with Cary on this one. I don't think the LW is necessarily afraid of her brother or afraid that he can still hurt her. I think she dislikes him intensely (with good reason) and would like to avoid him at all costs. It sounds to me like her mother is saying that she would be very happy if the LW could come to a party with this man and pretend the whole thing never happened, this after the LW has been through three therapists to come to terms with an ugly reality. Don't go. It's not worth it. Would you insist that your mother go to a party with someone who had molested her and left her with horrible memories? I think not. And Cary, it's not empowering to be manipulated into an uncomfortable situation just to find that it's doable.

You are so wrong about his role in Husbands and Wives, and it was because of him that I loved that movie, and it was not dismal or moralistic. Part of a greater mystery, human foibles? No. The reason he took up with the younger woman was obvious. At first she was way easier than his wife, but she was dumber and not as charming, and pretty embarrassing to be around. BUT his wife, Judy Davis who was charming, complex, interesting and intelligent was also cold, overly analytical and didn't like sex. So what is an older good-looking guy supposed to do? Sidney Pollack was the most sympathetic cheater and leaver of a wife ever portrayed in a movie. Judy Davis was fabulous also. How can you call it dismal? Having been on the inside of my own bad marriage and seeing the inside of others, I thought it was SUCH a good movie. I enjoy it to this day.

There seems to be a huge market for crap these days, so you can hardly blame SP. Someone else said something about him not underestimating the intelligence of his audience. So true. I actually liked The Interpreter. You had to pay attention, it wasn't great, but it wasn't dismissive crap either. I remember when They Shoot Horses Don't They came out and I was like 14. The name was so intriguing and the story so sad but exotic--, and yes he was adorable.

to tell you how much I appreciated this essay. Just perfect.

My question to Electro Robot would be why are you so angry on a letters thread about Sidney Pollack? Isn't there someplace else you can go and be venomous where it's at least relevant? Here are a bunch of people talking about a man who has died who we admire and you're doing all this crazy name calling. You hate Salon readers so much the obvious solution to that would be to avoid Salon. I hate myself for writing this letter because I really don't want to engage you, but could you possibly think about what you're doing and maybe stop? We don't go looking for you. I really don't care why you do what you do. I also realize that by asking you to quit, you have power over me and you don't have to quit or go away, but can just get meaner, but you know when you quit beating your head against the wall it feels really, really good.

I've been so angry and felt so helpless! Thank you Glenn, we knew it all along, but now like rats from a sinking ship--I can't articulate. I'm apoplectic. I love Phil Donahue and knew that he was persecuted. I'm old enough to remember when we had real freedom of speech and press in this country and saw it slipping down the drain--I just am so goddamn mad.

looptheory, and it made my head hurt, but it's a good theory. I'm just glad I don't have to go back to no stinkin' island with Sawyer or Sayed, and all that intrigue and stuff.

I think Lost is better than the X-files, and I truly used to enjoy the X-files.

I haven't seen this movie, but I have seen Munich. Munich was a somewhat serious film, while this movie (again I have not seen it) seems like it might be a little silly. If you prefer silly films (and it seems that you do) you would obviously prefer the Adam Sandler movie to Munich. However, I don't entirely believe you when you say that Zohan is the superior film.

Marriage is oversold to women. It's just not that great, sort of like home ownership. Some people are very happy with it, some are not. Why is that so difficult for some people to believe? I believe some people are perfectly happy renting all their lives. It's just a matter of personal preference. I also believe some people are lonely, men and women. What I happen to know for a fact is that LOTS OF PEOPLE in perfectly miserable marriages lie about how happy they are. Let's have a book written on that.

tender-pawed writing, and your description of Ice Road Truckers made me feel as if I had actually WATCHED THE SHOW! It was oddly appealing. The last two shows you described I quickly put out of my mind and would like to thank you for watching them for me so I don't have to.

Thanks, you articulated your point (which coincides with mine)very succinctly. When I first became aware of this movie, the first thought I had was: "How does this compare to the film Munich? They look very similar." Actually I never did think that, I'm just amazed that SZ did and then put it in her column. You know SZ you seem to take your own views mega-seriously yet you seem to dislike filmmakers who do the same.