Situated somewhere between Some Like It Hot and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Tootsie provided one of the most salient commentaries on gender roles in American society, long before RuPaul sashayed across the popular consciousness. A film about a man who discovers that being a woman makes him a better man, Tootsie explored areas hitherto avoided by most filmmakers, and it became one of the few genuinely hilarious American comedies of the 1980s in the process. The film was remarkable for the quality of its lead performances: Dustin Hoffman, as the title character, expertly blended withering cynicism and comic sensibility, while Jessica Lange (who won an Oscar for her performance), Bill Murray, and Charles Durning did some of the best work of their careers. Even Geena Davis, who made her debut as a barely clothed soap opera ingenue, was memorable in her small role. In all, Tootsie accomplished what few films do, forcing audiences to question their own attitudes while giving them a highly intelligent laugh.