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'The Big Lebowski' With Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Jason Concepcion, and David Shoemaker

March 9, 2018 · The Big Lebowski (1998) · Comedy · Crime · 1:10:45

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Casting What-Ifs

Chris Ryan▶ 22:46Marlon Brando — Discusses alternate casting for Jeffrey Lebowski role including Marlon Brando (dream casting), Robert Duvall, Anthony Hopkins, Gene Hackman, and others. Concludes they 'landed at the right place' with David Huddlestone
David Shoemaker▶ 22:44Ernest Borgnine — Agrees the script was very deliberate and filming was word-for-word, supports the final casting choice. Notes Ernest Borgnine 'would have been fine'

Most Rewatchable Scene

Chris Ryan▶ 29:05Over the Line bowling scene with Walter pulling out the gun
David Shoemaker▶ 27:18The first scene where the dude meets Big Lebowski - the perfect balance of volume/anxiety vs. the blissed out dude
Jason Concepcion▶ 24:50The bowling alley scene where the dude tells Walter and Donnie about the guys peeing on his rug and Walter's 'Chinaman' rant
Sean Fennessey▶ 26:02The introduction of Brandt and Big Lebowski scene with the 'Chinaman' callback

Half-Assed Internet Research

Chris Ryan▶ 42:39Bunny's original name was Fawn Gunderson (suggesting connection to Marge Gunderson); Walter based on John Milius; The Dude based on USC teacher Peter Exeline and Jeff Bridges' LA acquaintances
David Shoemaker▶ 44:05Two cut facts: The Dude's money came from Rubik's Cube fortune trust fund, and Walter was never actually a Vietnam vet but just read Soldier of Fortune magazine
Sean Fennessey▶ 43:31Confirmed Jeff Dowd as inspiration and noted characters are composite figures; wondered about getting real people's blessings

Dion Waiters Award

Chris Ryan▶ 49:59Philip Seymour Hoffman — Philip Seymour Hoffman as Brant
David Shoemaker▶ 47:49Philip Seymour Hoffman — Praised Hoffman and noted Turturro and Thulis meet the heat check definition, but stated neither are his favorite performances and was 'all over the place'
Jason Concepcion▶ 45:40Philip Seymour Hoffman — Philip Seymour Hoffman as Brant
Sean Fennessey▶ 45:11Discussed multiple nominees including Dom Irera, David Huddleston, and Ben Gazzara as Jackie Treehorn, but didn't give a definitive pick

Apex Mountain

Chris Ryan▶ 50:09John Goodman — John Goodman - calls it one of the iconic performances of the last 20 years and questions if there's ever been anything better than Goodman in this movie
David Shoemaker▶ 53:05Jeff Bridges — Argues this was transformative for Bridges' career and that Buscemi embodied his role so well it doesn't feel like a gag
Jason Concepcion▶ 51:07John Goodman — Focuses on praising Goodman's line readings and performance details, particularly Walter's characterization
Sean Fennessey▶ 52:01John Goodman — Discusses Goodman's transformative performance and how Bridges adopted a new persona after this film that changed his entire career trajectory

Overacting Award

Chris Ryan▶ 1:01:38Julianne Moore

Best Quote

Chris Ryan▶ 1:06:36It really tied the room together
David Shoemaker▶ 1:05:23Life does not stop and start at your convenience
Jason Concepcion▶ 1:06:25He fixes the cable? / Don't be fatuous, Jeffrey
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:04:59Shut the fuck up, Donnie / V.I. Lenin and That rug really tied the room together

Who Won the Movie

Chris Ryan▶ 1:09:39John Goodman — Goodman for one of the funniest performances ever
David Shoemaker▶ 1:09:38Jeff Bridges — Bridges
Jason Concepcion▶ 1:09:05Jeff Bridges — Bridges because it really defined this last part of his career
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:09:12John Turturro — Turturro because he got an iconic character and made another movie from it

Movies Referenced (33)

Fargo (1996)

5 mentions · Chris Ryan, Jason Concepcion, Sean Fennessey▶ 0:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Apocalypse Now (1979)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 18:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Barton Fink (1991)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 16:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Going Places (1974)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Jason Concepcion▶ 40:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jagged Edge (1985)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 54:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

2 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 19:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Casablanca (1942)

2 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 41:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

2 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 41:59IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Big Sleep (1946)

2 mentions · David Shoemaker, Chris Ryan▶ 12:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

A Serious Man (2009)

1 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 17:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Arlington Road (1999)

1 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 55:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Blade Runner (1982)

1 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 56:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (7)

Alison Wonderland

2 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Promising Young Woman▶ 19:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Francis Ford Coppola

2 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Apocalypse Now, The Godfather Part II▶ 18:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert Altman

2 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Gosford Park▶ 3:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Yoko Ono

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Blink Twice, Bring Her Back▶ 1:02:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Houston

1 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 48:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Preston Sturges

1 mentions · Jason Concepcion · Known for Sullivan's Travels▶ 19:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Richard Fearless

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Lost in Space, Mission: Impossible - Fallout, The Replacement Killers▶ 55:12IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (43)

Jeff Bridges

17 mentions · Chris Ryan, David Shoemaker, Jason Concepcion · Known for The Big Lebowski, Crazy Heart, True Grit▶ 1:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Goodman

14 mentions · Chris Ryan, David Shoemaker, Sean Fennessey · Known for 10 Cloverfield Lane, Barton Fink, Argo▶ 1:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Turturro

12 mentions · Chris Ryan, David Shoemaker, Sean Fennessey · Known for Barton Fink▶ 1:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Philip Seymour Hoffman

11 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Jason Concepcion▶ 1:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Steve Buscemi

9 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, David Shoemaker · Known for Fargo, Reservoir Dogs▶ 1:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Harrison Ford

7 mentions · Chris Ryan, David Shoemaker · Known for Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, The Fugitive▶ 55:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mark Ruffalo

5 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Spotlight, The Kids Are All Right, The Avengers▶ 28:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Marlon Brando

5 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Apocalypse Now, The Godfather, On the Waterfront▶ 21:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Tara Reid

5 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for American Pie, Van Wilder▶ 1:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jagged Edge

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Bad Company, Big Momma's House, Hardball▶ 54:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jeff Dowd

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 43:30IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Judy Davis

3 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Barton Fink▶ 16:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (5)

Ethan Coen

20 mentions · Chris Ryan, David Shoemaker, Jason Concepcion · Known for Inside Llewyn Davis, A Serious Man▶ 1:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Raymond Chandler

6 mentions · Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, David Shoemaker · Known for Double Indemnity, The Big Sleep▶ 3:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Milius

4 mentions · Chris Ryan, David Shoemaker · Known for Conan the Barbarian, Jeremiah Johnson, Apocalypse Now▶ 17:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Graham Greene

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Quiet American, The Third Man▶ 6:50IMDb ↗Lb ↗

William Faulkner

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for To Have and Have Not, The Big Sleep▶ 13:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

Roger Deakins

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, David Shoemaker · Known for Blade Runner 2049, Skyfall, No Country for Old Men▶ 1:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗