The Dude finds himself in over his head after a millionaire with the same name hires him to do a job for him.

Rating: 9/10 (13 December 2015)

The Big Lebowski centers around "The Dude" wonderfully played by Jeff Bridges, who finds himself (and his rug) on the wrong end of a mistaken Identity caper. He is offered a job from another "Lebowski" (a millionaire played by David Huddlestone) to be a courier for the millionaire Lebowski and enlists his two friends Donny (Steve Buscemi) and Walter (John Goodman) a former Viet Nam veteran for help. After a series of unfortunate events, The Dude and his friends find themselves in over their heads, and The Dude may be on the line for much more than he ever asked for. The themes of this film seems to center around misinformation, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and manipulation. Everything about the film seems like it was devised by The Big Lebowski, or is the result of misinformation and being at the wrong place at the wrong time. The plan by The Big Lebowski seems to have already at least have been thought of, if not already in motion by the time The Dude shows up at his mansion demanding compensation for the rug that was urinated on by the thugs trying to collect a debt from The Big Lebowski. The Dude is then coerced into a plan that has him running dangerous errands and meeting all kinds of sketchy characters that he probably would never have run into if it weren't for the unfortunate timing and bad luck of this mistaken identify case.
The Coen brothers do a masterful job of mixed witty and hilarious dialogue with suspense and action. All of their films, this one included, feel like a work of art as opposed to a big budget comedy romp. The editing, lighting, and soundtrack really enhance and contribute on their own right to making this film as great as it is. The soundtrack perfectly balances between The Dudes hazy lifestyle to opera like signing while a party-goer at Jacky Treehorn's home is thrown into the air in slow-motion on a trampoline. The theme of this film has parallels to other films by the Coen brothers, for example in the film No Country For Old Men, the lead character Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) stumbles upon a crime scene one night while out hunting. Being at the wrong place at the wrong time leads Llewelyn down a dark path and finds himself running for his life throughout the film. The Big Lebowski deserves to be talked about as one of the best Coen brothers films to date. It has a complex and twisting plot that allows for multiple viewings without boredom, an all star cast who each masterful carve out their characters in a humorous yet compelling style, and the direction and writing from the Coen's is top notch and will have audiences quoting The Dude for many years ahead.