posted 01.19.00
Rogelio P. Mendoza writes:
Your review of the film The End of the Affair actually managed to make the film sound quite intriguing. And yet between you and me, I can't help but wonder who is exactly going to see this film in large enough numbers to make it worthwhile for the studio. Teenagers won't have the patience, married people -- especially at this time of the year -- won't have the time, and most single adults will either be too busy planning a holiday romance or else too busy recovering from their failure to find someone to have a holiday romance with. Moreover, it can be argued that in order to properly appreciate a movie like the one you describe, you have to be mature enough to genuinely appreciate a romantic movie that doesn't necessarily have explicit sex or a happy ending and yet not so jaded that you're burned out on the concept of romance altogether.
Oh, well. At least it's a pleasure to see you defining the type of movies you want to see more often as opposed to merely reacting to the types of movies you don't want to see. And for what it's worth, I don't buy the blockbuster theory recently advanced by one of your colleagues which suggests that it's our duty to go out and see as many blockbusters as we can so that "art films" like this one can get more financing. Call me odd but I always thought that the best way to secure a future for the films we like is to actually go out and pay money to see the films we like. To pay good money to see something we seem sure to not like has always seemed strange to me even when justified as a reaction to outright censorship. After all, the best way to assure that the Donald Wildmons or William Donohues of the world have no power over what we choose to see is not take their opinions seriously enough to give them such power.
For what it's worth, there's at least one published writer -- award-winning science fiction writer Connie Willis -- who agrees with you about It's a Wonderful Life and she's made some very pointed remarks about it in the introduction to her latest book, Miracle and Other Christmas Stories. Maybe one of your secret Santas will drop a copy down your chimney Christmas Eve. If so, I hope you enjoy the book.

The Flick Filosopher responds:
While I agree that The End of the Affair will have a tough time finding an audience, I don't quite agree with your reasoning. Yeah, teens just won't get it, but single people can be as busy as married people, and what does the status of one's love life have to do with appreciating this movie, or any other movie? I think this film will definitely be appreciated by people who've had their romantic illusions tarnished a bit, but I don't see what difference it makes whether the viewer is currently involved with someone or not. Do you only go see romantic movies with a date? I went by myself to see End and enjoyed it just fine.
I hadn't heard of the critic who proposed going to blockbusters in some sort of effort to finance art films. That's the craziest thing I've ever heard -- that's like saying we should all buy comic books because that will encourage fine artists in their work. If we want to support indies, we should go see indies. I would have thought that was obvious.
I didn't know Connie Willis has problems with It's a Wonderful Life -- and she's one of my favorite authors. I'll have to take a look for that book. I've read some of her Christmas stories, and I love them, so that book is sure to be fun.

posted 01.19.00
Michael Kohan writes:
I just read your review of The Apartment, boy, did you miss it, first, it is a MOVIE therefore it is NOT reality, it is a story to make people more ware of their own foibles, the best kind of movie. Yes, Baxter was a wouss (sic), that was the set-up, he could not say no, he could not get the girl, he had low self-esteem. The story, as the best ones do, takes him through a series of events that finally makes him face his own flaws, and overcome them. The pay-off is he finally does stand up to his boss and when Fran finds out that he was not a milk-toast anymore, she goes running to him. Not necessarily reality, but HIGHLY satisfying!

The Flick Filosopher responds:
It's only a movie?? What a relief! I thought it was a documentary.
Sarcasm aside, just because a movie is not reality does not mean it is exempt from criticism.

posted 01.19.00
Allen Rausch writes:
I read your reviews of both versions of A Christmas Carol, and while I enjoyed them as usual, I'll admit I was a little dissapointed in them. Not because they were poorly written or anything, but because I had hoped that you would take a similar discussion tack with those films as you did with It's a Wonderful Life - a discussion of the veneration these films (and stories) receive and what they say about us as a culture.
A Christmas Carol in particular is fertile territory for this because it's a story that has been adopted, twisted and abused into one of the supporting pillars of our commercialized Christmas consumer culture. Scrooge as a character grows over the course of the story, becoming filled with the wonder of Christmas and the spirit of generosity, offering a raise to Bob Cratchit and helping Tiny Tim get the medical attention he needs.
However the true miracle of Scrooge's story is not the giant turkey he sends to the Cratchit's house or the money he gives to charity or Bob's raise. It's his rediscovery of his capacity to both give and receive love. Scrooge's miracle is given concrete form when he tells his nephew Fred how much he loves him and becomes "a second father to Tiny Tim". Unfortunately, in a society where Christmas has become our yearly economic linchpin, the true beauty of this story is often lost in commercial caricatures of Scrooge shilling for Honey-Nut Cheerios. Scrooge's story isn't about a man who opens up his wallet, it's about a man who opens up his heart.

posted 01.19.00
Doug White writes:
Subject: RE: 12.28: Now playing at The Flick Filosopher [a dispatch to my mailing list members, in which I wrote "Is it actually possible for Trekkies to be cool? Of course it is"--MaryAnn]
You know, I knew that I liked your stuff for a reason, you are an obvious die - hard Trekkie nerd just like me!
I've met so few female trekkies at that too! Pretty cool!

The Flick Filosopher responds:
Down, boy! :->

posted 01.19.00
Anna Wolk writes:
Today I saw American Beauty for the 7th time. The first time I saw it was opening night, when I had heard nothing about the movie except that it was supposed to be really good. I realized tonight that I hadn't browsed the Web for reviews/analyses of this movie which possibly takes the cake as the best movie I have ever seen. I was thrilled that the first review I found was yours, the first reaction I have seen to this amazing and complex film that has paralleled my own. Your article was accurate, insightful, and addressed some of the subtleties that I am so frustrated that the general audience doesn't understand. The first time I saw this movie, the end left me glued to my seat, literally speechless for some time after I left the theater. I, too, was disgusted yet not at all surprised by the reactions of others as they hopped to their feet: "that was a pretty funny movie" or "damn, intense" or "pretty good" as they went along their merry way. In addition, you are one of the few reviewers who does not focus on Lester's crush on Angela, for you seem to realize that this is way more than a simple modern-day Lolita tale.
I only disagree with your interpretation in one way: you regard Lester's death as a tragedy. I found his closing monologue to be surprisingly uplifting and content, and I was happy that Lester died (dare I say immortalized?) at the highest point in his life. His final words ("I'm great"), the creepy yet comforting smile on his bloody face, and Ricky's similar smile as he gazed at Lester made his death anything but a tragedy. The tragedy lies in all the other characters (Ricky excluded) who continue to live in a state of complete misery, self-hatred, and denial.
I could talk forever about this movie, but I'll spare you. One final praise, unrelated to American Beauty: It is so good to see a female film critic! There are so few of them, and I've never quite understood why. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to reading future Flick Filosopher articles.

posted 01.19.00
THX138John@aol.com writes:
Subject: American Graffiti
There is no apostrophe in Mels drive-in. Only one incorrect sign mounted above the awning contained an apostrophe. The sign was ordered than installed before the error was discovered.
Your American Graffiti expert,
Thom

The Flick Filosopher responds:
That's more about American Graffiti than I ever really needed to know.
"Mels" looks like a typo, even if it is correct, so I think I'll leave my review as it is.

THX138John@aol.com replies:
I just thought I would mention the apostrophe in Mels. I have seriously studied American Graffiti trivia for 15 years. I consider myself the trivia King for American Graffiti. Feel free to challenge me or just ask questions you may have about the movie.

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MaryAnn Johanson.
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