The Coens Strike Gold!

Rating: Null/10 (11 July 2000)

A truly brilliant film, typical of the Coens' ability to twist genres. Here they deconstruct the ransom movie, but plant in twists, dream sequences and bowling. If all this sounds odd to you, then trust me, it is. Steve Buschemi (as ever) is superb, if a little underused as butthead Donny. John Goodman is a superb shouty Nam vet with a brilliant catchphrase "AM I RIGHT, OR Am I WRONG?". And to complement these two superb Coen regulars, Jeff Bridges does a superbly relaxed turn as Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski (He bowls in his dressing gown, man!) The Searchers-esque intro is brilliant, and "The Stranger" is one of the funniest voiceovers ever, apart from the British one that does Earthworm Jim. In short, enjoy the twisted world of the Coens!