Fletch's Favored Five: Wordless Lebowski Gags

You could say that it's easy to come up with a list of quotes from The Big Lebowski, given that there are so many to choose from. You could also say that it's damn near impossible to narrow such a list of quotes to your favorite five or ten, given that there are so many to choose from. I have wisely skipped over that task altogether, instead coming up with my favorite sight gags and other non-verbal jokes from the Coen brothers' epic stoner comedy.


5. Ranked the lowest because it really has little to do with the film outside of being a great example of awesome set design; the Coens had nothing to do with this image and, aside from the bowling aspect, it has nothing to do with the events of the film. But, c'mon, that's just a funny shot.


4. Works so great because, the first time you saw the flick, this was a sick-yet-funny image. But then, some 30 minutes into the film, you were given the background of one Jesus Quintana...and it immediately got a whole lot sicker. Ewww.


3. "Are you employed, sir?!?"



2. I love Jackie Treehorn's pervy drawing not so much for the content of it (which is admittedly funny), but for the fact that the audience gets to situate themselves in the exact frame of mind as The Dude upon first seeing it. Total bewilderment. Treehorn's look of intensity as he's creating it ain't half-bad, either.


1. You can't altogether see it from this image, but this is from one of the opening shots of the film, as we settle in on The Dude at his favorite grocery store - Ralph's - purchasing a half-gallon of milk (for the Caucasians, of course!). And that's all he buys. Naturally, he writes a check...for 69 cents. (Also notable is the fact that the date on the check is 9/11, but that's not particularly funny, just kind of a "huh" moment after the fact.)

And then...

Just a damn cool poster

(click poster for high-res view)

And then...

Sometimes, words just don't do justice...

I came to a sad realization while brainstorming for my post that was to be included with the LAMB's Movie of the Month feature for The Big Lebowski.

I have nothing of consequence to say about it. Or Fletch. Or The Princess Bride. Or any number of my other favorite films. There's something about the films nearest and dearest to my heart that makes me somewhat speechless. I imagine that this is due mostly to a familiarity with the subject matter, an intense passion that magnifies all the positives of the subject and puts blinders on any of the negatives, thus nullifying any attempt at conventional criticism. What I'm left with is the prospect of lavishing unfettered, unfocused praise that plays out like that of a 12-year old girl squealing about her favorite boy band. That is not an appealing prospect, for me or for you.

Suffice it to say, I love the film. From the opening scenes of The Dude writing a check for 69 cents to the closing scenes of Walter and The Dude haggling with a funeral parlor director over the price of an urn, eventually setting on the purchase of a coffee can to use for the remains, the film is an absurdist comedy masterpiece. With everything from multiple references to the California grocery chain Ralph's (previous two examples) to Lenin to Credence Clearwater Revival to Bob Dylan on the soundtrack, it's the psuedo-intellectual slacker's dream.

While I couldn't come up with a dazzlingly brilliant take on the movie in time to be featured alongside the other entries for the MOTM feature, I implore you to head over to the LAMB and check out the posts from the folks that did partake in the festivities. They really tie the internet together.

P.S. - if it makes you feel any better (it does for me), I do own this t-shirt and wear it proudly. Speaking of pride, the back says "...and proud we are of all of them."













Note: when I wear my shirt, it lies flat on my torso.

And then...

Abide by the new poll

You all are a bunch of softies.

The Swayze (when preceded by "the," it is pronounced 'sways') gets sick, and now, suddenly 9 of you choose him for a comeback over such American icons as JCVD (not American), Steven Seagal (not an icon) and Wesley Snipes?

Actually, he'd be my second choice after JCVD. I was never all that big a fan of Mr. 3-Word Title, so I surely don't want a comeback from him. (Seagal carried the 3-word title streak for awhile - Above the Law, Hard to Kill, Marked for Death, Out for Justice - before finally giving in and not so coincidentally making his best film - Under Siege.) Snipes has barely been out of the spotlight, either because of his legal troubles or the Blade series (it doesn't really matter). But even with as much pleasure as Roadhouse and Point Break have given me, JCVD is the undisputed king of unintentional comedy (action division) and has brought such joy into all of our lives.















For the latest poll, it's time to play favorites. Might be an easy choice for some, might be hard for others. Did I miss anyone big? If you think I did, you're probably out of your element altogether.

And then...

Fletch's Favored Five: Movies that Roll

It's high time to unveil a new feature here in the Blog Cabins. While Top 10 lists are highly cliched and terribly unoriginal, "Favored Five" are wildly clever and wholly unique. Therefore, I shall periodically choose a topic of my liking and tell you which are the top, er, favored films that fit into said topic. (If you like, you can suggest a topic for me to cover by emailing me.)

Today's topic: Movies that Roll

I don't know if you've noticed, but movies that either revolve around or feature bowling are much better than those that don't. Ok, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but there certainly seems to be some magic brought on by the scent of cigarettes and beer and the sounds of pins crashing - just go here for more evidence. For the purposes of this article, I'm only looking at films that feature bowling, but do not revolve around it completely (which, to my knowledge, only knocks out Kingpin and possibly some documentaries about real-life bowlers).

5. Pleasantville: There's really not a lot of bowling going on here, but the scene in the bowling alley is pretty key, and features a pissed off J.T. Walsh, which is always a good thing when it comes to film. William H. Macy has just come home from work, only to find out that his loving wife has not cooked him dinner (!). Cue thunder and lightning, along with a walk to the bowling alley, where the men have gathered (naturally) to discuss just what in sam hell is wrong with the womenfolk. (Note: Pleasantville also may make a list in the near future for having one of the all-time great soundtrack songs/cover songs, with Fiona Apple's interpretation of The Beatles "Across the Universe." Check it out if you can.)

4. Napoleon Dynamite: Another short bowling scene in a pretty good movie, as we get a dose of Uncle Rico and Kip making their way to the lanes to strategize their sales and marketing strategy as only they can. Docked some points here for the brevity of the bowling.

3. Teen Wolf: That Scott Howard sure turned into a cocky bastard once he became a little more comfortable with the "wolf out" abilities. Here we see young Scott raising the ire of 35-year old Mick by taking his girlfriend, the much desired Pamela Wells, to the lanes for an evening of bowling lessons, ball throwing and extraneous hair.

2. Uncle Buck: Entire books could probably be written about the mystery that is John Hughes' career. The undisputed King of the 80s teen comedy has written a ton of movies, though the last good and/or successful one was 1990's Home Alone. Meanwhile, he has only directed 8 films in his entire career (!!), starting with Sixteen Candles in 1984 and concluding with Curly Sue in 1991. In between, he made (in order): The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Ferris Buehler's Day Off, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, She's Having a Baby and Uncle Buck. A simply amazing run of success if ever there was one.

Uncle Buck brought us one of the last, great performances by John Candy, and it ranks number two in the countdown. Buck was a big-time bowler, so when he handles his nieces and nephew (a pre-Home Alone Macaulay Culkin) for a few days, you can't blame the guy for taking them bowling. The icing on the cake is when a sleazy buddy of Buck's comes over to hit on his 16-year old niece Tia, only to make a fool of himself getting a toothpick stuck inside his mouth. Ouch.

1. The Big Lebowski: As if there could possibly be another choice. Though it does not technically revolve around bowling in the way that something like Kingpin does, Lebowski isn't far off, with a good third (and possibly half) of its scenes taking place at the lanes, in some fashion or another. It's probably also the most realistic portrayal of bowlers/bowling yet, what with the ultra-competitive Walter Sobchak and the beer guts and wrist protectors featured in the opening credits.

F*ck it Dude, let's go bowling.

And then...