Critic Blasted Into His Own ‘Twilight’

The March 6 Calendar contained two curiously contradictory reviews.

On the front page, the movie “Twilight” was characterized as “geezer noir” in a review by sub-geezer Kenneth Turan, using the G-word in the condescending way in which your newspaper would never print the N-word for African Americans or the S-word for Hispanic Americans.

On the back page was a glowing review by F. Kathleen Foley of 98-year-old theater director Martin Magner’s production of “Play Strindberg.” The G-word was nowhere in sight.

Does this mean that theater reviewers are more tolerant than movie reviewers? More perceptive? Less perceptive? Or just less scared?

LAURA HITCHCOCK

Los Angeles

Turan’s review of “Twilight” may be accurate and insightful, but I object to the term “geezer,” which I feel to be a pejorative one. Are we to assume that you use the terms “callow teenagers” and “middle-age whiners” when you review movies with the age groups identified by these terms? I wonder too if you identify actors in the films you review by their ages.

An actor is as good or bad as his ageless skills permit him to be.

MARIE DANIELSON

(77, but no geezer)

Victorville

I am appalled at the lack of taste you showed in your headline and in Turan’s review by referring to “Twilight” as “geezer noir.” I cannot believe that actors the caliber of Paul Newman and Gene Hackman don’t command more respect from Turan and The Times. If not for this film, then for the many years of their brilliant performances we have had the joy of experiencing.

This is a country that continually pushes its older, wiser citizens out of the way and, as a media leader in Hollywood, you have a responsibility not to add to this behavior. Everyone gets old. . . . Show some respect!

BONNIE BRUCKHEIMER

All Girl Productions

Universal City

I wonder if critics, once they reach a certain age, will be judged not on the merits of their work (albeit their opinion of someone else’s work) but on how old they are and whether or not they have “aged well.”

No doubt they too will create their own subgenre, out there in geezer critics pasture. Perhaps they already have.

KAREN LEIGH HOPKINS

Pacific Palisades

If a media-savvy critic such as Turan can’t see through the destructive myths of our culture, then who can? A viewer of any age would be enriched by watching Paul Newman’s performance. Does Turan’s distaste for the film have to do with the fact that the characters honestly discuss the realities of their physical bodies?

I question whether Turan has lived up to his responsibilities as a critic--unless insulting his readers’ intelligence is part of his job description. Maybe he should look for a new job with MTV.

SUSAN ROETHER ZSIGMOND

Hollywood

Turan has a great deal to learn--if he’s not too old a geezer.

SUNNY PLUTZER

Northridge