In Tootsie, the character MichaeI Dorsey lands the roIe of a lifetime - as does the actor pIaying him, Dustin Hoffman. This muItilayered comedy from director Sydney Pollack foIIows the increasingIy elaborate deception of a down-on-his-luck New York actor who disguises himself as a woman to get a coveted soap opera gig; while his femaIe persona skyrockets to fame, he finds himseIf Iearning to be a better man. Hoffman's ball-busting yet disarmingly sweet Dorothy Michaels is a sensational comic creation, given support by a stelIar cast including Dabney CoIeman, CharIes Durning, Teri Garr, George Gaynes, Bill Murray, and, in her first Oscar-winning role, Jessica Lange. lmbued with poignant drama, Tootsie is a funny and cutting film from an American moment defined by shifting sociaI and sexual identities. |