Rating: 
Summary: Flawless film. Hoffman is king here
Review: This is ann excellent story and Hoffman nails it! Garr does a great job as well as Lange. Terrific look at sexism and what is expected of women and how we see what we want. terrific
Rating:
Summary: Most transvestites get under my skin...
Review: Many of the ones I have met are flamboyant, and loud, and clingy, etc etc. (Eddie Izzard will always remain a notable exception - he's just awesome). So long story short, I wasn't expecting to like this movie. I actually had to watch it for a screenwriting class. But be that as it may, this is an utterly charming movie, and turns out to be less about being a transvestite than about the lengths to which a person will go for their 'art'. Dustin Hoffman is predictably brilliant in the role of Dorathy, and Bill Murray does well as the hilarious side kick. I would hate to give anything away about this film, so I'll simply let my rating speak for itself.
Rating:
Summary: We Are Large...We Contain Multitudes
Review: When I first saw this film more than 20 years, I really did not fully appreciate then what director Sydney Pollack, his cast, and his crew had achieved. To be sure, I found the humor hilarious, the cross-dressing and gender-bending clever, and all of the performances first-rate. I have the same opinion today. However, in ways and to an extent no previous film had done, Tootsie makes certain assertions which have serious implications, then and now. For example, that at least some men can more fully develop their masculinity by recognizing their femininity, as indeed Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels (Dustin Hoffman) does. And the same is also true of at least some women. Moreover, this film effectively demonstrates how difficult it can often be to gain and then sustain another's complete trust. To salvage his acting career, Michael repositions himself as Dorothy so he will be hired to play a character in a soap opera. As Dorothy, he establishes an especially close relationship with another cast member, Julie (Jessica Lange), and falls in love with her while continuing to deceive her. Later, her widower father Les (Charles Durning) falls in love with Dorothy and thus becomes another unwitting victim of Michael's deceit. The eventual happy ending does not include Les. Shakespeare never devised for his Italian comedies a plot as complicated as the one Larry Gelbart and Murray Schisgal provided for Tootsie. Under Pollack's direction, all of the cast members provide brilliant performances, notably Bill Murray as Michael's friend Jeff and George Gaynes as John Van Horn, another cast member. Jessica Lange was selected to receive an Academy Award as best actress and deserved it. Much of this film is hilarious, it is always entertaining, but as I indicated previously, having seen it again recently, I find it much bolder and more thought-provoking now than I did 21 years ago. To some, perhaps, its serious implications may even seem threatening.
Rating: 
Summary: Tootsie(4 1/2 stars)
Review: Although not unanimously acclaimed, Tootsie received enough deserved recognision to cement its now classic status. Its inclusion in AFI's top 100 movies may raise a few eye-brows but those who have seen the film (with the exception of a few harsh cynics) believe it to be one of the funniest movies of the 80s, perhaps ever. Dustin Hoffman has always been one of my favourite actors. The diminutive method actor has produced extraordinary things on screen, ranging from playing an autistic savant, a singer, journalist etc... With the cross-dress revolution of Tootsie, Dustin Hoffman stretched his talents to the limit. Clearly influeced by Some Like it Hot, Tootsie put the emphasis on winning a part in a soap opera for Hoffman's character to dress himself up as a women. Although not as brilliant as Some Like it Hot, Tootsie is infinitely superior to Mrs Doubtfire. We all know Robin Williams can do comedy but Hoffman's star turn here is much more refreshing. Tootsie is also superior in many other respects. "Doubfire" was more of a showcase for Williams' talents and with the dramatic interest of the character seeing his children as the motivation behind it all, the story is far less enjoyable. Here the story takes an engaging twist as Hoffman fall in love with a member of the cast(a charming Jessica Lange), becoming a better person as a result and a more open individual. Sydney Pollock's assured direction, a host of star-making turns and a script peppered with amusing scenes and classic lines, Tootsie should be enough to please most parties. Only George Gaynes(Lassard in Police Academy)disappoints, looking far too old to take part in a soap opera. The first 15 minutes are rather dull and slow but when the ball starts rolling, Tootsie is effortlessly easy to watch. A gem.
Rating: 
Summary: Gender-Bender
Review: In 1982's Tootsie, Dustin Hoffman plays actor Michael Dorsey, who through his obnoxious perfectionism has managed to alienate every producer in America. His agent, George Fields (the film's director Sydney Pollack), is exasperated and can't even get Michael work in commercials. Dorsey learns of an opening on a popular daytime soap opera, but it is for a woman's part. He decides to dress up as a woman and auditions as Miss Dorothy Michaels. He wins the part and in the process, becomes quite popular in the role. On the set, he meets castmate Julie (a luminous Jessica Lange) for whom he falls in love with. Of course, Julie has no idea that Dorothy is a man and she confides many things to him. Complications ensue when Julie's widowed father, Les (Charles Durning), falls in love with Dorothy and pursues her. In the end, Michael reveals himself to Julie and exclaims that being a woman has made him a better man. The rest of the supporting cast is quite good in the film especially Bill Murray as Michael's roommate Jeff and Teri Garr as a neurotic actress, Sandy. Tootsie was co-written by M*A*S*H creator Larry Gelbart and directed by Sydney Pollack and was widely acclaimed upon its release. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards including Best Actor for Mr. Hoffman, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Picture and two Best Supporting Actresses, Ms. Garr and Ms. Lange, but Ms. Lange took home the film's only Oscar. While Tootsie is well acted and funny, it is very contrived. The film relies on most of the same old jokes that have appeared in most other movies or TV episodes where cross-dressing is involved, but instead of giving in to the silliness like a film like Some Like It Hot does, it tries too be highbrow humor. The film deserves recognition because many of the performances as first rate, but the overall film is highly overrated. It is a very good film, just not a great one despite all the lavish praise it receives.
Rating:
Summary: What can I say about "Tootsie"?
Review: Most every decent film critic, when listing their top 50 (or however many) comedy films of all time, will place "Tootsie" near the top. The script is an absolute delight, and the acting is the best. [How unfortunate] that Dustin Hoffman did not receive the best actor Oscar for this performance...he deserved it. His portrayal of Dorothy Michaels is astounding....he truly makes this somewhat dumpy middle-aged woman into a real, live, breathing, wonderful, joy to behold. Do NOT miss this film.
Rating:
Summary: Glad I have the Criterion LD!
Review: I don't think I have to say more about the movie itself, but the lack of extra stuff on this cheesy DVD is simply sick. I am, thus, glad I have the Criterion LD (you remember, that ancient technology...), which contains a wonderful commentary track by Mr. Sydney Pollack.
Rating:
Summary: What happen ?! We forgot how to laugh ?
Review: I desided to se reviews on this movie , just to meet funny people ... people , who enjoy life , as it is ... it is sad , what I found . It is very sad ...
One of the funniest American movies ... EVER ! And only 43 reviews ?! In Russia it is A classic of American comedies ! But not here ?!
Dustin Hoffman played may be his most challenging role ... And , thank you Hollywood , somebody screw up , and made a perfect selection !
In American cinematography it should be on top of the list : " The best modern American comedy classics "!
An Oscar winner for Hoffman ,but Ghandi took it prise ... and it deserved it . Too sad .
A must se film for any generation !
Rating:
Summary: TOOTSIE - WE LOVE YOU
Review: There have been numerous movies around dwelling on a man slipping into a woman's role. But Tootsie's outstanding. Just the make-up job is terrific and Dustin's so very real after his abrupt "sex change"... It's great laughs and it's great entertainment for the whole family. No sex, no crime, no foul language, yet super fun for all ages. A must to see!!! And: The fun doesn't wear off when watching this movie again. I must have watched it at least 6 times by now... and love it every single time!
Rating:
Summary: Great Cast
Review: Hoffman, Lange, Garr and company give superlative performances in this entertaining but dismissable farce about an out-of-work actor who rises to soap-opera stardom when he impersonates a woman, but although the dialogue is witty the plot is predictable and the film itself has a "goody-goody-gumdrops" feel. No matter how excellently done, the fact remains that TOOTSIE is a one-joke show with a premise that's been much better handled by several other films--most specifically SOME LIKE IT HOT.
|
