This week on The Pod Charles Cinecast, it's the 3rd episode of the monthly miniseries – BROTHERLY LOVE – where we are pitting some films from filmmaking brothers the Coen Brothers vs. the Farrelly Brothers. This month, it's all about bowling! For some reason, both of these sets of brothers made bowling movies – and both of them performed pretty badly on release, only to become cult classics. So, we'll be talking about Joel & Ethan Coen's 1998 neo-noir comedy THE BIG LEBOWSKI, and Peter & Bobby Farrelly's 1996 sports comedy, KINGPIN. Which is the better bowling movie?
In The Big Lebowski, Jeff Bridges shines in a career role as Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski in a tale of mistaken identity, deceitfulness, severed toes, nihilists, White Russians and lots of bowling. After his rug get soiled by a couple of guys looking for money from a millionaire with the same name, The Dude falls down a rabbit hole that feels straight out of a Raymond Chandler novel. This film is damn near perfect. It's funny, has a great story, stellar performances with a supporting cast boasting John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore and John Turturro, a kick ass soundtrack and some insanely good cinematography from Roger Deakins. The Dude Abides.
But is it a better bowling movie than Kingpin? Woody Harrelson plays Roy Munson, a young bowler who is just about to make it big, before his rival, Ernie McCracken (Bill Murray doing Bill Murray shit) tricks him into doing con games, which results in Roy's bowling hand getting destroyed. Years later, Roy is an alcoholic with a hook for a hand and no prospects, before he stumbles upon Ishmael (Randy Quaid), a promising young Amish man that Roy attempts to take to the top of the bowling world. It's more of what you expect from the Farrelly's, with some gross out humour, fun 90s soundtracks, and some hit or miss elements. But, it's pretty much the Farrelly's most underrated, and potentially one of their better titles. And, it actually is more about bowling than The Big Lebowksi, it just may look as nice. I mean, Deakins, man...
Which brother will win Brotherly Love, and be crowned the best brother filmmaking duo of the 90s? Tune in to find out...
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