Review of The Big Lebowski (1998) by Harry W — 04 Mar 2014

I hadn?t seen The Big Lebowski in many years since the time I most recently watched it, but I remembered it being hilarious and predicted that to this day it still would be.

The Big Lebowski is genius because it takes the concept of a western story and turns it into one of the most original stoner comedies of all time. Through combining a case of mistaken identity, a complicated tale of kidnapping and a lot of characters with rich comedic potential, The Coen Brothers put out quite possibly their funniest film to date.

The story is a combination of complicated genres all merged into one hilarious comedic venture which is packed to the brim with clever twists and turns. It?s a kind of comedy that only they could get so perfectly executed, and while it has a few bumps along the way it is consistently hilarious, unpredictable and very original.

The stylistic way that Joel and Ethan Coen form a comedy out of the story is iconic of them since it is full of eccentric characters in a weird universe of complicated crime. And their collaboration crafts a strong screenplay out of it. And as a team they direct the story to victory through a lot of hilarious territory and clever plot dynamics. Rarely do they miss the mark, because with such tenacious direction and writing The Coen Brothers manage to give it their all and make it all hilarious.

And they add their own touch of iconic visual style to the film as well, because The Big Lebowski also benefits from a lot of memorably imagery captured by fine cinematography which is one of the iconic elements of Coen cinema, as well as a wide colour palette which is most notable in the iconic dream sequence of the film.

Of all the films by The Coen Brothers, The Big Lebowski is clearly one of their films more likely to appeal to a wide audience because it a laid back and relaxed comedy like if Clerks crossed over with Date Night, therefore it is less likely to alienate audiences like some of their significantly more melancholic pieces like The Man Who Wasn?t There or A Serious Man. It?s a lot more of a down to earth piece than some of their other features, but that doesn?t mean that it lacks the intelligence or charm of their usual films because it is all still there in The Big Lebowski. Honestly, for anybody attempting to break into watching films by The Coen Brothers, I would recommend you watch The Big Lebowski first and I think you will be pleasantly surprised, because I sure was.

And as common with a really good comedy film, The Big Lebowski is quotable for a lot of memorable comedic lines in the script which easily stick with the viewer and are the source of a lot of comedy.

But the most powerful talent at hand in The Big Lebowski under direction from The Coen Brothers is the deducated efforts of a hilarious cast all pulling their own weight.

Jeff Bridges delivers quite possibly his greatest performance to have not been nominated for an Academy Award. In the role of Jeff ?the Dude? Lebowski he is so laid back and chill that it?s utterly hilarious. You?d never expect an actor who gets so dedicated to the involvement of his work like Jeff Bridges to be put into the relaxed role of the Dude, but he does it so flawlessly that its hilarious. The performance is hilarious enough, but to think that it is actually Jeff Bridges making such a chill comedic turn in the movie is just too funny. His performance is unforgettable and one of the highlights of his career, and is undeniably the funniest performance he has ever given.

John Goodman?s performance is most likely the greatest of his career because his over-the-top nature is excavated and harnessed to maximum success by Joel and Ethan Coen, and not at one point does he ever come up short. His portrayal of Walter Sobchak is perfectly hilarious because he uses his ability for intimidation and aggression to characterise the man and he absolutely nails it with perfect comedic time delivery and an undeniably fierce dedication to character. John Goodman?s energy is put on full display in The Big Lebowski and he is perfectly hilarious at interacting with other cast members and nailing the hilarious aspects of his character.

Julianne Moore?s supporting performance is one that is challenging to look away from. The instant she flies into the screen she projects a dominant sexual appeal overshadowed only by the sharp edge of her quick witted and intelligent line delivery. She makes an effort to dominate the screen whenever she is on it and it proves successful essentially every time because she exerts the talent that made her later go on to be deemed one of the finest actresses of her generation in The Big Lebowski. The Big Lebowski boasts one of her much younger and superior comedic performances, and her talent is no less than it later grew to be. Her role in The Big Lebowski is jut terrific.

Steve Buscemi?s small role of Donny was pretty good as well. His natural charm as an actor was good but the funniest thing about him is the fact that since John Goodman keeps on proclaiming to him ?Shut the f*ck up, Donny!? which is a reference to the previous film by The Coen Brothers, Fargo. In Fargo, Steve Buscemi?s character could never shut up whereas in The Big Lebowski he rarely speaks, and this proves fairly funny.

The performances of David Huddleston, Tara Reid and particularly the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman all made key contributions to the film as well.

Lastly, the cameo by John Tuturro was the icing on top of the cake and had some real comedic virtues to it.

So The Big Lebowski is a hilarious stoner comedy classic with a lot of intelligence and some of the greatest performances ever given by Jeff Bridges and John Goodman in a comedy film.