a reluctant classic...

Rating: 10/10 (22 September 2005)

This film still blows me away even after about 30 viewings! It is a blend of film noir/detective film(The BIG SLEEP, Maltese Falcon/All Through the Night)/comedy. The funny thing about it is you don't even realize that it is a detective film until you've seen it 2-3 times. I was loosely aware but it really sank in after the 3rd viewing! (i'm slow, i know) "The Dude"(Jeff Bridges)is in just about every scene, if not every scene. You get so caught up in watching him, his "laid backness", and his compatriots that you forget they are actually involved in trying to negotiate a ransom drop and recover a kidnap victim.
"The Dude" is a reluctant hero along the lines of "Rick" from "Casablanca". Although not so self centered and altruistic as "Rick", it is evident from the start that "The Dude" would much rather be bowling and have a drink(a "White Russian", or as he called it, "a Caucasian") than have the responsibility of saving anyone's life.
There may not be as many classic lines in this film as there are in the great films I compared it to above,but there are as many, if not more lines that get quoted by those who know and love this film.
The last time I saw this(Big Lebowski) I kept asking myself what film does it remind me of the most? Then it hit me..."The Big Sleep". ;)