THE BIG LEBOWSKI
RATING: 6.5 / 10 --> So-so
Review Date:
March 28, 1998
Director:
Joel Coen
Writers:
Joel & Ethan Coen
Producer:
Ethan Coen
Actors:
Jeff Bridges as the Dude
John Goodman as Walter Sobchack
Steve Buscemi as Donny
David Huddleston as the Big Lebowski
Julianne Moore as Maude Lebowski
Genre:
Comedy
Year of Release:
1998
The Coen brothers' succession to the critical darling of 1996, FARGO (7/10), doesn't really seem to go anywhere. The brothers' best work to date still seems to be BLOOD SIMPLE (8/10) and RAISING ARIZONA (8/10).
PLOT:
Jeff Lebowski (AKA The Dude- Jeff Bridges) finds himself in the
middle of a kidnapping scheme that involves the wife of the other
Jeff Lebowski (AKA Millionaire Guy), some German nihilists, his
two best bowling buddies, one of which still has plenty of
Vietnam flashbacks (John Goodman), and the other, that never
really has much to say, and a host of other semi-interesting
characters.
CRITIQUE:
This film lacks much of the "punch" and originality
that I loved about the Coens' earlier pictures. It never really
bored me at any point, but at the same time, it never really
excited me either. The comedy was lacking (only one inspired
scene with John Turturro playing a stereotypical Latin bowler was
laugh-out funny), and the rest of the movie just seemed to be a
handful of exaggerated characters that would never really exist,
be it not for Coen brother movies.
I couldn't help but think about the fact that this film would never have been made, were it written by a Joe Schmoe or Johnny Lunchpail. It just wasn't funny, original or interesting enough to warrant any financing from anyone, regardless of their name. In my opinion, the Coen brothers seem to have walked through this film, without much thought to plot, humour or style, for that matter (the Coens' distinctive style could only be spotted in a couple of shots).
On a positive note, the character of The Dude, and its performance by Jeff Bridges, was definitely one of the best of the year, and one that a couple of my friends are sure to mimic in their own disastrous futures. John Goodman's offering as the buddy on the edge was also a solid tour de force. Thankfully, these two kept me from falling asleep. Then again, if you're in the mood to watch a mindless story line filled with a slew of exaggerated characters, and one funny scene with John Turturro, then by all means, go ahead and check this puppy out. The only cool thing that I seem to have gotten out of this movie is the extreme craving for White Russians (great drink, by the way).
Little Known Facts:
All of the Coen brothers' movies have been edited by a man by the
name of Roderick Jaynes. That man is actually a covert name used
by the Coen brothers. They are Roderick Jaynes.
Joel and Ethan Coen won an academy award for best original
screenplay in 1996 for FARGO.
© 1998 Berge Garabedian
Movie Reviews by Berge Garabedian
Movie Reviews starting with "B"
Related Reviews:
Joel Cohen:
Berge Garbedian's Review of Fargo
Ethan Cohen:
Berge Garbedian's Review of Fargo
Steve Buscemi:
James Brundage's Review of Armageddon
Berge Garabedian's Review of Armageddon
Sridhar Prasad's Review of Armageddon
Berge Garbedian's Review of Fargo
Julianne Moore: