‘Wild’ Rationale Bared

Just out of curiosity: Why, in Jack Mathews’ review of “Wild Things” (“ ‘Wild Things’ Runs Rampant With Twists and Surprises,” March 20), is Denise Richards deemed “impressively nude” while Kevin Bacon’s nudity is deemed “gratuitous”?

LAURA SIMANDL

West Hollywood

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I must say, as the producer of the movie, I appreciated Jack Mathews’ review of “Wild Things.” But after reading reviews from across the country, including the one in The Times, I feel sorry about the attention one very brief moment in the film is getting.

When we shot the scene with Kevin Bacon taking a shower, we did not expect the incidental, unplanned flash of frontal nudity (it all takes place in less than two seconds) to cause such a stir. Maybe we were naive, but we didn’t think it was that big a deal (no pun intended). Boy were we wrong. Virtually everyone labeled this shot “gratuitous” and made a point to mention it in their reviews.

So much for our attempt at “equal exposure.”

RODNEY LIBER

Los Angeles