Rated R for pervasive strong language, drug content, sexuality and brief violence.
117 Minutes
Directed By: Joel Coen
Written By: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Staring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tara Reid, John Turturro, and Peter Stormare.
Nobody calls me Lebowski. You got the wrong guy. I’m the Dude, man. -The Dude
Synopsis
“Dude” Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire Lebowski, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it.
Review
This one is for all the shameless underachievers in the world who are quite content in being just that. The Coen brothers created this comedy after the masterful success of Fargo, another dark film with humor that shouldn’t really fit, but somehow does. The Coens don’t seem to follow any formula in their film making except that they don’t. This twisted tale barely contains a plot, but with “The Dude” it just doesn’t seem necessary at any point to have one.
The dialogue in The Big Lebowski is some of the best in all of the Coen brothers films, and the three inept protagonists played by John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, and the self proclaimed “Dude” Jeff Bridges. With lines like “That was very undude” being dropped on a regular basis it’s nearly impossible to not get wrapped up in the strange exchanges the three characters have. The mere fact that Jeff Bridges character is mistaken for a millionaire is in itself hysterical. With an already outrageous situation, it only progresses with it’s organized nonsense.
A lot of the film structures itself around the characer’s reacting to their situation. Being avid bowlers, that basically leave the house only to bowl, we see the nucleus of their existence. Goodman’s character completely freaks out when a score is incorrectly recorded and threatens the life of a fellow bowler, because………it’s a league game. When the guy brushes the conflict off, Walter mutters frustrated still that it’s a league game man. This score indiscrepancy perturbs his character more than being challenged by career criminals. It’s lunacy is utter brilliance.
The Big Lebowski is basically a day in the life of a “Dude” who drinks white Russians, smokes a lot of pot and lives to bowl. These are the essentials of the dude. If you mess with them or his rug, he will drag his mellow butt after you until his world has returned to it’s original simplicity. This is a fantastic addition to the Coen brothers collection and an even better addition to cinema. With a ton of oddball characters, peculiar dialogue, and an insane trio to lead the story around, The Big Lebowski is what movies are all about. I think everyone knows a guy like “The Dude” and can relate this character in one way or another. The Coens score big again.
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