Debra Winger

I have come to expect more from the editorial auspices of the Calendar section than studio press releases disguised as feature articles.

From beginning (a rather ambitious comparison of Debra Winger to Marilyn Monroe) to end (down-home praise from her location driver), Paul Rosenfield’s piece was rife with promotional pablum arranged, apparently, to prove that Winger 1) has power and 2) uses it (“Hollywood and the Exercise of Power,” by Paul Rosenfield, Aug. 28).

That Winger possesses talent, celebrity and box-office appeal is inarguable. However, Rosenfield’s presumption of her “power” outweighing that of Michelle Pfeiffer or Daryl Hannah and comparable to Streep’s, DeNiro’s or Nicholson’s is entirely subjective. Indeed, more of his energies are spent launching this actress into the stratosphere than making his case.

Rosenfield’s idolatry of Winger was no more apparent than in his inclusion of her questionably literate lines: “I only want to act if I can do it great” and “So it’s better not to work than it is to get squashed.” Powerful points? On this occasion his passion has defeated his purpose.

Upon finishing this article I am left with one question. Did he at least get a date out of it?

MARY SWEENEY

Studio City