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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 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Casting What-Ifs

Chris RyanMarlon BrandoDiscusses 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▶ 22:46
David ShoemakerErnest BorgnineAgrees the script was very deliberate and filming was word-for-word, supports the final casting choice. Notes Ernest Borgnine 'would have been fine'▶ 22:44

Most Rewatchable Scene

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

Half-Assed Internet Research

Chris RyanBunny'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▶ 42:39
David ShoemakerTwo 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▶ 44:05
Sean FennesseyConfirmed Jeff Dowd as inspiration and noted characters are composite figures; wondered about getting real people's blessings▶ 43:31

Dion Waiters Award

David ShoemakerPhilip Seymour HoffmanPraised Hoffman and noted Turturro and Thulis meet the heat check definition, but stated neither are his favorite performances and was 'all over the place'▶ 47:49
Sean FennesseyDiscussed multiple nominees including Dom Irera, David Huddleston, and Ben Gazzara as Jackie Treehorn, but didn't give a definitive pick▶ 45:11

Apex Mountain

Chris RyanJohn GoodmanJohn 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▶ 50:09
David ShoemakerJeff BridgesArgues this was transformative for Bridges' career and that Buscemi embodied his role so well it doesn't feel like a gag▶ 53:05
Jason ConcepcionJohn GoodmanFocuses on praising Goodman's line readings and performance details, particularly Walter's characterization▶ 51:07
Sean FennesseyJohn GoodmanDiscusses Goodman's transformative performance and how Bridges adopted a new persona after this film that changed his entire career trajectory▶ 52:01

Overacting Award

Best Quote

Chris RyanIt really tied the room together▶ 1:06:36
David ShoemakerLife does not stop and start at your convenience▶ 1:05:23
Jason ConcepcionHe fixes the cable? / Don't be fatuous, Jeffrey▶ 1:06:25
Sean FennesseyShut the fuck up, Donnie / V.I. Lenin and That rug really tied the room together▶ 1:04:59

Who Won the Movie

Chris RyanJohn GoodmanGoodman for one of the funniest performances ever▶ 1:09:39
Jason ConcepcionJeff BridgesBridges because it really defined this last part of his career▶ 1:09:05
Sean FennesseyJohn TurturroTurturro because he got an iconic character and made another movie from it▶ 1:09:12

Movies Referenced (39)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
Fargo (1996)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Chris Ryan, Jason Concepcion, Sean Fennessey▶ 0:38
Apocalypse Now (1979)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan▶ 18:03
Barton Fink (1991)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan▶ 16:06
Alice in Wonderland (2010)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris Ryan▶ 19:03
Alien (1979)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2David Shoemaker, Sean Fennessey▶ 27:42
Casablanca (1942)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris Ryan▶ 41:57
Rebel Without a Cause (1955)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris Ryan▶ 41:59
A Serious Man (2009)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris Ryan▶ 17:02
Blade Runner (1982)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris Ryan▶ 56:27
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1David Shoemaker▶ 34:30
Blood Simple (1984)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris Ryan▶ 17:49
Cape Fear (1991)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris Ryan▶ 7:12

Directors Referenced (7)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Alison WonderlandIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris RyanPromising Young Woman▶ 19:03
Francis Ford CoppolaIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris RyanApocalypse Now, The Godfather Part II▶ 18:03
Robert AltmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyGosford Park▶ 3:17
Yoko OnoIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean FennesseyBlink Twice, Bring Her Back▶ 1:02:02
John HoustonIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris Ryan▶ 48:48
Preston SturgesIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Jason Concepcion▶ 19:58
Richard FearlessIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris RyanLost in Space, Mission: Impossible - Fallout▶ 55:12

Actors Referenced (43)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Jeff BridgesIMDb ↗Lb ↗17Chris Ryan, David Shoemaker, Jason ConcepcionThe Big Lebowski, True Grit▶ 1:37
John GoodmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗14Chris Ryan, David Shoemaker, Sean Fennessey10 Cloverfield Lane, Barton Fink, Argo▶ 1:37
John TurturroIMDb ↗Lb ↗12Chris Ryan, David Shoemaker, Sean FennesseyBarton Fink▶ 1:37
Philip Seymour HoffmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗11Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Jason Concepcion▶ 1:37
Steve BuscemiIMDb ↗Lb ↗9Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, David ShoemakerFargo, Reservoir Dogs▶ 1:37
Harrison FordIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Chris Ryan, David ShoemakerRaiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, The Fugitive▶ 55:41
Mark RuffaloIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseySpotlight, The Kids Are All Right, The Avengers▶ 28:17
Marlon BrandoIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Chris RyanApocalypse Now, The Godfather, On the Waterfront▶ 21:01
Tara ReidIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyAmerican Pie, Van Wilder▶ 1:37
Jagged EdgeIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyBig Momma's House, Hardball▶ 54:14
Jeff DowdIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 43:30
Judy DavisIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris RyanBarton Fink▶ 16:41

Writers Referenced (5)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Ethan CoenIMDb ↗Lb ↗20Chris Ryan, David Shoemaker, Jason ConcepcionInside Llewyn Davis, A Serious Man▶ 1:34
Raymond ChandlerIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, David ShoemakerDouble Indemnity▶ 3:10
John MiliusIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Chris Ryan, David ShoemakerConan the Barbarian, Jeremiah Johnson, Apocalypse Now▶ 17:57
Graham GreeneIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris RyanThe Third Man▶ 6:50
William FaulknerIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris RyanTo Have and Have Not▶ 13:08

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Roger DeakinsIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan, David ShoemakerBlade Runner 2049, Skyfall, No Country for Old Men▶ 1:52