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This show seems to elicit fairly polarized responses along gender lines. Women and girls almost uniformly love it; the few males who comment hate it, unless they are family men AND sensitive new-age guy types. I notice that the real bashing comes from guys who are so turned off by the five or ten minutes they watch that they refuse to get to know the show well enough to sympathize with the characters.

Too bad, because character is indeed what this show is all about. And yes, it is certainly female-centric and presenting life from a female perspective. Men and boys are the supporting cast and are kept there firmly -- Dad and Dean and even Luke are given problems only insofar as their struggles affect the principals.

And, well, this is refreshing. It presents issues of concern to women, for sure, but it does so in a way that isn't cloying or preachy, unlike, say, Providence or even, to some extent, Thelma and Louise. It's not nearly as deliberate or manipulative as either of these. I just saw an episode where Rory's friend -- um, Kim something or something Kim -- decides to pick up the drums. No big speech about empowerment, no conflicts with taunting male schoolmates -- she just gets a bug and figures out a way to explore her new enthusiasm. That's it. No moral. The example is enough.

So if you're a man's man, try it anyway. It is, in fact, superbly written, and the rapid-fire, sarcastic, witty banter between mom and daughter is worth tuning in for of itself. Plus, Lauren Graham is not only a gifted actress, she's ridiculously hot, particularly for those who like some wit and attitude to go along with their curves. I'm in my 30s and unmarried, and I and another male friend of mine in similar circumstances both agree that this is very likely the best series on television (barring, for me, perhaps, Crossing Jordan). Sit through an episode with your wife or girlfriend, simply to score some points. You may find you like it.

I first saw this film almost fifteen years ago and thought about almost nothing else for at least a month. I have never seen a film before or since that presents the extremes of love, pain, and loss with such immediacy and ruthless candor. Watching this film with openness, identifying with the characters, made me wince and writhe in sympathetic agony. I didn't cry; rather, I was reminded of all the times I have wept in my life, and why.

Perhaps each person person has a film -- usually a masterpiece -- which affects him or her so strongly that it is beyond description. This is mine.

This film is the highest grossing film of all time in Denmark, where it was made. There must be a reason, yet I've never read a review that comes close to understanding the mood and intent of the film. Ebert's, for instance, is a joke and an embarrassment.

Ever seeking to see justice done to this superb film, I poked around some other sites and finally found a fair, thorough, thoughtful review. If you're interested, you might run a quick search for a review by Hal Hinson in The Washington Post back in 1987. Hinson describes "Twist and Shout" as "a buoyant, moody work" -- and, as anyone who's spent much time in Denmark can attest, that description might serve as well as any to describe the national character.