Traveling to View Sophisticated Films

Discriminating moviegoers in the San Fernando Valley complain because they have to travel all the way to the Westside to see “sophisticated films” (“Forget Peoria--Studios Say Art Movies Don’t Play in the Valley,” Dec. 24). Those of us who live in Bakersfield consider ourselves lucky if we only have to drive 90 miles to the Encino Town Center, because at least that keeps us out of the Sepulveda Pass. For Laemmle’s Sunset 5, the Westside Pavilion or the Wilshire-Santa Monica Boulevard theaters, it can take an hour longer.

Some general release movies never make it to Bakersfield. “Being John Malkovich” has enjoyed box office success all over the Southland but has not been screened at any multiplex in this town. And it will snow in Maui before you’ll see “All About My Mother,” “Boys Don’t Cry,” “Rosetta” or “Tumbleweeds.”

I don’t blame theater owners or film marketers. They’re in business to make money. The problem is with an intellectually lazy public. I wonder how many of the people who have seen “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo” realize that “male gigolo” is redundant. Or care!

F.G. WOOD

Bakersfield