Through The Mind Harshly

Anyone who reads Esquire or the Times Sunday magazine knows why Harvard types go to Bogey movies at this time of year--to identify with cool, with toughness, with everything exam period manages so completely to discourage. But there's really less to it than that: Bogey lets us forget how to think.

So as a reading period hors d'ocuvre the Brattle gives us Ingmar Bergman.

A man of talent, genius even (maybe). About his films the critics chortle, "a startling metaphysical synthesis," which is intended as praise.

But it isn't what we need--not now anyway. The Brattle could come up with a totally mindless festival without half trying. Cowboy films say. Gunfight at the OK Corral, Shane, Broken Arrow, the Virginian. A flash of gunfire and the mind is soothed. Or navy films, consciousness corroded by a film of brine. The Caine Mutiny, Run Silent, Run Deep, even Captain Horatio Hornblower.

Or, if worst comes to worst, bring back Bogey sooner. Exam time may be too late.