It's the wealth of great characters and their insane dialogue that make this a memorable film.
The Big Lebowski (1998)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:72
Fresh:56
Rotten:16
Average Rating:7.1/10
Consensus: Typically stunning visuals and sharp dialogue from the Coen Brothers, brought to life with strong performances from Goodman and Bridges.
Runtime: 1 hr 58 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: The Coen brothers have done it again. Mixing in Leninist philosophy, mistaken identity, crazy characters, a kidnapping plot, and a deep love of bowling, they have unleashed upon an unsuspecting... The Coen brothers have done it again. Mixing in Leninist philosophy, mistaken identity, crazy characters, a kidnapping plot, and a deep love of bowling, they have unleashed upon an unsuspecting world the many glories of THE BIG LEBOWSKI. Jeff Bridges plays Jeff Lebowski, known as the Dude, a laid-back, easygoing burnout who happens to have the same name as a millionaire whose wife owes a lot of dangerous people a whole bunch of money--resulting in the Dude having his rug soiled, sending him spiraling into the Los Angeles underworld. The film is beautiful to look at, especially the scenes in the bowling alley, which feature a vast array of bizarre characters--including Steve Buscemi, John Turturro, Sam Elliott, and the movie-stealing, riotously funny John Goodman as the Dude's crazy best buddy. As usual in Coen brothers films (BARTON FINK, RAISING ARIZONA), the dialogue is hysterically warped; the plot is confusing, complicated, and kinetic; the soundtrack is virtually another character; and the acting is weirdly stellar. THE BIG LEBOWSKI is yet another thoroughly entertaining foray into the strange and fascinating world ruled by Joel and Ethan Coen. [More]
Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi
Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, David Huddleston, John Turturro, Peter Stormare, David Thewlis, Ben Gazzara, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tara Reid, Flea, Torsten Voges, Philip Moon, Mark Pellegrino, Jack Kehler, Aimee Mann, Asia Carrera, Jerry Haleva
Director: Joel Coen
Director: Joel Coen
Producer: Ethan Coen, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan
Screenwriter: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Composer: Carter Burwell
Reviews for The Big Lebowski
Stylish and wickedly funny black comedy illuminated by a great performance from Jeff Bridges, and loaded with all the Coen brothers' trademark wit and flair.
In a perfect world all movies would be made by the Coen brothers.
Far from being shallow pastiche, it's actually about something: what it means to be a man, to be a friend, and to be a 'hero' for a particular time and place.
The Coen Brothers try really hard to be outrageously funny, and they succeed more often than they fail.
Not that The Big Lebowski is without its charms, but, like its central character, it is occasionally aimless and incoherent.
In many ways, The Big Lebowski has surpassed Fargo as the Coens' high-water mark.
Some viewers have criticized the movie for being too much of a shaggy dog story, lacking a cohesive point or purpose. Yet to look for the point is to miss it entirely. Coen-heads hop aboard for the ride.
It's best just to accept The Big Lebowski on its own anything-goes terms.
An indulgent spoof, Big Lebowski isn’t a straight gutter ball, but it’s no strike, either.
It sounds like another precious Coen brothers gimmick, but in Bridges' hands it becomes a hysterical running joke.
The Dude and Sobchak begin as caricatures too, but they're allowed to grow into something deeper, if only because the humanist economy of the Coens' surrealist vaudeville allows for a couple of human beings within the tapestry of freaks.
Viewers with a taste for bizarre, even surreal, humor will have a ball.
This time, they have all the parts together, but someone forgot the glue.
The Big Lebowski tiene el efecto deseado: creer en los personaje, aún sin creer necesariamente en la historia.
To what do we owe the pleasure of the Coen Brothers' new joie de vivre and love for their fellow man?
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