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The Big Lebowski: 10th Anniversary Edition

The Big Lebowski

Movie
Studio(s): 
Director(s): 
Genre: 
On DVD: 
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Grade:
A+
Running Time: 
118 Minutes

The Big Lebowski gets re-released with a 10th anniversary DVD.  Ten years ago the Coen brothers released The Big Lebowski to somewhat of a lukewarm reception. Their previous film, Fargo had won multiple awards, including two Oscars and the public was eager for more. So in March of 1998, to the screen came the story of “The Dude” more formally known as Jeffrey Lebowski.

“The Dude” is an unemployed slacker living in L.A. who spends his time either bowling, driving around or just chilling with a joint. To put it mildly he is the epitome of a lazy bum but that's ok with him because he is “The Dude”. The Dude's calm existence is shattered one night when he comes home to find two men waiting for him in his apartment. After they rough him up and urinate on his rug they realize they have the wrong Lebowski and leave the dude with a soiled rug. In search of some sort of restitution for his rug The Dude goes to the other Lebowski, a millionaire otherwise known as the “Big Lebowski”. In true slacker fashion The Dude is able to get a replacement rug, but at the same time becomes involved in a multifaceted kidnapping scheme involving the Big Lebowski's trophy wife.

As mentioned above when The Big Lebowski hit theaters there was a bit of a letdown. It was good, it just was not what the public had been expecting myself included. I remember thinking how much of a disappointment it was the first time I watched it. But as time has gone by the perception of the film has changed and The Big Lebowski is now regarded as a cult favorite.

Watching the 10th anniversary DVD I was struck by just how great a film it is and it is hard to come up with a reason why I thought it was disappointing when I first watched it. Maybe it's because I am older and I appreciate The Dude more, but for whatever reason I now view it as one of the Coen's greatest works.

That statement can be credited to many things, the first of which is the utter quirky genius of Joel and Ethan Coen. Their odd-ball sometimes black sense of humor bleeds throughout the film, from the opening tumbleweed song to the outrageous dream trips The Dude takes. The second credit to the film is the performances especially Jeff Bridges who gives what I consider probably his best performance as “The Dude”. He plays the role of a “Go where the wind takes you” stoner perfectly and you know as you watch the film that whatever will happen, The Dude is going to abide. The Dude's bowling partners are also great especially Coen staple John Goodman as Walter, a 'Nam vet who somehow finds a way to turn every situation into a rant on Vietnam and society as a whole.

There is much to praise in The Big Lebowski, from the screw-ball storyline to the idiosyncratic characters with their unconventional dialogue, even the soundtrack, musically tying the scenes together. If you were like me and did not really care for The Big Lebowski when it first came out, I certainly would advise giving it a second shot.
 

Review by William Henderson