TRASHING THE MOVIES

Are we really supposed to take seriously a series of articles that:

Includes “The Killing Fields” among the best adventure films (Wilmington);

Excludes “Birdy” from the top cinematography roster (Thomas);

Excludes “Ordinary People” and “Gandhi” from among Wilmington’s list of top dramas (obviously because they won the Academy Award). Included were such as “Love Streams” and “Fool for Love.”

Excludes “E.T.” from the list of best American films but includes such films as “Diner,” the interminable (uncut) version of “Once Upon a Time in America” and the klutzy and in-some-respects-racist “Cotton Club”? (Even Benson lectured about “E.T.” not being overlooked just because it was so commercial.)

Let’s admit these articles are simply the critics’ personal and highly subjective choices, not an attempt to analyze or review objectively. And as such, what is “hip” takes precedence over what’s “well-crafted.”

Summed up, the Definitive Picture of the ‘80s this overview was not.

DAVID R. MOSS

Los Angeles