Powerful Responses
I found your cover story on the 101 most influential people in
entertainment today (Nov. 2) both fascinating and unexpected. Unlike
any of the other magazine lists of the ''most powerful'' people in some
field of business or entertainment, yours was quite unpredictable.
You apparently took into account some measure of quality and talent,
as seen in your listing of people like Meryl Streep. She is certainly
not the biggest box-office draw, but nonetheless she does bring
something very special to her movies and to the movie business.
Sam Preston
Alexandria, Va.
I have subscribed to your magazine for a while now, and I look
forward to each copy. I recently read your ''Power People'' issue and
found it most entertaining. However, I think you left out a very
important figure in the entertainment field — Barbra Streisand. She may
not sell out a huge audience like Madonna, but almost everything
Streisand has done has been successful. So when Barbra talks, or
sings, people listen.
James P. Wachter
Rochester, N.Y.
Regarding your cover story: Instead of doing nearly an entire
issue glorifying the power that accountants, lawyers, and businessmen
have over entertainment, why not do an issue about people trying to
create uncompromised art? These artists end up pitted squarely against those media moguls you all seem to adore.
Robert Boyd
Seattle
Upon reading your ''101 Most Powerful People in Entertainment''
story, I had to write right away. First, the serious omissions:
Harrison Ford has been in more top money-makers than anyone and he
doesn't make your list? And where was Bill Murray? Bette Midler,
Arsenio Hall, and Bruce Willis have more clout than Ford and Murray?
As for the people you did include: Steven Spielberg ranked at only
No. 21 — are you kidding? Your list needs work.
Kris Clark
Fresno, Calif.
The Naked Truth
In his review of Quigley Down Under (Nov. 2), Owen Gleiberman
wondered whether a double standard on film nudity had been imposed
between Americans and aboriginal ''natives.'' The answer is a fairly
consistent yes, with the logic being if it's okay for the natives,
it's suitable for a PG-13 movie (or TV documentary). Watching Quigleyreminded me of the 1984 version of The Bounty (also PG-rated and up
to its neck in seminude native women).
Ron Roundy
Lanham, Md.
All That Jazz
Since becoming a subscriber last June, I have found your reviews
of films, TV, and music to be accurate, as well as amusing. (For
example, your review of Flatliners [Aug. 10] was right on the mark-an
absolute bore; as well as the review of the new Teena Marie LP [Sept.
28] — she definitely is underrated.) One thing puzzles me: Why don't
you have more reviews of contemporary jazz artists? Do your critics
think they are sellouts, or what?
LaTonya Y. Bethea
Waianae, Hawaii
ED. NOTE: We plan more reviews of contemporary jazz in the near future.
