Kingpin

About Kingpin

Kingpin is a 1996 American sports comedy film directed by brothers Peter & Bobby Farrelly. It stars Woody Harrelson as Roy Munson, a professional bowler who fell from grace after losing his hand in an incident with rival Ernie McCracken (played by Bill Murray). After running into a talented but unmotivated rookie, Ishmael (played by Randy Quaid), Roy decides to mentor him with the hope of making a triumphant return to the bowling circuit.

Making / Production

The Farrelly brothers, famous for their work across the comedy genre, worked with cinematographer Mark Irwin to provide the stylistic visuals of Kingpin. Despite having to work with a relatively limited budget, the team managed to produce an engaging and visually striking film. The film was shot on location across several states in the U.S, including Pennsylvania, New York, and Nevada.

Actors

• Woody Harrelson as Roy Munson. The hand-challenged bowler is played excellently by Harrelson, whose comedic and dramatic strengths shine.
• Randy Quaid as Ishmael Boorg. Ishmael’s naivety and talent provide the perfect foil to Harrelson's grizzled veteranship, portrayed heartwarmingly by Quaid.
• Bill Murray as Ernie McCracken. Murray provides a standout performance as the sly and villainous bowling champ.
• Vanessa Angel as Claudia. Claudia performs an adventuristic woman who accompanies Roy and Ishmael on their journey.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The Farrelly brothers claim that Bill Murray's performance was largely improvised.
• A professional bowler, Mark Roth, performs Roy's three-strike turkey in the final match.
• The climactic final bowling sequence was filmed at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada.

Awards

While Kingpin did not win any major awards, it did achieve a cult following for its unique brand of comedy and sports drama.

Quotes

• 'Roy': Yeah, I hope you bowl better than you drive, you pinhead.
• 'Ernie McCracken': This is a moment that demands a man of action.
• 'Ishmael': He used to be a great one. He could have been the best.

Music, Soundtrack

• The soundtrack features a mix of pop and rock songs, from artists such as Butthole Surfers, Blues Traveler, and Supergrass.
• Freddie Mercury's cover of 'The Great Pretender' is used in a key scene in the film.