Movies With Character Take a Real Writer

Re “A Big, Fat Windfall at the Box Office,” Aug. 24:

Steve Gilula of Fox Searchlight shows that he and most movie executives still don’t get it when he says, “What these movies have in common is a very strong individual filmmaker point of view,” in noting the success of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and other small pictures. Their real link is not a strong filmmaker/director but a well-written story with interesting, dimensional characters constructed by a capable and clever writer, the most overlooked human in the film equation.

Joel Zwick, an incredibly talented, unfairly ignored director of television and stage, wouldn’t have had anything to direct if a writer, in this case Nia Vardalos, hadn’t pointed the way with vision and promise.

And if you don’t believe me, ask Mr. Zwick.

Renny Temple

Pacific Palisades

*

Having walked out of this movie after an hour, I am amazed that so many people find it funny. The characters yelled at each other. The boyfriend fell on the sidewalk. This is humorous?

I didn’t seem to be the only one unamused; during the hour I was there, no one else in the whole theater laughed either, or even giggled. Watching paint dry would be more interesting.

Mary De Camp

Los Angeles