Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen (Ethan was uncredited)
117 minutes
Floor 3 Pink Zone 791.4372 BIG
Time to leave the bowling alley, pour a white Russian (if you’re old enough), ignore the ringing telephone, and chill out to a cult classic, ‘man’. The Big Lebowski is hilarious piece of cinema, if you do come to love the film you will be in good, albeit slightly odd, company; the film has spawned an annual Lebowski Fest and a religion in The Church of the Latter-Day Dude who spread the message of Dudeism.
The Dude (Jeff Bridges) is an unlikely hero, a middle-age, hippy-type, more often than not drunk or high, he becomes embroiled in a mystery of kidnapping and extortion after being confused for wealthy businessmen Jeffery Lebowski (David Huddleston). The Dude acts as pseudo detective, investigating the kidnapping of Bunny Lebowski (Tara Reid), his philosophy of relaxation contrasts with the seriousness of the world around him. There is much discussion around The Big Lebowski as a modern Western, but influences of film noir, crime thriller, and Easy Rider (1969) style stoner-epics are all present in the comedy film. (Easy Rider is also available in the library at 791.4372 EAS).
The Dude’s miss-adventures are aided by his friends the eccentric Vietnam War veteran Walter (John Goodman), and the nervous Donny (Steve Buscemi) –fact fans will note that Donny is repeatedly told to ‘shut up’ in response to Buscemi’s last role for the Coen brothers in Fargo (1996), where he talked endlessly. An amazing comical ensemble support the film, including Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, David Thewlis, The Red Hot Chili Pepper’s bassist Flea, Jon Polito, and John Turturro (whose character, Jesus, is equal parts creepy and comedic – especially when shinning bowling balls).
In form for the Coen brothers, the comedy of the film ranges from dry wit to visual slapstick. Noticeably, a flamboyant bowling themed dance sequence inspired by the works of Busby Berkeley, see Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933). My personal favourite moment is a well-timed mug throw; a small comedy moment of which The Big Lebowski is full of. Full of quotable lines, great humour, amazing characters, and a twisting narrative, to me The Big Lebowski is the Coen brothers best work – and what a list of films to choose from! And it’s always comforting to know that The Dude abides…
Why It’s Significant?
It is a classic of cult cinema, one of the Coen brothers most hilarious films, and brought the world the icon of The Dude.
If You Like This, You May Also Like From The Library:
Fargo, dir. by Joel Coen (Gramercy Pictures, 1996) – considered by some to be the Coen brothers masterpiece, black humour fans with love this crime thriller/comedy. (791.4372 FAR)
Seven Psychopaths, dir. By Martin McDonagh (Momentum Pictures, 2012) – Another dark comedy of misidentification, a story of thugs and dog kidnappers; from the director of In Bruges (2008). (791.4372 SEV)
Written by Phil Wintle
