About The Times’ New Film Critic ...

I believe a reviewer has every right to express his or her opinion of whatever is being reviewed--intelligently, one hopes--but the three reviews by Manohla Dargis in the Aug. 23 Calendar (“The Clerk as Creep,” “ ‘Serving Sara’ Does No Service to Anyone, Viewers Least of All,” “As Chef Lets Her Hair Down, Who Needs Food as Metaphor?”) sounded more like a failed film school dropout than of a reviewer on a respected newspaper residing in the film capital of the world.

Denigrating Robin Williams and all of his product is not the sign of intelligence--it’s the sign of a very young, uninformed, unseasoned smart aleck who erroneously believes that using her entire bratty vocabulary makes her clever and interesting.

D. HALE

Los Angeles

*

Dargis is a fresh voice who promises to add perspective, insight and a much-needed, truly critical voice to your newspaper.

MARSHA MENDIZZA

Van Nuys

*

I just forced myself to finish the incredibly self-indulgent review titled “The Clerk as Creep.” Perhaps The Times should reconsider its hire of Dargis. Any movie review that begins with a 300-word dump of the reviewer’s baggage about an actor sends up a warning flag.

Dargis’ apparent gift is communicating how her movie-viewing experience is distorted by every previous exposure she’s had to an artist.

Then there’s the question of how Dargis gained entry to the mind of Robin Williams. How else could she know that his “fidgety bits of business,” which most viewers would find all of a piece with Williams’ compelling portrayal of a psychotic on the edge, were actually driven by Williams’ need for the audience’s devotion?

Certainly The Times would not hire a restaurant reviewer who divined that the intentions of the chef were pitiful or whose opinions of a pasta dish were overwhelmed by earlier reactions to boxes of macaroni and cheese or disdain for cans of spaghetti.

KEVIN STREHLO

Woodland Hills

*

Congratulations on the new movie critic, Manohla Dargis. Her initial reviews reveal a consummate knowledge of writing, acting and directing. It is refreshing to read such well-written articles that not only entertain but also enlighten.

RICK EDELSTEIN

Los Angeles

*

I don’t know what’s fueling Dargis’ complete and utter contempt for the film world, but I hope The Times’ health plan covers therapy, so she can find out.

HERB TUMS

Los Angeles