Never Mind Pop Film

Andrew over at Encore Entertainment is currently hosting a tourney for the best performances of the 90s. In recognizing some of the best portrayals of the time, Jeff Bridges' stoned, bowling aficionado had to make the list.

The Dude is a mosaic of hazy memories, recollected facts and ninety-seven cent milk. If Bridges breezes through a character like this, everyone will sense a note of insincerity. Instead, Bridges roots himself in the terrycloth robe and Ray Ban shades. Any actor that could take a character that—for the most part—does nothing but bowl and get high, and make him compelling? That’s art, man.

Comedies are rarely appreciated in what they accomplish, even less so the actors in the films. So won't you head on over to Andrew's blog and reward a man for a great performance?

Bridges' flip-flopped, stoned, modern-day incarnation of a Raymond Chandler detective is his biggest role and also his most fun. Some may say The Dude is also his laziest role, but they weren't paying attention. 
The Dude is a collection of hazy memories, recollected facts of the world and ninety-seven cent milk. You breeze through a character like this and everyone will sense a note of insincerity. Bridges roots himself in the terrycloth robe and Rayban shades. Any actor that could take a character that—for the most part—does nothing but bowl and get high, and make him compelling? That’s art, man.
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This particular scene is so quotable I can't even begin to pick a favorite line: "It really tied the room together." "Chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature." "Donnie you're out of your element here!" The Coens have crafted one of the finest send ups of film noir, while still having you laugh out loud.

H.I. McDunnough is a feckless criminal who in the opening sequence is incarcerated for robbing a convenience store. There he meets Ed (Holly Hunter) a policewoman  who is currently engaged, but she clearly takes a liking to him.

Once "rehabilitated" HI is released, robs the same convenience store that he was arrested for before and is sent back to prison. This time Ed and her fiancee are having problems and HI sees this as an opportunity. After being released for the second time and then arrested for the third time for robbing the same convenience store HI proposes to her and they are married. Life is etting steadily better for the frequent convict: he's working a steady job drilling holes at the plant (a very similar scene in Drugstore Cowboys in which Bob (Matt Dillon) gives up drugs and works at a plant drilling holes into metal) and comes home to his loving wife in the evening.
With all this beauty surrounding him, Ed feels compelled to bring a baby into the world t…