Women of ‘Magnolias’

Criticism and debate are a vital part of the arts. Peter Rainer, however, did little more than relate the plot and trash the stars in his Nov. 15 review of “Steel Magnolias” (“ ‘Steel Magnolias’--A Cacophony of Southern Belles”).

These women don’t need to “seize the screen” from the “big boys”; they are quite commanding in their own right, and the “boys” have little to do with this story. Rainer’s focus seems to be on the fact that this is a movie about women instead of men, who have been “wimpified,” presumably because they aren’t the central characters.

Referring to these fine actresses as a “yammering sextet” and “ego-pumped actresses clonking each other for the spotlight,” as well as suggesting that they “should take their act on the road as tag-team wrestlers,” is extremely offensive and serves to display Rainer’s hostility, rather than any attempt at a thoughtful critique. If this is any indication of the level of reporting we can expect from Rainer, in my opinion he is an unwelcome addition to the Los Angeles Times staff.

SALLY LEWIS

Los Angeles