02/27/08: 'The Big Lebowski!' Oh, how did I forget that one!

Thewlis's diver-suited nazi, the ferret, Julia's high- flying Dada (more like 'gag-ga') 'artist'....and, throughout it all, Jeff's stringy-haired, hippyesque 'how did I get here' stupefaction....fantastic!

I also loved 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' Charles Durning's vast, perspiring, irrascible Pappy O'Daniel totally owned it. And what dialogue - those biblically- inspired scathings of his henchman were eye-wateringly funny. (Too bad Durning fetched up playing an embittered old soak in that misogynistic piece of thinly-disguised midlife crisis that is Dennis O'Leary's 'Rescue Me.' Ugh.) Still, Pappy (just about!) keeps him in a little fond place in this heart.... And special mention to the wonderful Tim Nelson. Who could fail to be moved by his solicitous attempts to keep his poor widdle frog-buddy alive?

Ah, 'The Blues Brothers'. Yes, Drew, you've picked out one of my fave lines!

Just remembered: 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.' So many laugh- out-loud moments in this one...where to begin? What was funniest?

Was it Martin digesting the news Fanny's just-endowed- nobility on the plane? (Who *was* that actress btw? She was perfect.)

Or (said while gazing off into the middle dostamce by Michael Caine's con-artist-as Mittel European princeling to said Fanny)'Are you one of my subjects?'

Or Martin's royal but socially-retarded 'spare' to Caine's 'heir'? When he takes a pop at his own eye with a cork-protected fork, raises his hand for permission to crap, then does so, right there at the table...I thought I'd wet myself laughing. But when the camera pans to the latest rich widow for her reaction, I knew I'd died and gone to comedy-heaven....

Is it when Martin's 'Rupert'he starts picking the ornaments off the mantlepiece one by one, and is only brought 'to heel' by Caine's (clearly hardly able to suppress his own amusement at Martin's antics...) admonishing 'Stop it Rupert!!'

Or was it when they both become rivals, abusing each other ever which way but loose. (Caine's Austrain shrink delivering Those twacks to Martins's navy veteran paraplegic knees still tears me between crying and laughing....

So I wind up doing both!

This is a genius comedy of one-upmanship, with just a whisper of gross. Should be made required viewing for all those Cro-magnons who think 'American Pie/Superdad' gross- out is funny..but I won't be holding my breath.

(Hey, Coaster and Otm shank! If you're looking in...more tales from the dumbside please!)

I need a laugh.

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