Timothy Noah and Marjorie Williams

I'm not bored with George W. Bush for Y-chromosone reasons related to the Washington disease of viewing politics as a horse race. (I'm the guy who went to work for Jim "Breaking the News" Fallows, remember? I'm one of those sissies who believe that government policymaking is worth paying attention to!) I'm bored with George W. Bush because he's...boring. You'll have to ask Hunt yourself why he's bored with George W. (and whether he agrees with my characterization of his piece).

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(Note to readers: Hunt used to be my boss. Truly, this is starting to read like A Dance to the Music of Time.)

Perversely, I'm in a mood to defend Steven Spielberg. If Stephen Ambrose is willing to get snookered by him, that's his problem. With the exception of The Color Purple, every one of Spielberg's "serious" movies has been excellent, but so far only Schindler's List has gotten the reception it deserved. Empire of the Sun was a wonderful film, full of fascinating dark stuff about war and boyhood; and Amistad was much, much better than the sneery reviews, which made it out to be preachy and boring. (In fact, it was gripping and subtle. Let's rent it some time.) I'm very eager to see Saving Private Ryan. Spielberg, I think, has finally turned himself into a great filmmaker on par with his hero, David Lean.

The paradox that he also grinds out crappy-but-entertaining films is hard for serious cineastes to grasp.

Earnestly,

Tim

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