The Big Lebowski - 10th Anniversary Edition
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Ben Gazzara, Flea, Jeff Bridges, Sam Elliott, Steve BuscemiBrand: Universal
Cinematographer: Roger Deakins
Composer: Carter Burwell
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Dubbed); Spanish (Dubbed)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 118 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-09-09
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Universal Studios
Movie Reviews of The Big Lebowski - 10th Anniversary Edition
Movie Review: Watch it with this in mind...
Summary: 3 Stars
There are many movies like this. I mean those movies which, upon their release, reach almost cult fandom. You'll find people out there who know every line, every action, and ever intricate part of the film. There will be fans of the movie who are so enthusiastic about it that they make Al Qaeda look like a bunch of casual believers who visit the mosque every other Friday. Finally, of course, you are engulfed with so much praise for the film that, out of mere peer pressure, you have to see the movie. And then, as the end credits roll, you lay back with a sigh and say to yourself...
"THAT was IT?!"
"The Big Lebowski" is a film about a lazy, casual man known as "the Dude" who happens to have the last name of a wealthy man named Lebowski. Having some thugs mistakenly attack him instead, and subsequently urinate on his carpet, Dude heads over to Lebowski's mansion to get a replacement rug. Acquiring a rug (rather cunningly) Dude is later recalled by Lebowski for an urgent manner: Lebowski's trophy wife has been kidnapped, and Dude is hired to deliver the money to the kidnappers.
What happens next is an episodic story in which Dude deals with the estranged friends and family of the kidnapped wife, as well as dealing with the often counterproductive help of his friends. There's the nihilist Germans who done the kidnapping, the crazy feminist daughter of Lebowski, and Dude's own unstable Vietnam veteran friend. The majority of the cast are competent in their roles: Jeff Bridges is fantastic as Lebowski, Steve Buscemi is nice as the under appreciated friend, and John Goodman does an excellent role as the somewhat cliche Vietnam vet. Goodman's role is constantly in danger of being typical (let's face it, the whacked out Vietnam vet shtick got tiring with Rambo), but the writers and Goodman manage to come up with some new material.
The problem with episodic stories is that they can either work when everything comes together at the end, or they can feel like a dragged out series of ministories - while many of the Coen Bros. films have fallen into the former group, "The Big Lebowski," unfortunately, falls into the latter. The main plot of the kidnapping becomes a bit vague, and as you're thrown into the ensemble cast it becomes even more so, and much of the film consists of just new characters being introduced. Unlike their later film "O Brother Where Art Thou," many of these characters serve no purpose: the private detective is the greatest offender, serving no purpose and not even presenting any laughs; the porn producer doesn't seem to do anything at all to the plot; and the character of pedophile bowler Jesus, while funny, introduces a subplot that never gets resolved and therefore gives the ending a bit of an unfinished feel. Sam Eliot, doing what Sam Eliot does best, comes in as a cowboy both at the beginning, middle and end to narrate the film. Because the plot drags on so much the film feels too long, and just as the main villains are defeated they taunt you even more with an extended scene involving a character's death. Midway through I was reminded of an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 where Tom Servo, flabbergasted by the slowness of the film's plot, turned to his costars and asked, "Shouldn't this be over?" When Sam Eliot appears at the end you're overjoyed to see him, and like seeing Christ descending from the clouds you'll happily say to yourself, "It is finished!"
Die-hard fans of "The Big Lebowski" should not jump to hasty conclusions about my opinion of the film - they're not entirely negative. "Lebowski" is actually a really funny film, and many of the characters, such as Goodman's Walter, are hysterical in their own rights. The Coen Bros. have their own brand of comedy, and while some people hate it I happen to love it. If pulling out a handgun because you want someone to mark down 0 for a bowling score doesn't make you laugh, then this probably isn't the film for you - but if it makes you laugh like it did me, then you'll find the film even a little bit fun. Likewise, Jeff Bridges portrayal of Dude and his delivery is so spot on that lines which would normally never get laughs give you laughs, and I credit Bridges with the fine job he did in the film.
"The Big Lebowski" is a funny comedy, and I would say it's worth a one-time viewing. Unfortunately, it's not the major classic that I've often heard people pontificate it was, and it shouldn't be viewed as "Duck Soup" for a new generation. The plot has plenty of room for coherency, and the length some room for trimming, but if you're bored and looking for something to pass the time with, this may be the film for you. Just don't try to disappoint yourself.
Summary of The Big Lebowski - 10th Anniversary Edition
From the Academy Award winning Coen Brothers comes The Big Lebowski - the hilariously quirky comedy-thriller about bowling, avant-garde art, nihilistic Austrians, and a guy named.The Dude.Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski doesn't want any drama in his life.heck, he can't even be bothered with a job. But, in a case of mistaken identity, a couple of thugs break into his place and steal his rug (you gotta understand, that rug really tied the room together). Now, The Dude must embark on a quest with his crazy friends to make things right and get that rug back!
Starring Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, John Goodman, John Turturro and Steve Buscemi, The Big Lebowski has become a cultural phenomenon. Now, experience the outrageous fan favorite like never before in this 2-Disc Anniversary Edition loaded with all-new bonus features that will take you beyond the movie! The Dude abides.
After the tight plotting and quirky intensity of Fargo, this casually amusing follow-up from the prolifically inventive Coen (Ethan and Joel) brothers seems like a bit of a lark, and the result was a box-office disappointment. The good news is, The Big Lebowski is every bit a Coen movie, and its lazy plot is part of its laidback charm. After all, how many movies can claim as their hero a pot-bellied, pot-smoking loser named Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) who spends most of his time bowling and getting stoned? And where else could you find a hairnetted Latino bowler named Jesus (John Turturro) who sports dazzling purple footgear, or an erotic artist (Julianne Moore) whose creativity consists of covering her naked body in paint, flying through the air in a leather harness, and splatting herself against a giant canvas? Who else but the Coens would think of showing you a camera view from inside the holes of a bowling ball, or an elaborate Busby Berkely-styled musical dream sequence involving a Viking goddess and giant bowling pins? The plot--which finds Lebowski involved in a kidnapping scheme after he's mistaken for a rich guy with the same name--is almost beside the point. What counts here is a steady cascade of hilarious dialogue, great work from Coen regulars John Goodman and Steve Buscemi, and the kind of cinematic ingenuity that puts the Coens in a class all their own. Be sure to watch with snacks in hand, because The Big Lebowski might give you a giddy case of the munchies. --Jeff Shannon
After the tight plotting and quirky intensity of Fargo, this casually amusing follow-up from the prolifically inventive Coen (Ethan and Joel) brothers seems like a bit of a lark, and the result was a box-office disappointment. The good news is, The Big Lebowski is every bit a Coen movie, and its lazy plot is part of its laidback charm. After all, how many movies can claim as their hero a pot-bellied, pot-smoking loser named Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) who spends most of his time bowling and getting stoned? And where else could you find a hairnetted Latino bowler named Jesus (John Turturro) who sports dazzling purple footgear, or an erotic artist (Julianne Moore) whose creativity consists of covering her naked body in paint, flying through the air in a leather harness, and splatting herself against a giant canvas? Who else but the Coens would think of showing you a camera view from inside the holes of a bowling ball, or an elaborate Busby Berkely-styled musical dream sequence involving a Viking goddess and giant bowling pins? The plot--which finds Lebowski involved in a kidnapping scheme after he's mistaken for a rich guy with the same name--is almost beside the point. What counts here is a steady cascade of hilarious dialogue, great work from Coen regulars John Goodman and Steve Buscemi, and the kind of cinematic ingenuity that puts the Coens in a class all their own. Be sure to watch with snacks in hand, because The Big Lebowski might give you a giddy case of the munchies. --Jeff Shannon
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