Masterclass in character and comedic writing from the Coens

Rating: 8/10 (20 March 2020)

The Coen brother's pessimistic view of the world, where the evilness, selfishness and hostility of humanity are soaked in the quirkiness and alacrity of daily life, is never better portrayed than in The Big Lebowski. Lebowski (not Mr. Lebowski), is one of the most interesting characters in cinema, a drifter in life who adheres to his own values while also a kind and clever man at the core, mistakenly placed amongst people and a society that does not appreciate the beauty of his character and despise him. The film reflects on the attitude of life, the meaningless of life which is just like the story it tells. We may not want to live our lives like Lebowski, but everyone should learn a thing or two from the words he speaks, the way he acts, the philosophy he embodies. It is a rather thought-provoking, even inspirational film for those who yearn for ultimate purposes of life, to which the film provides the answer of: "why care?"
The usual Coen brother's directorial flare still shows, and Deakin's cinematography is fine but understated. They are overshadowed by the excellent script and characters, for which this cult favourite has since been remembered fondly. After all, the Coen's brothers unique vision in both the state of humanity and the medium through which they portray their ideas, has repeatedly proven themselves as one of the titans of modern cinema. They write dialogue rich with dark humor and subverts formulas and clichés at will to deftly convey underlying messages. The Big Lebowski is another one of their definitive works - quirky, funny, yet dark and grim, a timeless classic that ages like fine wine.