The Reel Schmooze on 'Tootsie': Does the 1982 gender-bender hold up?
Summary
Hosts Amanda Borchel-Dahn and Jordan Hoffman discuss the upcoming Israeli elections and the quirks of daylight saving time before reviewing the 1982 classic Tootsie. They analyze the film's perfect script, Dustin Hoffman's transformative performance, and its enduring themes regarding workplace dynamics and gender, noting how the movie remains relevant decades after its release.
Topics discussed
Introduction and time difference banter
Indiana's refusal to change clocks and pi equals 3
Confusion over Israel's time zones and election chaos
Voting experiences and coalition negotiations
Living on the red-blue border in New Jersey
Sponsors: Jewish Communal Fund and Technion
Transition to 1980s Jewish comedy: Tootsie
Tootsie premise and Dustin Hoffman's character
The agent's advice and the cross-dressing plan
Plot complications and the film's tight script
Bill Murray's roommate and Soho setting
Production history and script development
Uncredited writers and the 'doomed project' status
Soap opera scenes and comedic nudity
Sponsors: Birthright and Times of Israel books
Revisiting Tootsie as an adult
Feminism, misogyny, and gender perception
Gender dynamics and cultural references
Bill Murray's deadpan humor and the lemon scene
Makeup, transformation, and Dustin Hoffman's reflection
Cross-dressing in comedy and actor comparisons
Terry Garr's performance and Oscar nominations
Tootsie vs. Gandhi: The 1982 Oscar controversy
Other 1982 films: The Verdict and Paul Newman
Choosing between Gandhi and Tootsie
Next week's pick: Slums of Beverly Hills
Closing remarks and credits
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