The Big Lebowski

Nothing quite shows the talent of the Coen Brothers like The Big Lebowski. After I watched A Serious Man, I really wanted to go and watch more of their classics, such as No Country For Old Men, Raising Arizona, O Brother Where Art Thou, but I wanted to go with my personal favorite of the bunch tonight.

So, after some searching through my DVD collection (being that I don’t keep the cases), I finally located The Big Lebowski, I may have made some noise of excitement, then I put it in and sat my butt on the couch with a taco and Kool-Aid (I know, a perfect evening).

The movie begins and you already feel like you’re on an acid trip. You’re introduced to the Dude, played by the wonderful Jeff Bridges, Walter, played by the equally brilliant John Goodman, and Donny, played by Steve Buscemi. They form a small bowling team and a wonderful trio.

So, the Dude is beaten up by some German porn stars looking for a different Lebowski. They then pee on the Dude’s rug that apparently ‘ties the room together’. The Dude then goes and meets Jeffrey Lebowski, who is better known as ‘The Big Lebowski’ and things get worse from there.

It goes from a kidnapping plot, to an embezzlement plot, to a crazy daughter, to a high school car thief, to a disgruntled porno maker, and it just keeps going from there, and you’re never entirely sure where the plot wants to take itself, but you never really mind, because it all seems to work together for an unforgettable experience.

You know, if you haven’t watched this movie before, I would definitely suggest it going and renting it. You may not like it, it has a quality to it that says Coen Brothers all over it, but if you like their style, then this will definitely become one of your favorites.

You know, this is one of the few movies that really doesn’t have anything wrong with it that I can see. Apparently, it’s has a cult following too, with Lebowski Fests all over the country in bowling alleys, and eventually I would love to attend one, have a White Russian, wear my robe and pajamas, and get my inner Dude on.

About my only complaint in this film however would be the editing. The scenes usually end too early, or someone is talking off camera. It wasn’t bad per se, but it wasn’t the greatest either.

Overall it’s a fantastic movie that I could watch over and over again. Definitely not a family film however, but it’s one that I would show to my own children when they got old enough. The Dude Abides. I give it 9 out of 10.