See what condition your condition is in

Rating: 9/10 (16 February 2004)

The wacky and indeed zany riposte the Coens chuffed out to Fargo's breakthrough hit status, this ended up rivalling it in critics' affections. Giving Jeff Bridges his signature role, this mixes bowling, kidnapping (of course), German porn, nihilism, modern art and Julianne Moore's vagina (of course) to make a surreal pot pourri of complete incomprehension. The film starts with a tumblin' tumbleweed...well, why not? A Stranger turns up to dispense advice from under a stetson...okay. One character has a completely unexpected fatal heart attack...fine. The Dude goes into a dream sequence that makes you feel you've dropped acid...whatever. You can't argue with The Big Lebowski, because it's coming from a place you can't even imagine. Sheer class in an utterly odd way.