Redaction... I knew that I would forget a film in compiling my top twenty, thus leaving a spot for an "undeserving" film. Fortunately, it happened at the twentieth spot. Thank you for smoking, which I found only mildly amusing, should not have been anywhere near even a top 35, let alone 20.

That said, I shall substitute You, me, & Dupree. Honestly, though, it should prolly bump several films, & be my twelfth or thirteenth pick. But for the sake of limiting my correction, just call it twenty, & be done with it.

'Why, Kiki!' Housekeeping... If you would like to see my picks for the best cinema of the aught-six, please direct your attention to the posting of 28th November '06. The 'top twenty' list posted to that date, since such is when I began composing it.

I apologize for any inconvenience this causes.

Also, please note, I am blogging -- hopefully, longer entries -- at Wordpress, now, as well. The title is Imi Pare Rau. Check it.

Allegory: The Big Lebowski... I cannot vouch for the originator of this theory, nor give proper (read: full) credit to the individuals from whom I learned of it, but while in Spain during the '00 Spring Term, I found myself at a bar -- Alpisco -- for the send-off of one of my house-mates at my host-family's flat. Therein, I met one of the instructors from Sam's study-abroad programme -- an American (Minnesotan, precisely) who taught English to the Spanish faculty -- & one of the teacher's friends from Minnesota. We discussed Lebowski, & they posited to me that the movie is a cinematic evocation of the Gulf War ('91).

This has gotten me to thinking, intermittently, & when bored of everything else, as to how the characters in the film line up with events & figures central (& not) to the Gulf conflict.

I have so far:

Jeffrey "Dude" Lebowski: Kuwait
Walter Sobczak: U.S. administration, namely defense, possibly Schwarzkopf (given Vietnam pedigree & physical immensity)
Donnie: Israel
The Big Lebowski: President Bush
Brandt: The U.N.
Bunny Lebowski: Saddam
Woo & his cohort: Iraqi Army
The Nihilists: The Elite Republican Guard (division of the Iraqi army)
Jackie Treehorn: Egypt
Sheriff of Malibu: Islamic Brotherhood
Smokey: Pacifists (the most literal symbol)
Jesus Quintana ("The Jesus"): Osama bin Laden
O'Brien (Jesus's partner): Ayman al-Zawahiri
The Stranger: CNN

More??