RIP Robert Duvall

It’s the end of an era — Robert Duvall was quietly mesmerizing in “Tender Mercies,” one of my all-time favorite films (“Duvall was the reel deal,” Feb. 17).

Like his peer Gene Hackman, Duvall was totally genuine and natural in all his performances.

Understatement seems to be gone from Hollywood, but never forgotten, thanks to these brilliant actors.

Patricia Keane

Eastport

Bronx mall riot

Mayor Mamdani, why didn’t you send in your team of social workers to quell Monday’s riot in The Bronx? I guess you do need the police (“Riot raps in mall mayhem,” Feb. 18).

There is a simple way to stop this and the damage those kids did to the stores: Hold the parents responsible and have them pay for the damage their children did. Most of the rioters were youngsters between the ages of 13 and 16.

Hit the parents in their pockets and I guarantee this kind of behavior will stop.

Stephen Colasacco

The Bronx

‘Demon’ TDS

If you ever need an illustration of why this country will never get ahead, look no further than this ex-ESPN personality turned clown reporter, Sarah Spain (“Ex-ESPNer rips ‘demon energy’ JD,” Feb. 14), who said she felt ill sitting near JD Vance at the Olympics.

I’m an independent, I could care less about politics. But this has been the attitude of the left: “You don’t agree with me, I hate you, I’m going to cancel you and I wish you were dead.”

When Joe Biden won in 2020, did Republicans move out of the country? Were people constantly protesting, claiming “not my president?”

This person can’t even stand to be in the same building as the vice president, only because his association with the president makes him a “demon.”

Rob Cerone

Manhattan

AI’s woke bias

As an octogenarian with a forgetful brain and weary bones, I’m only afraid that AI in the wrong hands, those of the academic elite, will force a radical change in the free-wheeling society of my youth (“Time we woke up to lefty AI,” Miranda Devine, Feb. 19).

I fear the uniformity of an AI-engineered society designed by the aforementioned know-it-alls, the grayness of myrmidons marching in serried ranks to the same drummer, the powerful beat instilling a rhythm of absolute compliance without independent thought or pity.

Paul Bloustein

Cincinnati, Ohio

Trump playing Zel?

President Trump has been playing Volodymyr Zelensky from the get go (“Zel puts trust in Trump,” Feb. 19).

Trump is afraid of Vladimir Putin and refuses to take him on, so he sends amateurs Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to negotiate with Russia, knowing they won’t be getting anywhere with Putin. It’s a joke.

Hank DePerro

Manhattan

It’s not just guns

Here we go again with another horrific mass shooting, and no doubt the knee-jerk reaction from the left will be stricter gun laws (“Trans-dad rampage,” Feb. 17).

But what about knife stabbings and vehicle ramming attacks which result in massacres? No one has ever called for stricter knife or vehicle laws.

Where there is a will, there will always be a way. Of course, guns kill. But it’s really hate that pulls the trigger. And it is next to impossible to identify the hate each time before it kills.

JoAnn Lee Frank

Clearwater, Fla.

Want to weigh in on today’s stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to letters@nypost.com. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.