Men pretending to be women are funny... in fact 1982 was big for drag in general...
Let's break it down: Dustin Hoffman gets nominated for an Oscar for pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman in Tootsie (along with the film which was nominated for an amazing 10 awards including Best Picture, Best Director and 2 Best Supporting Actress nominations). He is nominated in the Best Actor category alongside Jack Lemon who was nominated for his role in Missing, Jack Lemon in turn was nominated for an Oscar in 1959 for playing a man pretending to be a woman (alongside Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe) in Some Like It Hot. Also in the Best Actress category in 1983, Julie Andrews was nominated for her role in Victor/Victoria in which she plays a woman, pretending to be a man, pretending to be a woman (Phew!). Teri Garr would be nominated for, and Jessica Lange would win, her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work in Tootsie (and it was also a good year for Jessica Lange as she was also nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for her work in Frances).
It sure was a good year for drag, particularly for Tootsie!
For me Tootsie is Dustin Hoffman's vehicle, he fully embraced the role and delivered a solidly funny performance - but a pretty woman he does not make, and I don't know if I had met Tootsie in the street if I wouldn't have known that something was up - fully committed and all...
Jessica Lange - she is just awesome. It's a very understated role, the pretty love interest, the subject of Dustin Hoffman's desire, it will be interesting as I watch all the other actresses performances if the quiet role was and should have been the victor (already, as it stands in comparison to Teri Garr who was also nominated for her work in Tootsie, I think my answer is... no, she shouldn't have)... That said, Jessica Lange is brilliant, I challenge anyone to watch any season of American Horror Story and deny!
To sum up, Mrs Doubtfire sure does owe alot to Tootsie!
Tootsie makes it as the fifth "Big 6 Oscar Noms since 1979" movie to be reviewed on this here blog, and the first from the 55th Academy Awards (movie selection of 1982).
nuff said...
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