The Big Lebowski

This new film from Joel and Ethan Coen, the writer/director duo behind Fargo, does not reach the heights of that Oscar-winner. But then, how can it? The Big Lebowski lacks the coherent plotting of their best works. Yet it succeeds at telling an episodic tale about “the laziest man in California”. Jeff Bridges is fantastic in the role of Jeff Lebowski, who insists on being called “The Dude”. He is indeed a slacker and a stoner whose life lacks any real purpose. His passion is bowling with his friends, Vietnam vet Walter (John Goodman) and Donny (Steve Buscemi). Of course, The Dude’s life is disrupted when two thugs break into his house, demanding money. One of them urinates on his rug, and they both leave. He is particularly upset about the ruined rug, protesting that it holds the whole room together.

The filmmakers throw all of their familiar ingredients into the mix here, and soon we have colorful characters, screwball and sometimes dark comedy, mistaken identities, etc. Furthermore, they have fun with how eccentric the L.A. setting is, while incorporating real locations into the “plot”. See, The Dude has been mistaken for another man who shares his name. They go to visit “The Big Lebowski” (David Huddleston), a rich man whose wife Bunny (Tara Reid) owes money to porn kingpin Jackie Treehorn (Ben Gazarra). The wheelchair-bound fellow refuses to compensate The Dude for the rug. Before long, his wife is kidnapped, and a ransom note is sent. The Dude and Walter both spring into action because the former now feels a moral obligation (if you will) to rescue her before her abductors make good on their threat to kill her if they don’t get paid.

Shenanigans ensue, and we follow Bridges and his friends through many misadventures. The star brings the biggest laughs to the table, and Goodman’s increasingly erratic, sometimes violent behavior leads to more hilarity. Here are two men with distinct personalities: one seems perpetually stuck at Woodstock, while the other is still living his Vietnam days. Plenty of humor stems from Walter’s commitment to his Jewish traditions: he observes the Shabbat, so he refuses to participate in the upcoming bowling tournament because it is on Saturday. In fact, he only breaks this rule for emergencies, which inconveniences the Dude when he needs help in a desperate situation. Donny, meanwhile, is never really allowed to finish a sentence because Goodman is constantly telling him to shut up.

As with previous Coen works, the great Roger Deakins is the cinematographer, which certainly makes for a handsome movie. The filmmakers get particularly creative whenever the main character is knocked out (which happens quite a bit), and transition into his hallucinations. These sequences often feature Julianne Moore as The Big Lebowski’s daughter Maude, as well as lots of bowling imagery. Because of the bizarre nature of the various events that unfold here, eventually I began to wonder if the whole movie was just a hallucination that The Dude experienced. Maybe it is. The only indication that it might be a reality is the narrator (Sam Elliott), aka “The Stranger”, who makes occasional appearances in a cowboy hat.

I would be remiss if I did not emphasize that The Big Lebowski is an exercise in excess for a well-deserved R-rating. Over the course of two hours, the dialogue is as colorful as the characterizations. Bridges and Co. are particularly fond of that four-letter word, which frequently punctuates their exchanges. As you also probably gathered by now, several plot points are sexual in nature. Fortunately, in the opening minutes the narration makes it clear that The Dude is not a hero. Viewers looking for role models will be sorely disappointed.

Despite the film’s shortcomings, it delivers on the entertainment front. Bridges’ character is easily one of the best that the Coen Brothers have conceived over the course of their filmography. It is remarkable for being one of their rare comedies. Because the project lacks a tangible plot, you might be left scratching your head by the end, wondering if it was really worth it. But you probably laughed out loud more than once. The Coens continue to abide.

Rated R

1 hour, 57 minutes