From what I've seen this is the Coen's best, and far superior to Fargo...

Rating: 10/10 (22 September 2003)

..."The Big Lebowski" stars Jeff Bridges, John Goodman and Steve Buscemi as three loser slackers who get caught up in a kidnapping plot involving a paralyzed millionaire (David Huddelston), his porn-star wife (Tara Reid), a strange artist (Julianne Moore) and a group of German Nihilists (Peter Stormare, Flea and Torsten Voges).
Of the Coen's movies I've seen "Fargo", "The Big Lebowski" and "The Hudsucker Proxy". All three where quite enjoyable, but "Lebowski" leaves the other two far behind...on the ground...and coughing in its dust. The dialogue is fast, furious and funny; the performances are grade A and the semi-complex plot is both easy to figure out and great fun to watch.
Of course, if there is anything wrong, it is the language. First it was "Die Hard", then "Reservoir Dogs", then this. All great movies, but one wonders if so much language is necessary. Still, its easy to get over, and it even parodies itself with Sam Elliot's "Stranger" character, who questions why all the characters need to use "so many cuss words".
But, as I said, the good outweighs the bad. This is one rollicking fun and completely hilarious movie, 8.5/10.