Kingpin

Roy Munson was raised to be the best bowler in the world, but a run-in with his cocky nemesis Ernie McCracken leaves him with the loss of his bowling hand. His life goes straight downhill until he meets Ishmael, an Amish farm-boy who bowls like no man has bowled before… In the least-known of their films, the Farrelly brothers have perfected a take-no-prisoners style of crude, daring and wildly inventive comedy. Their narrative depth is as surprising as their jokes – and their stars have never been more assured, joyful and engaging (while Jonathan Richman gives us a sadly beautiful cameo song). The rarely seen milieu of jobless drunks and con men, of Amish farms and Midwest downtowns is magically drawn – all the ‘freaks’ come out to play, but in the end it is their game: the loser takes it all. A real, unqualified 1990s classic. (A.H.)