This week: Our year-end film issue is remembered for remembering Altman; Armond White draws blood for his review of P.T. Anderson’s latest; Mugger’s called out for his immigration rant; and the pope’s secret itinerary riles a few readers.
Altman Remembered Best
Armond White’s article, “A Year Without Altman,” (Jan. 2-8) is, without a doubt, the best thing written about Bob since his death. Bob was a close friend for many years, and a recent colleague (I produced the Arthur Miller play, Resurrection Blues, that Bob directed at the Old Vic in London in 2006), and everyone I’ve spoken to about Mr. White’s article (including Bob’s widow Kathryn), feels exactly the same way. Please give Mr. White all our thanks—a job well done.
—Scott Griffin, Chelsea, NYC
Jack as Easy Rider
Regarding brothers making movies (“Everybody and Their Brother Made a Movie in 2007,” Jan. 2-8), as long as you’re covering 2007’s related movie guys, why not mention Freeman and Nicholson [in Bucket List] as “Easy Reader” and “Easy Rider?”
—Dean Morris, East Village, NYC
Blood Not So Simple
This [review for There Will be Blood] is the worst movie review I have ever read (“A Guilt-Soaked Epic,” Jan. 2-8). Aspects of it lead me to believe that your reviewer [Armond White] is mentally deficient for failing to grasp painfully obvious plot elements, such as the “estranged brother” character, who is not an estranged brother at all, but a charlatan, which is where the gravitas of the Plainview character is fully manifest. He not only fails to recognize the best dramatic performance of the last 25 years, but his incessant name-dropping of irrelevant RELICS is not only obnoxious, but confuses even the most patient reader. This review, honestly, belongs in the SAT examination, as an object of boredom to be mocked and sworn at, representative of film criticism at its most masturbatory. This is the nadir of film criticism, and your reviewer is a blithering idiot.
—Daniel Simon
This is arguably the most biased and misleading review I have come across.
—Daniel R. Schwartz, San Francisco, CA
What an independent review [of There Will Be Blood]. Bravo! Free thought isn’t dead!
—Lesley Tatum
Anchors Away
Based upon your expressed sentiments in your [column regarding immigration](“Are You There God, It’s Me Mugger,” Jan. 2-8), you and your buddy weren’t having a debate, but rather it was a love fest—blowjobs and all.
All illegal aliens and their anchor babies need to be deported when caught or recognized. That’s what the majority of Americans want, as well as a secure border, stopping this invasion across America’s Southern border. I believe a day is coming when American citizens will rise up and take our government back.
—John Gleeson
Pope Problem
You guys have a short memory. Although you have new owners and writers, did you check the archives before authorizing this [piece on the pope] (“New York, New York: It’s a Heaven of a Town,” Dec. 26, 2007-Jan. 1, 2008)? You will be getting a lot of hate mail—again. Time for another publisher, editor and writer—again.
—David Plump
Anglicans For the Pope
Is Rob Kutner aware that the Cathedral of St. John the Divine is an Episcopal cathedral, and has no connection to the Catholic Church? I’m sure the clergy and staff would be pleased to give the pope a tour, however.
—Robert Hefley, NYC
Altman Remembered Best
Armond White’s article, “A Year Without Altman,” (Jan. 2-8) is, without a doubt, the best thing written about Bob since his death. Bob was a close friend for many years, and a recent colleague (I produced the Arthur Miller play, Resurrection Blues, that Bob directed at the Old Vic in London in 2006), and everyone I’ve spoken to about Mr. White’s article (including Bob’s widow Kathryn), feels exactly the same way. Please give Mr. White all our thanks—a job well done.
—Scott Griffin, Chelsea, NYC
Jack as Easy Rider
Regarding brothers making movies (“Everybody and Their Brother Made a Movie in 2007,” Jan. 2-8), as long as you’re covering 2007’s related movie guys, why not mention Freeman and Nicholson [in Bucket List] as “Easy Reader” and “Easy Rider?”
—Dean Morris, East Village, NYC
Blood Not So Simple
This [review for There Will be Blood] is the worst movie review I have ever read (“A Guilt-Soaked Epic,” Jan. 2-8). Aspects of it lead me to believe that your reviewer [Armond White] is mentally deficient for failing to grasp painfully obvious plot elements, such as the “estranged brother” character, who is not an estranged brother at all, but a charlatan, which is where the gravitas of the Plainview character is fully manifest. He not only fails to recognize the best dramatic performance of the last 25 years, but his incessant name-dropping of irrelevant RELICS is not only obnoxious, but confuses even the most patient reader. This review, honestly, belongs in the SAT examination, as an object of boredom to be mocked and sworn at, representative of film criticism at its most masturbatory. This is the nadir of film criticism, and your reviewer is a blithering idiot.
—Daniel Simon
This is arguably the most biased and misleading review I have come across.
—Daniel R. Schwartz, San Francisco, CA
What an independent review [of There Will Be Blood]. Bravo! Free thought isn’t dead!
—Lesley Tatum
Anchors Away
Based upon your expressed sentiments in your [column regarding immigration](“Are You There God, It’s Me Mugger,” Jan. 2-8), you and your buddy weren’t having a debate, but rather it was a love fest—blowjobs and all.
All illegal aliens and their anchor babies need to be deported when caught or recognized. That’s what the majority of Americans want, as well as a secure border, stopping this invasion across America’s Southern border. I believe a day is coming when American citizens will rise up and take our government back.
—John Gleeson
Pope Problem
You guys have a short memory. Although you have new owners and writers, did you check the archives before authorizing this [piece on the pope] (“New York, New York: It’s a Heaven of a Town,” Dec. 26, 2007-Jan. 1, 2008)? You will be getting a lot of hate mail—again. Time for another publisher, editor and writer—again.
—David Plump
Anglicans For the Pope
Is Rob Kutner aware that the Cathedral of St. John the Divine is an Episcopal cathedral, and has no connection to the Catholic Church? I’m sure the clergy and staff would be pleased to give the pope a tour, however.
—Robert Hefley, NYC
