Tootsie

Dustin Hoffman garnered a Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of Michael Dorsey, an out-of-work temperamental (and unemployable) actor who pulls an end-around by slapping on a dress, some make-up and a new moniker ("Dorothy Michaels"), ultimately landing a major role in a TV soap. Unfortunately, among other problems, he falls in love with his co-star Julie (Jessica Lange). The fact that Tootsie manages to successfully encompass so much (love story, comedy, and social commentary) is largely due to a powerful script and director Sydney Pollack's sure hand. Although the extras are pretty much nil, the sharp looking digital transfer, presented in both anamorphic widescreen and full screen formats, is nicely bolstered by a remastered Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, highlighting Dave Grusin's toe-tappin' score. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)[DVD Review—Feb. 5, 2008—Sony, 116 min., PG, $19.95—Making its second appearance on DVD, 1982's Tootsie (25th Anniversary Edition) boasts an excellent transfer. DVD extras include “A Better Man” making-of documentary (69 min.), nine deleted scenes (8 min.), three minutes of original screen test footage of star Dustin Hoffman, and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a contemporary classic.][Blu-ray/DVD Review—Dec. 30, 2014—Criterion, 116 min., R, DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray: $39.95—Making its latest appearance on DVD and debut on Blu-ray, 1982's Tootsie features a great transfer and an uncompressed monaural soundtrack on Blu-ray. Extras include audio commentary by director Sydney Pollack, the 2007 “making-of” documentary A Better Man (69 min.), an archival “making-of” featurette (34 min.), new interviews with star Dustin Hoffman (19 min.) and writer Phil Rosenthal (16 min.), deleted scenes (11 min.), screen and wardrobe test footage with Hoffman (7 min.), an interview with “Dorothy Michaels” by film critic Gene Shalit (5 min.), trailers, and an essay by critic Michael Sragow. Bottom line: a beloved film featuring Hoffman in one of his signature roles makes a welcome debut on Blu-ray.]