THE BIG LEBOWSKI
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 1997 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ***
THE BIG LEBOWSKI, the Coen brothers' latest cornucopia of colorful
characters, shares more with their earlier 1987 movie, RAISING ARIZONA,
than their recent Oscar sensation, FARGO. A zany comedy about a hippie
bowler and his bowling buddies covers the cinematic map. Mixing
everything from a million-dollar ransom of an ex-porn actress to
bowlers dressed in horned-Wagnerian costumes and dancing in Busby
Berkeley-style choreography, the Coen brothers leave few topics
untouched. Although the dream sequences are by far and away its high
points, the film does devote some energy to sketching the outlines of a
plot. But if you demand a strong narrative drive and characters who
are more than just loony, this probably isn't the picture for you.
It all starts when The Dude, played with a freeze-dried hippie
look by a perfectly cast Jeff Bridges, gets attacked by a bunch of
Germans, who are either Nazis or Nihilists. It seems his wife Bunny
(Tara Reid) owes money to some pretty unsavory characters who want it
back now, or they'll use his rug for a toilet.
There's only one problem, he doesn't have a wife. He does,
however, have a real name, Jeff Lebowski, which unfortunately is shared
by a filthy rich but chintzy guy, who goes by the name of The Big
Lebowski (David Huddleston). And the worst part of The Dude's tale of
woe is that all this happens during his prime bowling season.
The perpetually unemployed Dude, with his wardrobe of thrift-shop
castoffs, has reached a point in his life when he is content to wile
away his time hanging out with his buddies, Walter and Donny, at the
lanes. Walter, played to the hilt by John Goodman from THE BORROWERS,
is an ex-Vietnam vet who sees everything as somehow related to his time
in Nam. Go over the foul line and not admit it, and he's pulling out
his gun. Steve Buscemi, last seen in THE WEDDING SINGER, plays Donny,
a guy who can't get a word in edgewise.
The Big Lebowski calls on The Dude to be the bagman when Bunny
gets kidnapped. And, you guessed it, the transfer of the money is less
than successful. This, of course, gives the story's chain pot smoker a
chance to run into a few of the eccentrics who populate Coen movies.
(The movie could easily spawn a prequel about The Dude's life. We
learn, among other things, that he was once a radical member of the
famous Seattle Seven.)
Julianne Moore drops in from on high as The Big Lebowski's
daughter, Maude. Maude is an artist who obsesses over sex and likes to
paint while naked. When The Dude meets her, the nude Maude flies over
him like Peter Pan in a leather harness as she heads to the canvas to
splatter it with paint.
As an ultra-competitive bowler named Jesus Quintana, John Turturro
gives the show's most outlandish performance. With his lavender
clothes, his half-dozen rings, and his single painted fingernail, he
licks his bowling ball while flamenco music plays in the background.
He and his buddies are out to win the league competition and love
making threats to The Dude and his team.
Ben Gazzara plays a pornographer named Jackie Treehorn, who
believes that "the mind is the biggest erogenous zone." Like the
businessman in THE GRADUATE who recommended plastics as the future,
Jackie sees software as his industry's most lucrative direction.
Of the aforementioned dream sequences, the best called "The Gutter
Ball" and set to the music of "I just dropped in to see what condition,
my condition is in." Many other scenes are ones that only Ethan and
Joel Coen could contrive. One of the best has the Germans throwing a
pet marmot into the tub when The Dude is taking his bath. As the
rodent heads for his private parts, the bad guys demand their money.
Still, the movie is more fascinating than funny, one you're more
likely to discuss afterwards that laugh at while it is playing.
Although the movie engenders many a nice chuckle, more often you're
likely to be thinking a silent "wow" to yourself.
"So what do you do for recreation," Maude asks The Dude. "Oh,
bowl, run around, and the occasional acid flashes," the perpetually
stoned Dude replies. He may not have much of a life, but it's his
life. He and his buddies share a single battle cry that gets them
through good times and bad: "Let's go bowling!"
THE BIG LEBOWSKI runs 1:55. It is rated R for profanity,
violence, nudity and drugs and would be acceptable for teenagers if
they are older and mature.
Have I seen this movie: Yes
And what did I think: The Big Lebowski is a mildly amusing film full of interesting characters, some strange trippy scenes, and a whole lot of the F word. Jeff Bridges did a good job playing the Dude, a tripped out unemployed hippie. all he basicly does is Drink white russians, smoke joints, and bowl. He gets mixed up with a millionare of the same name after some guys break into his place, rough him up and pee on his rug. Basicly he starts out trying to get reimbursed for the rug, but after the millionaire Lebowski's wife is supposedly kidnapped, he is hired to go and deliver the ransom money. From there, the story doesn't go too far, but the characters make up for the lack of plot. John Goodman is also good as the NRA crazy friend, and Steve Buscemi is ok, but really should have had more to do. This movie is directed by the Coen brothers who did Raising Arizona and Fargo. This movie is kind of a cross between the two. If you just want to sit back and enjoy a movie without thinking too hard, then I would recommend this.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
Review written June 30, 1999
