The Coens at their best

Rating: 9/10 (27 July 1999)

I have always liked the work of the Coen brothers and to tell the truth, I found that THE BIG LEBOWSKI did meet all of my expectations - and more.
Many commentators are disapointed with the movie because they find it very difficult to follow the plot and/or the characters are not fully developed and/or too many characters, etc..
Well - these things are what you would expect from a drama and THE BIG LEBOWSKI is not that at all. It is not FARGO - it is a comedy with a great deal of surrealism. There are no higher moral issues and no lessons to be learned (besides: never spread the earthly remains (ashes) of your friend against the wind!).
The three main characters are all great. John Goodman is perfectly cast as the "can't-get-over-it Vietnam vet" Walther and the scene where he jumps out of a speeding car with a Uzi in order to pursue the kidnappers is slapstick at its best.
The best scenes though are the ones with The Dude, Walther and Donny arguing what to do with The Dudes personal problems. It cannot get any better.
If you haven't laughed long and loud during this movie I will suggest brain surgery in order to find the lost sense of humour.
Rating: 9 of 10.