Rating: 
Summary: Revisionist Noir Film
Review: It seems to me that this film is overlooked as a revisioning of the classic noir format, much as the other Coen works are revisions of other genres. The fact that the Coens have taken a number of tired genres, turned then on their ears, and made them workable and, more importantly, entertaining, is commendable and underappreciated.
Rating: 
Summary: Coen Crazy
Review: An expensive lesser effort by the hit-and-miss Coen brothers. Jeff Bridges is THE DUDE, accused of a red-herring crime based on his birth name. Coen regulars STEVE BUSCEMI, JOHN GOODMAN and JOHN TORTURRO do fine work along with JEFF BRIDGES and SAM ELLIOT, but the characters are annoying and difficult to root for... Includes some great scenes in a bowling alley, a major backdrop for the film... But, also includes a bowling ballet that totally shut the story down and reminded me that I had rented a movie that I had to return by 11PM Thursday. Even if the film is no RAISING ARIZONA, the Coens deserve loads of credit for their consistent and uncompromising output. Not for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: This is like, my opinion, man.
Review: I have been familiar with Lebowski since it was first previewed on TV and in theaters in '98, but up until June of this year hadn't seen the film. For some insane reason, I didn't think it was going to be good. I was wrong, man. The film was chosen by the instructor of my Interanalytical Writing course for the class to view and write a paper on. Our purpose was to compare "The Dude" to the traditional hero or "outlaw" hero, using two corresponding essays from our text. Its more fun than it sounds. The film itself is very unique. Bridges plays Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski, a lazy, unemployed, pot smoking, White Russian sipping, Bowler, leftover from the hippie generation. One day the Dude is met at home by two thugs who mistake him for a millionaire (the Big Lebowski) who's wife owes a lot of money to their boss. The thugs dunk the Dude's head in the toilet and urinate on his favorite rug that "ties the room together" - Not cool. Dude takes his "rug problem" to the Big Lebowski (BL), who gives him a lecture and sends him away. The Dude takes it upon himself to pick out a rug from the BL's mansion on the way out. Next, Bunny, the BL's young, porn star, wife is supposedly kidnapped and the BL summons the Dude to take the "ransom" to the "Nihilist" kidnappers who are holding her. The Dude is aided and hindered (mostly hindered) by his loyal pal, Walter (Goodman), a Vietnam vet with a short temper, love for bowling, obligation to his ex wife's dog, and a refusal to do anything on the Sabbath, since he has converted to Judaism. The Dude meets many characters along the way such as Jesus the bowler, Maude the feminist/artist and daughter of the BL, Ulee the porn star/Nihilist who has a pet ferret and used to have his own Kraftwerk like band (who have an album called "Autobahn", hmm interesting.), and maybe most importantly, the "Stranger", who appears at the bowling alley bar twice to help the Dude. I won't reveal anymore specifics in case anyone else has neglected to witness this masterpiece. I don't understand why viewers compare this to Fargo (1996). They are totally different movies and Lebowski is much funnier and less dark in my opinion. The one thing that Lebowski does have in common with Fargo and other films by the Coen Brothers, like Raising Arizona (1987) and O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000) are unique, often unforgettable characters. Whether it is "Hi" or Leonard Smalls from Raising, Marge or Carl and Gaear (the kidnappers) from Fargo, Ulysses, Pete, or Delmar from O Brother, or The Dude, Walter, and Jesus from Lebowski - You can guarantee they won't leave your mind too soon after meeting them. My favorite scene from the BL? When Walter and The Dude go to question Larry Sellers (the 15 year old son of Arthur Digby Sellers - comatose writer of 156 episodes "The bulk of the series" of "Branded") about the missing money that was in the Dude's car. Walter begins with a polite questioning that goes nowhere and follows with "Plan B" where he goes outside and using a crowbar, destroys what he thinks is the sports car that Larry bought with the money. Walter repeatedly yells, "Larry, this is what happens when you F a stranger up the ass!!!" but guess what? - its not Larry's car! Priceless scene****Priceless Movie****Buy it or be very "un-dude". The DVD has widescreen/full screen options and looks great - Most importantly, it has a 30 min interview with the Coens.
Rating: 
Summary: I don't drive on Sabbath
Review: I have read all the reviews below and decided to be brief. Coen brothers are modern America's most talented moviemakers. BIG LEBOWSKI is my favorite work of Coen Brothers. FARGO is the one I like the least(no wonder, it got an OSCAR). This comedy is worth watching numerous times and it never seems boring. I tell you what: get yourself a bottle of good vodka and Cahlua and cream, turn on the DVD player and start fixing WHITE RUSSIAN's every time his DUDENESS has one. Can you keep up with him throughout the movie?:) I want to mention specifically a short yet brilliant performance by John Turturro. Nobody ... with JESUS! :)
Rating:
Summary: The Dudarama of all Movies
Review: His dudeness no doubt had fun making this movie because i had so much fun watching it . . . after the first 2 times. Before that, it seemed stupid and i would have probably given it only 2 or 3 stars. The more i watched, however, made me believe that this movie is the best work yet from the Coen bros. Definitely try it out- its a good movie to relate to. WARNING: have an open mind and a white russian in hand!
Rating:
Summary: The Dude Abides
Review: I loved this movie the first time I watched it. This is a sleeper if ever there was one. It is about a lazy man, the Dude, whose name is Lebowski. Of course, everyone calls him Dude. At times the movie gently rolls over you like a warm lover in bed, it also dishes out a lot of hard-hitting strife and conflict. By giving you a taste of the Dude's laid back attitude and juxtaposing it with an increasingly harrowing series of events, the movie really creates a visceral experience for the viewer. But despite everything the Dude goes through, he comes out alright in the end. What helps ease the suspense are a series of long, slow motion musical interludes. They use scenes from the Dude's dreams as well as his favorite pastime, bowling. I loved every single one. The narration is so good, there just isn't enough. Also, you watch the movie and have a chance to solve the mystery yourself, as the Dude eventually does. There's plenty of depth to explore in the meantime though. And lots of laughs. Not every scene is perfect -- sometimes the dialogue feels more like a slap in the face. But much of the movie is that much more gratifying and on the whole, it is a pretty cohesive work. The Big Lebowski loses out the most on replay value though, which is why it only gets a 4.. and maybe should only be 3.5. But don't deny yourself seeing this movie at least once. Okay?
Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest Movies OF ALL TIME
Review: if you haven't seen this movie, please see it. The Big Lebowski is such a brilliant movie, that i have trouble explaining it in words. I have seen it more than 50 times, (literally!) and EVERY SINGLE TIME that i see it, it gets funnier and funnier. The dude, Jeff Bridges, is a slacker without a job or any money that likes to bowl. One day, he unknowingly and unwantingly gets involved in a scheme that involves a millionaire with the same name as him, his feminist daughter, his nympho wife bunny, three german nihilists, a porno king, and his two buds. The Big Lebowski is a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant movie, and i urge you to please see this immediately so that you know what i am talking about. You will THANK ME after you see this movie!
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious. Nothing more
Review: The Big Lebowski is the funniest movie I have every seen. Although I think it needs a certain type of person to appreciate it. If you don't like "off" comedy than this isn't the movie for you. It has a highly complex plot that took me 2 times through to completely understand. It is a great movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Gutter ball
Review: THE BIG LEBOWSKI was more of less a movie about three guys who bowl together. One of the guys was lucky enough to die from a heart attack. He didn't have to suffer trying to act in an actless story. The film never got out of the gutter. By the time it was half finished, I began to realize that it wasn't an awful movie. It was a tiresome movie. From a bunch of guys who could make humorous FARGO I expected something, anything, funny. It was a long wait and I'm still waiting. As to the dialogue, when are New Age writers going to realize that smut lines really do distract an audience from their story . . . Hey! Authors! Writers! I spent my childhood in a poolhall. Your writing is merde.
Rating:
Summary: "Sometimes, there's a man--I won't say 'a hero', but..."
Review: With "The Stranger" Sam Elliot narrating us along, we come to meet our 'hero', The Dude (Jeff Bridges) in one of his best performances of his career. A trio of bowling pals (Bridges, John Goodman, and Steve Buscemi) are all in for a fun and wild ride which involve a mitricated-upon rug, a provocatively young trophy wife, a gang of nihilists who tote a ferret, an erotic artist who wants to conceive a child, interwoven references of Vietnam, a missing toe with green nail polish, a New Age dance recital, and President George Bush's speech of "not standing" aggression. If this sounds almost as wacked-out as the Coens' prior works of Fargo, Barton Fink, and The Hudsucker Proxy, you're right. This film gets even wackier than most of their oeuvre. The Coens' place hilarious dream sequences which look straight out of Old Hollywood glam musical productions, but instead of Fred Astaire, we have The Dude. As one of the great anti-heroes of recent film, The Dude shows us any man, including a grossly lazy, amazingly sloppy one, can be admirable. Once again, the Coen brothers take the simple scenario (this time, a story of mistaken identity), and weave it into a comic work of "what now?". Never have such one-demensional characters been given so much to do, and this film will leave you in stitches. Unduly ignored at the box office (it was released during the first quarter of the calender year--traditionally known as a time when the movie going public tends to stay home), this film has become well respected as a rental and purchase. Take a chance on this comedy and you won't be sorry.
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