Review of The Big Lebowski (1998) by Matthew O — 12 Aug 2014

The Big Lebowski is a movie that's complex in it's simplicity. At it's most basic it's the story of a guy who gets mixed in with a kidnapping scheme all due to a rug, and at it's most complex there's a noir story any golden age director would be proud of.

Of course, a good part of the movie takes place at the bowling lanes. As you can probably tell, this isn't the easiest movie to discuss, but that's all part what makes it so enjoyable. The best thing about the film is definitely our three bowlers, The Dude, Walter, and Donnie.

These characters are so memorable and hilarious you could spend a day quoting their shenanigans. There's also kind of a problem with that though, sometimes it seems they're so good that they overshadow the rest of the cast.

Sadly, The Big Lebowski sometimes suffers the same issue Trafic had, it's leads are so great the other characters can't keep up with them. They're not bad by any stretch of the word, but when you have to compete with the likes of a crazy war veteran and a hippie with words of wisdom you're gonna have some problems.

Back on the good, the story told here is done great. It feels like you're seeing a crime story from someone who is confused about what's going on, and many times you'll feel just as confused as our protagonist.

Also you actually start to become invested in everyone, and trust me, you'll tear up a bit at the end. There's also, of course, the insanely quotable lines and scenarios. If you forget about the diner scene or the car destruction then you're out of your element.

Even characters the show up for a few minutes are classic, like the unforgettable Jesus and our narrator, the stranger. Overall, despite some flaws The Big Lebowski is a journey that's worth a few walks down, and you won't be forgetting it anytime soon.