Beyond Criticism

No one wields the business end of a poison pen with quite the flair of movie critic Kenneth Turan. A recent destructive example of this tendency can be found within his screed passing as film criticism of “The Majestic” (“No Surprises at the End, or Anywhere Else,” Dec. 21). Turan isn’t content merely to pan it; he excoriates and humiliates its creators.

Curiously enough, I too saw a film by the same title, also starring Jim Carrey, but “The Majestic” I saw was a gentle, heartfelt reflection on a time and a sense of ideals I believe a great many people long for. To paraphrase writer Manuel Puig, “movies ... help you hope.” This film does that beautifully.

AL ALU

Los Angeles