The Big Lebowski
by Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: David Huddleston, Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve BuscemiDirector: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Brand: Universal Studios
Producer: Ethan Coen
Writer: Ethan Coen
Producer: Joel Coen
Writer: Joel Coen
Producer: Eric Fellner
Producer: John Cameron
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); French (Original Language); Spanish (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Dolby, Full Screen, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 117 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-11-05
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Universal Studios
Movie Reviews of The Big Lebowski
Movie Review: Laughter, Love and Humanity
Summary: 5 Stars
Being a delighted member of The Big Lebowski ever growing devotee brigade I could not do anything else but give this tremendous, profoundly funny and essentially human film five big stars for its highly realised level of creative and artistic genius. If you do not understand or like this film please do not worry - there is indeed nothing wrong with you (contrary to what some of my fellow Lebowski aficionados may have implied in their comments..!). But if your heart has been captured by this peculiar, heart warming and above all riotously funny story of simple men unwittingly caught up in a very complicated situation and all the marvellous tactics and truly immortal lines they deliver while frantically trying to deal with it all, then you will know very well where I am coming from when writing this article. "Our f****** troubles are over Dude" declares Walter confidently when one single thing in a long succession of their calamities, at least in Walter's earnest though hardly reliable view, looks to turn out fine. "New s*** has come to light" exclaims bewildered Dude while unconvincingly trying to explain the most unusual turn of events to his unexpected new employer. "Do you see what happens Larry when you f*** a stranger in the a***" roars crowbar-waving Walter believing wrongly that a car that he is comprehensively and zealously smashing up belongs to a young boy who had allegedly stolen their money. There are many lines such as these that will make you laugh your belly out and ensure that you see this film time and time again wondering how on earth you seem to be appreciating and enjoying it more with every new viewing. Add to the above Coen's delightful attention to detail, an unusual depth of the movie that gradually but surely reveals itself and all the great acting work done by Bridges, Goodman, Buscemi, Turturro and others and you can see why this film has caused a quiet revolution amongst movie lovers from many corners of the world.
And this brings me to what I consider to be perhaps The Big Lebowski's foremost quality of them all and it has to do with its wonderful and unexpected sense of humanity. This film is about unpretentious, non-ambitious, ordinary people living their seemingly almost insignificant little lives. From the society's point of view The Dude, Walter and Donnie are virtually outsiders, `losers' living on the edge of life with no successful careers or loving families, no access to money or other material wealth and, above all, with no real interest in joining the human herd in its rushed efforts towards the promise of better, more productive and all round ever more shiny and lofty future. They swear no allegiance to anything in life apart from their bowling, the passion for which runs equally deep within all of them. It is in bowling that they meet and share their friendship and love for each other and it is to bowling that they always return to after all their uproarious arguments and passing difficulties. At the very end of the film there is a very funny and poignant scene when Walter scatters Donnie's ashes from a cliff above the ocean but the wind turns inwards and blows them all into Dude's face. The Dude gets angry and starts shouting at Walter who, looking sheepish and embarrassed, hangs his head down and takes this deserved barrage fire from his best friend. At the end of it all Walter swallows his battered pride, hugs his upset friend and says: "F*** it Dude, let's go bowling" and your heart might just go out to these two wonderful and lovable anti-heroes of our time as they finally come together in love and forgiveness despite of all their preceding crazy antics and often hilarious mistakes.
The beauty of The Big Lebowski is timeless and if it grabs you I suspect it will stay with you for a very long time; for some of us like myself, it will probably mean for life. So please mix your White Russians, invite your friends round and slot the disc in the tray. What follows you might just find to be, in the words of another distinguished thespian, the beginning of a very beautiful friendship.
Summary of The Big Lebowski
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 ShannonAfter 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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