Letters

J.T. Walsh is worth remembering! "Hero" must be taken in context! Readers respond to recent articles by Cintra Wilson and Charles Taylor.

Aug 31, 2004 | [Read "Oh, That Guy," by Cintra Wilson.]

Cintra Wilson's piece on J.T. Walsh omitted one of his best performances, in John Dahl's "Red Rock West," opposite Nicolas Cage, Dennis Hopper and Lara Flynn Boyle. Walsh's portrayal of a corrupt sheriff who hires a hit man to kill his wife is chilling and utterly convincing; his wordless stares convey more than most actors could dream of with their most impassioned monologues.

-- Nizam Arain

Cintra Wilson notes actor J.T. Walsh's role in Billy Bob Thornton's "Sling Blade," where he gave a great performance. But there is another film to consider: "Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade." This independent short is just the 30-minute opening sequence that takes place in the hospital as Karl Childers is about to be released and is being interviewed by Molly Ringwald. I think that Thornton used it to sell the actual film that was ultimately made. It probably should have been included together with the DVD version of "Sling Blade." For 30 minutes everyone, including J.T. Walsh, is pulling together in a remarkable piece of filmmaking. It's dark and far more nuanced than the opening sequence in "Sling Blade."

-- Ed McGlynn Jr.

I just wanted to thank Cintra Wilson for the wonderful tribute to the work of J.T. Walsh. Yes, many character actors remain nameless to the masses who see and enjoy their films, but I made it a point to remember his.

-- S. Vistins

Talk about still on fire: J.T. Walsh has a short speech in the movie "Outbreak" that is the single most electrifying scene in the film. He is addressing a conference room full of government officials and military men who are pondering the bombing of an American town where there has been an ebola outbreak. He tells the officials that they are going to stand up and support the president's decision and not weasel off to the press after the fact and say they didn't support the decision to bomb the town. He tosses an envelope full of photos on the table and tells the officials, "Look at them! I want them seared in your brain!" And the top photo exposed is that of a resident of the town, a mother who minutes before had left her family after exhibiting signs of the disease, and whose corpse, it is now clear, had been part of a bonfire. It is Walsh's only scene in the movie, and it is riveting. Thanks for the retrospective.

-- Jack Crosby

Next Page: "Hero" is "not just a good yarn. It's dangerous propaganda"

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