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"Kingpin"

Road Warrior,

> WARNING: Ending revealed! <

"Kingpin" is a kind of guilty pleasure for me. It seems to be a kind of eaily dismissed slaptick/ buddy/ road movie with the surreal premise of a failed professional bowler teaming up with an Amish farmer, but it's much more. You're right, we like the Harrelson character right away.

Harrelson's been dealt a horrible fate and though he's on the edge of being kind of lazy opportunist/ scammer, he really doesn't harm anyone and more imortantly, he's saint-like in his lack of outside blame for his troubles. The way he cajoles and yet still protects Quaid from the new, outside World is actually kind of tender. The fact he is not the big winner of the $1,000,000 tournament, but still fulills his promise to split the proceeeds 50-50- also makes Quaid a hero in his community-and like and respect Harrelson all the more.

Murray is great as the lucky, self-absorbed "Big Ern". Many great, funny details. The clothes- and even Big Ern's encased rose bowling ball are great.

It's by no means perfect, but it's quirky, energetic, and funny.

I might have mentioned another guilty pleasure in the same arena, "The Big Lebowski", again a "failed" main character who doesn't point blame for his predicament and throiugh dramatic events tries to keep his feet on the ground plus protect his friends.

Cheers,

Bambi B


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