One of my Favourites!

Rating: 10/10 (20 March 2005)

A victim of mistaken identity, Geoffrey (The Dude) Lebowski in advisably pursues recompense for the spoiling of his beloved rug after it is ruined by two brain-dead thugs who think he is the Pasadena millionaire of the same name.How on earth anyone could possibly have imagined that The Dude was a millionaire in the first place is a little beyond comprehension, but reason is not important when a movie is as profoundly funny and satisfying as this wee gem from the Coen brothers.
Never before has Geoff Bridges fitted into a role so snugly, and it would perhaps be churlish to suggest that the character made it an easy role to play, as this would take something away from an outstanding performance from Bridges as the ageing, pacifist hippie.Perhaps he may have had better pure acting performances than this, but surely this was a role Bridges was born to play.
The Dude's daily chores include trips to the supermarket to ensure he has fresh milk (which he opens and smells before buying) for his staple diet of White Russians.For Dude Lebowski is perhaps someone many of us aspire to be like.An ex-student activist turned ten-pin bowling pacifist, The Dude endeavours to take it easy for as much as possible and one fells if it wasn't for the destabilising influence of his best friend - Vietnam Veteran and Vietnam - obsessed Walter - he sure would.
On Walter's (John Goodman) suggestion The Dude decides to visit his namesake millionaire (The Big Lebowski of the film title) and ask for compensation for his ruined piece of carpet, after all, "It really tied the room together".It soon becomes clear that The Dude should have settled for a smelly rug and gone bowling.
After initially rudely rejecting his request for the compensation the wheelchair-bound Big Lebowski,through the good offices of his attendant - the snivelling and cowering Brandt - forgives The Dude for stealing a rug from the mansion and offers to pay him 20,000 dollars to act as courier when his wife is kidnapped by a gang of motley German nihilists. Really clever plot!
What follows is predictable enough, in that the Dude and Walter become embroiled in a sequence of events which become increasingly bizarre as they fail to deliver the One Million dollar ransom.What is not predictable is the bizarre characters that the Dude encounters along the way that make this comedy so much more endearing than most.Another character that deserves a mention is Donny, the hapless member of the trio who passes almost unnoticed but this is nevertheless another good piece of work from this really good actor Steve Buscemi.
So Overall this is a fine piece of work by the two Coen brothers and is one of my favourite movies I saw it when I was 13 years old and was blown away with laugher from watching this great comedy.I would suggest to all fans of Coen brothers or good comedy to see it.
So The Big Lebowski deserves a full 9/10 stars. WATCH IT NOW!!