| Plot Synopsis Michael Dorsey (Dustin Hoffman), a brilliant but troublesome New York actor, has managed to alienate every producer on both coasts. Michael's agent George Fields (Sydney Pollack) can't even get his client a commercial since Michael complained that the tomato he was playing wasn't properly motivated. "You were a tomato!" screams George in desperation, adding that Michael is so obnoxious that he will probably never work again. Dorsey thinks otherwise; when he hears of an opening on a popular soap opera, he applies for the job-even though the job is for a woman. Posing as "Miss Dorothy Michaels," Michael wins the part and becomes a widely-known actress. Yet complications ensue when Michael falls for his co-star Julie (Jessica Lange, in an Oscar-winning performance) but, as Dorothy, is courted by Julie's widowed father (Charles Durning). Michael ultimately finds that his disguise as a woman has made him a better man. One of the classic comedies of the 1980s, Tootsie's gender-bending premise boasts a screenplay by Larry Gelbart and Murray Schisgal, and by a host of memorable supporting comic performances from Dabney Coleman, Teri Garr, George Gaynes, and Bill Murray. Future Oscar-winner Geena Davis makes her screen debut as a daytime drama queen, which indeed she had been before Tootsie came along. - Hal Erickson Reviews REBECCA FLINT AMG (High Artistic Quality, High Production Values)- Situated somewhere between Some Like It Hot and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Tootsie provided one of the most salient commentaries on gender roles in American society, long before RuPaul sashayed across the popular consciousness. A film about a man who discovers that being a woman makes him a better man, Tootsie explored areas hitherto avoided by most filmmakers, and it became one of the few genuinely hilarious American comedies of the 1980s in the process. The film was remarkable for the quality of its lead performances: Dustin Hoffman, as the title character, expertly blended withering cynicism and comic sensibility, while Jessica Lange (who won an Oscar for her performance), Bill Murray, and Charles Durning did some of the best work of their careers. Even Geena Davis, who made her debut as a barely clothed soap opera ingenue, was memorable in her small role. In all, Tootsie accomplished what few films do, forcing audiences to question their own attitudes while giving them a highly intelligent laugh. PERRY SEIBERT AMG DVD Reviews Sydney Pollack's classic gender-bending comedy Tootsie comes to DVD with a pair of images. The widescreen anamorphic transfer preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and is preferable to the standard full-frame transfer. Closed-captioned English soundtracks are rendered in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Mono, while a French soundtrack has also been recorded in Dolby Digital Mono. English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include filmographies, production notes, and theatrical trailers. This disc does a great job of presenting this award-winning film, but offers nothing substantial in the way of extras. WILLIAM GALLAGHER, BBC Updated 20 October 2000 When no-one will employ talented but difficult actor Michael Dorsey (Hoffman), he dresses in drag and auditions for women's roles instead. He's extremely successful, too, but while pretending to be a woman, he finds himself falling for a female co-star. What's less convincing is that he could get any decent roles as a woman - as there aren't very many decent roles for women. True enough, his success comes in television rather than movies, but it's still all a flimsy premise that you'd do best to ignore. What you can't avoid but also really can't quite put your finger on is a sense of fun to the whole piece. It's jaunty, witty, and somehow satisfying despite being simple. Perhaps its strength comes from how it isn't just a star vehicle for Hoffman, but more of a true ensemble comedy with Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, and particularly Dabney Coleman doing very well. Even director Sydney Pollack, in a brief appearance as Dorsey's agent, is funny and makes the role more than just a cameo. The title, by the way, was reportedly Dustin Hoffman's suggestion: it was his mother's nickname for him as a child. Read about another great cross-dressing comedy: "Some Like It Hot". Awards 1982 Academy Best Actor (nom) -Dustin Hoffman Best Cinematography (nom) -Owen Roizman Best Director (nom) -Sydney Pollack Best Editing (nom) Best Original Screenplay (nom) Best Picture (nom) Best Song (nom) -Marilyn Bergman/Alan Bergman/Grusin, Dave Best Sound (nom) Best Supporting Actress (nom) -Teri Garr Best Supporting Actress (win) -Jessica Lange 1982 Golden Globe Best Actor - Musical or Comedy (win) -Dustin Hoffman Best Director (nom) -Sydney Pollack Best Picture - Musical or Comedy (win) Best Screenplay (nom) -Larry Gelbart Best Supporting Actress (win) -Jessica Lange 1982 New York Film Critics Circle Best Actor (nom) -Dustin Hoffman Best Actress (nom) -Jessica Lange Best Direction (win) -Sydney Pollack Best Film (nom) Best Screenplay (win) Best Supporting Actor (nom) -George Gaynes Best Supporting Actress (win) -Jessica Lange Other Awards Best Picture (nom) - -1982 -National Board of Review Best Film (win) - -1982 -National Society of Film Critics Best Screenplay (win) -M Schisgal/ L Gelbart -1982 L.A. Film Critics Association Best Director (nom) -Sydney Pollack -1982 -Directors Guild of America Best Actor (win) -Dustin Hoffman -1983 -British Academy Awards 100 Greatest American Movies (win) - -1998 -American Film Institute U.S. National Film Registry (win) - -1998 -Library of Congress |
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| TOOTSIE 1982 - USA - 116 min. - Feature, Color Director -Sydney Pollack |
| Genre/Type -Comedy, Showbiz Comedy, Comedy of Errors, Romantic Comedy Flags -Adult Situations, Adult Humor, Adult Language, Questionable for Children MPAA Rating -PG Keywords -actor, disguise, love, romance, television, drag [cross-dressing], impersonation, behind-the-scenes, forbidden-love, role-switching Themes -Assumed Identities, Gender-Bending, Actor's Life Tones -Witty, Madcap, Warm, Affectionate, Urbane, Literate Moods -Mood Enhancers Box office -$94.91 million / Among top grossing films of 1982 Color type -Panavision Produced by -Columbia Pictures / Mirage / Punch Productions Cast Dustin Hoffman -- Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels Jessica Lange -- Julie Teri Garr -- Sandy Dabney Coleman -- Ron Charles Durning -- Les Bill Murray -- Jeff Sydney Pollack -- George Fields George Gaynes -- John Van Horn Geena Davis -- April Doris Belack -- Rita Ellen Foley -- Jacqui Peter Gatto -- Rick Lynne Thigpen - Jo Gavin Reed -- Director Bernie Pollack Debra Mooney -- Mrs. Mallory Bernie Passeltiner -- Mac |
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