‘Postman’ Doesn’t Fit Image of Hero

David Brin’s impassioned defense of what is right and good in America is certainly admirable and well argued. (“What’s Wrong with Old-Fashioned Hope?,” Counterpunch, Jan. 5). After all, Brin wrote the novel on which the film “The Postman” is based. In his commentary, Brin calls out Times film critic Kenneth Turan for “sneering at anything like enthusiasm” and critics in general for “politicized cynicism.”

But the point Brin misses, as does “The Postman,” is the importance of screen metaphor. And it is not the cynicism of society and critics that is the problem here. Think of past on-screen heroes in films like “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral,” “Patton” and “The Ten Commandments.” They instantly convey images of heroic lawmen, patriotic generals and heavenly leaders. Mention a postman and the most likely images to come to mind are Cliff Claven guzzling suds at “Cheers,” “Seinfeld” nemesis Newman hiding sacks of mail he’s too lazy to deliver and real-life, disgruntled, gun-toting ex-employees shooting up the mail room.

Even if “The Postman” was worth seeing, the image of patriotic letter carriers rescuing democracy is a little tough to handle. It may not be fair to the many hard-working postal employees who don’t hide mail or aerate the office, but in a town where “image is everything,” someone should have stamped that screenplay “return to sender.”

JOHN CORCORAN

Calabasas