A Hilarious Offering From the Coen Brothers

Rating: 9/10 (8 August 2003)

There are very few comedies made after 1960 that can make me chuckle, much less laugh out loud but The Big Lebowski is one of them. While I've owned the DVD and have seen this film many times I was able to catch a midnight showing last week at a local art house theater, and it was a hilarious experience. The high hilarity was enhanced by the crowd literally chanting the lines (or that could have been the White Russians we all drank were flowing as freely as water), and the audience's obvious appreciation for this clever film.
While the Coen Brothers deserve a lot of the credit for the direction and the brilliant script, a special mention should be made regarding the performances. I would say that Jeff Bridges completely breaks from his `regular guy' type roles, but Lebowski *is* a regular guy, if you are a pot smoking, unambitious shlub. Both Bridges and John Goodman turn out performances that are so colorful and hilarious that their mere presence on the screen sparks laughter. The always fantastic Steve Buscemi also joins Goodman as a Coen Brothers repeat performer, and carries on the typical `Buscemi Coen Brother Character fate'.
This is a hilarious, surreal and brilliant film that should not be missed, especially if you are a fan of the Coen Brothers' work. It has been criticized by die hard fans and others for not falling into their typical genre, but all of the elements are the same, and while for me choosing a favorite Coen Brothers film is like choosing which child is one's favorite (it can't be done!) this is definitely one that I can watch repeatedly and not have it lose any of it's charm.
--Shelly