The Big Lebowski Review

Rating: 10/10 (11 February 2011)

The Big Lebowski is a unique comedy from the Coen brothers. It is about a man called "Dude" or "The Dude" whose life is a complete train wreck. His actual name is Jeff Lebowski and the narrator calls him "the laziest man in Los Angeles County." Consequences ensue when Dude is mistaken for a very rich man with the same name. Written and Directed by Ethan and Joel Cohen. Jeff Bridges leads the cast which also includes John Goodman as Walter, Julianne Moore as Maude and Steve Buscemi as Donny. The Dude's favorite pastimes are bowling with Walter and Donny and smoking pot.
The two main themes in this movie are man's existential struggle and abuse and mistreatment of one generation to the next especially the 50s to the 80s. Take the bowling for instance, bowling is respected in this movie and several of the dream sequences involve the characters at the bowling alley. Anyone can go play bowling pretty cheaply but it's a professional sport. It is also an older expression of fun. All generations enjoy bowling. It's unifying.
The Dude is symbolic of the 60's hippie happy peaceful pacifist stereotype. In the end, he didn't accomplish much. Walter finds offense in almost everything but claims not to worry about anything and takes every opportunity to remind anyone listening that he is a vet. Walter and The Dude are polar opposites yet turn out to be best friends. They must not have known each other in the 60s. The duo sets out on many a missions throughout the film but never end up with any results.
Walter's constant interruptions and Donny never getting to speak and The Dude's struggle to explain most of his situations when only a few words would do become a running gag throughout the film. Some see it as a indictment of 60's counterculture. If instead of screaming about what they didn't want, they had articulated what they did want, perhaps they would have achieved more. For some, the 60's revolutionaries are looked upon as the century's losers.
Donny's name is reminiscent of the 70's due to a famous brother and sister duo. He is constantly being interrupted, yelled at, and ignored by Walter and The Dude. He is shy, bland, a tag-a-long, and just a step behind. He admires Walter and The Dude but doesn't have the same moxy. This contributes to his fear-induced death. Donny is the only one of the three that actually bowls. The Dude never touches a ball and Walter picks one up for another scene but does not bowl with it. A generation lost and ignored. Jesus (John Turturro) represents the flip-side of the 70s a possible pedophile clad in a purple jumpsuit. He is sexually aggressive, colorful, loud but ultimately all posturing and no action.
Similar movies would include Raising Arizona, The Big Sleep, Blood Simple, Barton Fink, Fargo, The Long Goodbye, Miller's Crossing, Punch-Drunk Love, Trees Lounge, and Rob Roy. Many techniques were used in this film especially in the dream scenes. The lighting the angles were perfect. It was so original and fun. These scenes were vital to the theme's message and they way they shot them was perfect. This is one of those movies you love or hate. You either get it or you don't. The first viewing is so unique and for me it took multiple viewings and a deep love for the film to really fully understand and appreciate it. The themes are relevant and the Coens are geniuses.