Second Washingtonian critic likes 'JFK' and plans positive review

Pat Dowell resigned after 10 years as movie critic at Washingtonian magazine last month after the editor spiked her favorable review of Oliver Stone's "JFK."

Now her replacement, Jayne Blanchard, says she also liked the movie and plans to submit a favorable review this week.

"I'll probably be the shortest-lived movie critic in history," Ms. Blanchard said. "Pat was there 10 years and I'll be there 10 minutes."

Ms. Blanchard, who reviewed films for a chain of suburban Washington, D.C., newspapers for seven years before being laid off Dec. 31, said Washingtonian editor Jack A. Limpert was expected to tell her this week whether he wants a "JFK" review in the March issue.

Mr. Limpert removed Ms. Dowell's capsulized review from the February issue saying he didn't want the magazine associated with a review that calls the film "a brilliantly crafted indictment."

Ms. Blanchard said that, like her friend Ms. Dowell, she also gave the film a rating of 3 1/2 out of a possible 4 stars.

Would she resign if he said she couldn't review "JFK"?

"Sure," Ms. Blanchard replied. "I'll be on the high moral ground -- and homeless."