i 've never been a huge fan of jeff bridges , but i loved him in the big lebowski .
the part of jeff " the dude " lebowski was reportedly written specifically with bridges in mind , and the fit is perfect .
the dude is an unemployed denizen of los angeles , a hippie slob on a bowling team with a soft spot for white russians .
he 's enjoying a leisurely soak in the tub when two thugs break into his apartment demanding to be paid for the money his wife owes .
after much pleading he convinces them they have the wrong guy , but not before they urinate on his rug .
the dude assumes that these " collection agents " were after another jeff lebowski , a famous millionaire who also lives in l .
a .
so he goes to meet his namesake to ask for enough money to replace his rug .
the millionaire refuses , but calls him back when he discovers his wife has been kidnaped .
he wants the dude to act as go - between for the kidnapers .
dude and his friend walter ( john goodman ) take on the task , and get caught in an intricate web of kidnapers , millionaires , high schoolers , nihilists , artists , pornographers , thugs , and league bowlers .
comedy is perhaps the most subjective of genres , so take my recommendation as you will : for me , the big lebowski is very funny .
it is an incredibly successful comedy , the ratio of laughs to intended jokes much higher than in most films .
not only are the two leads ( bridges and goodman ) funny separately and together , but each supporting character is a refreshing comic figure .
all the characters end up as the butt of jokes , but the jokes are always deserved and never contrived .
each person may be a comic caricature , but there is always a respectful self - acceptance that lets us laugh at these people without condescension .
the characters are firmly established , and they never change their behavior for a quick , cheap laugh .
it 's not what they do
that 's funny
, it 's who they are , which is why the acting is so important , and so successful , in this movie .
worth mentioning are john turturro as jesus ( that 's jee - zus , not hay - soos ) , the greaser bowler who 's in a lusty marriage with the game ; julianne moore as the post - post - feminist artist whose work has been described as " vaginal ; " steve buscemi as the eager tagalong bowler who is constantly rebuked and ignored by teammates dude and walter ; and sam elliott as the rambling , long - winded narrator . aside from the performances , what makes all the characters funny and interesting is the astute dialogue .
people lose trains of thought , they interrupt , they boast , they repeat themselves , they repeat their friends .
. .
they sound natural .
taken with fargo , the coen brothers ' last film , it is evidence that the brothers are observant listeners and gifted writers .
ethan coen is not just good at directing actors , he 's also good at technical directing .
he and cinematographr roger deakins created a beautiful world on film .
perhaps " beautiful " is the wrong word ; nihilists , carpet - pissers and thugs are not objects of beauty .
but the bowling photography and a series of viking / bowling fantasy dream sequences are lovingly photographed , as though the dude himself were in charge of immortalizing them on film .
all around , the big lebowski is great , solid comedy .
outstanding acting , writing , direction and photography all combine to make this a great comic success .
outstanding acting , writing , direction and photography all combine to make this a great comic success i loved him each supporting character is a refreshing comic figure the fit is perfect is great , solid comedy the characters are firmly established an incredibly successful comedy the big lebowski is very funny the acting is so important , and so successful