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Jeff Bridges 5 Stars!

Jeff Bridges does an absolute fantastic job of acting. This is the type of movie you have to see the second time before it starts sinking in. The first time I watched it, I didn't particularily care for it, then I watched it again and thought it was the best ever! I guess a person has to be in the mood for certain films. One of my all-time favorite movies. A must have for any collector of off the beaten path comedies.

Classic Film! Hilarious!

"We're not talking about the guys who built the railroads here"


too many quotables to list!

A nondescript adulation

Everybody knows that Coen Brothers do not make classic comedy movies. You cannot laugh loudly, you cannot turn red because of laughs, you cannot exhausted because of laughs while watching a Coen Brothers comedy. At the most, they are black comedies. Therefore, I cannot understand the people who say that they fell about laughing. Just John Goodman was very funny. According to some critics, it is one of the best examples of pure cinema, one of the zeniths of the seventh art. How do they say such things? We don't talk about Kubrick and Barry Lyndon, we don't talk about Tarkovsky or we don't talk about Kieslowski and Blue. In addition, a lot of people say some very hard things about No Country for Old Men. They say a shame. Probably, so that it is out of conventional cinema. Nonetheless, they praise The Big Lebowski to the skies. Why do some people hate distinctive story tellings? and why do some people admire some films which there is no big deal like The Big Lebowski?I cannot call a movie as one hundred percent art so that the camera follows the bowls which roll over. However, the bowling scenes are my favorite parts, they were eye-catching. The rest of the movie is fun in some parts, flowing enough, but there is no element makes the movie masterpiece or a contemporary classic. This is the problem. Many critics/audiences adore it. The whole movie is very balanced, it does not become perky which is a big success. That's all. Some people watch it times without numbers, but I never watch it again. At the end of the story, there is a little bit unlikeable humor, because, we feel, as if we have listened a fabrication. This is not the same as getting audience remember they are watching a movie by using some gimmicks. The man in the bar says ''I hope that you liked the story.'' I said to myself No, I didn't.

What in God's holy name are you blathering about??

I agree with the previous review. Without the right chemistry, this movie would be unwatchable. Happily, the Coens got it right again - a movie that gets better with repeated viewings. Watch for the completely befuddled and sputtering Jeff Bridges in the back of the limo: "I have certain information . . . uh, uh . . . certain things have come to light and . . . uh . . . this might not be as simple as . . . uh . . . well, you know." The guy derserved an Oscar just for that scene!

Awesome

This for me, is one of those movies I can watch at any time. No matter how many times I've seen it, or how recently I've seen it, I can watch it again should a friend come over and pick it out. All the characters in this movie are memorable, Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore and the nihilists all play their parts so well. For those that don't like Jeff Bridges, give him a chance in this movie, he's great. It's the best hippie vs. ultra-right-winger vs. german nihilists (with attack ferrets) vs. local bowling team vs. psycho paid-off police chief story you'll ever see.

Donnie, shut the #*@% up!

I think a lot of items on Amazon have inflated reviews. I think a lot of people (and I'm including myself) want to rank something with five stars, so that everyone can know how much they love the movie/book/CD/whatever. Well, in this case, I am not exaggerating.

The Big Leboski is my favorite movie of all time. The fact that it came out immediately after the Coens' huge success with Fargo kind of gave this flick the kiss of death, but to those of us that didn't care (and I liked Fargo...just not as much as I liked Raising Arizona), this is probably their finest achievement, and probably the best comedy ever. The great thing about this movie is that THERE IS NO PLOT. That's not to say that the movie is aimless, rather the actual story, involving the alleged kidnapping of Bunny Lebowski is the film's "McGuffin." (I think that's how it's spelled). Granted, Hitchcock probably would never dream of making the reason for the characters' interactions a plot device (which begs the question, how can you have a plot device with no plot?), but Hitchcock isn't Joel and Ethan Coen. So, what we have here is a rag-tag group of characters, led in complete Dude fashion, by The Dude himself. Along with Walter, Donnie, Jeff Lebowski ("the REAL Jeffrey Lebowski"), Bunny, Jesus Quintana, Maude, and countless other priceless, though minor characters (all three cops), Dom Irrera's limo driver, Jackie Treehorn, the nihilists, etc, etc, The Dude hobbles his way through easily the most interesting days of his life (though he was a roadie for Metallica on the "Speed of Sound" tour). Anyway, probably the best scene involves Larry Sellers and his father Arthur Digby Sellers (who wrote the bulk of the TV series "Branded"), and it's too funny and relies too heavily on the f-word to repeat here.

Sorry for all the rambling. What's important about this movie is the brilliant dialogue. And virtually every character gets to say absolutely brilliant dialogue, from the main characters all the way down to ancillary characters like The Dude's landlord, the cab driver, and the chief of police of Malibu. This movie is chock full of characters, brilliant insights into the world of bowling, and life lessons in nihilism. As long as you're not looking for a story to get lost in, this is absolutely the best you can do in terms of a comedy. I recommend this movie to anyone that has a sense of humor, or to anyone who needs a sense of humor (note to those that need a sense of humor, you might have to watch this a couple of times...I hear some people didn't "get it" the first time).

The Dude abides.

What's the Point? It isn't funny

Spoilers ahead.I frankly do not understand why "The Big Lebowski" has been elevated to the point of being considered one of the best cult classics of all-time. Why this cult around the character of "The Dude", one of the blandest, flavorless, most uninteresting comedy protagonists ever to be put on celluloid? He's simply some dopey hippie who loves to hang around a John Goodman cardboard-cutout Vietnam vet gone loco (real Vets should raise their fists in anger over such an overdone, unfunny, disrespectful and insulting characterization) and a seldomly-seen Steve Buscemi, who doesn't really do much. The plot winds into so many different twists and turns and includes so many supporting characters, all of whom seek The Dude's bag of money, that trying to understand this movie is like trying to untangle the Gordian Knot by hand. What's the point of placing layer upon layer upon layer of weird, uninteresting characters to the point that you forget what the hell this movie is about? Nihilist German rockers? Some sicko Hugh Hefner clone? A gorgeous yet incomprehensible avant-garde artist who wants to have "The Dude's" baby? A strange drugstore cowboy who serves as some sort of Greek chorus? Stop it! "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" had an array of weird characters, but it succeeded because it had a straightforward plot and brilliant acting and writing. The Coen's monstrosity has little wit or signs of superb comic writing, and all of their characters, though weird, are totally boring and flavorless. For weird characters to work, they must act totally off-the-wall and twisted beyond realism. The weirdos in "Lebowski" are actually regular, and seem like a mish-mash of all-too-real rejects from a yuppie coffee bar.Who likes this stuff? I have just seen "No Country for Old Men", and, like "Lebowski", that was poorly written in terms of a smooth plot; and, like "Lebowski", lacked any interesting characters. I'll give "Fargo" a chance; otherwise, the Coen Brothers ain't reeling me in with their weird, clunky movies.

Freaky and pulpy

This is nothing but a remake, or maybe the original (I would know if I had checked the dates: but you know, laziness, and it is funny to remain fuzzy, like the Coen Brothers themselves) of what we know under the title of "Pulp Fiction". The Coen Brothers get rid of the shuffling time line and have episodes and chapters in order, but it is just as intricate as the other, except that it is harmless, more or less, and funny in the punk beatnik post 1968 style if you like that and the unemployed who play the Greek philosophers.. It means that the mistake in "Pulp Fiction" becomes the rule here and everything is over-reacting and mis-targeting the true victim of the explosion, of temper of course, never of any fire-arms, though quite a few are moving and travelling around, just like bowling pins and bowling balls. That's a way of looking at suburban social sprawl that deserves some attention and time. The best debunking of pulp fiction is in the bar-diner scene. A lot of noise and ruckus for very little. I like the breaking in, out and through of all sorts of cars. The Coen Brothers don't seem to like cars probably because they are the best representation of American wastefulness and extreme vain arrogance. But "Pulp Fiction" seems to debunk cars too though in a different way.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne, University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines, CEGID

I'm the DUDE, MAN!

I love this movie, and to see it in High-Def is a true treat!

I would love to see a "I'm the Dude, Man" sequel! True classic, even though it failed to gross allot at the theater.

Jeff Bridges & John Goodman are amazing in this movie!

Hat's off!

Wondeful

Wonderfu

Another Coen Brothers classic!

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2ZOAJNVWZE7IW

Hilarious, Full-Octane Cohen Brothers

This movie has spurned a cult following in the last two years. Simply quoting lines from this movie to others familiar with it sparks immediate commaradarie. "Oh, Nice Marmut." You can't help but chuckle at that. This is one of the best modern day film noirs I have ever seen. At first glance it's a great comedy, watch it again and you notice it's also a noir, brilliant! If you like the Cohen brothers watch: "Miller's Crossing." Other movies that may interest you: "Chinatown" "The Big Sleep"(the cohen's actually based parts of Lebowski on this film, look for the guy in a wheelchair) also "Easy Rider"

A WONDERFUL CHANGE OF PACE

I loved this movie. I'm sick of the same old comedies that are put out buy Hollywood these days. This movie by the Coen brothers is another masterpiece. From the story to the actors, there is no fault. Thank you to the brother's Coen. Your originality is surely appreciated. I hope your next offering is as sweet.

It's one of a handful of comedies that gets funnier each time.

It's one of the few comedies that gets funnier each time you watch it. I just saw it again a few nights ago and laughed out loud at least a dozen times. It has so many qualities that you look for in being able to watch a movie more than once (memorable lines- "Hey man there's a beverage involved here!" great characters- when will I see a movie about Jesus the bowling freak and an interesting plot- too involved to mention)The performances by Jeff Bridges and John Goodman are just incredible, I could remember after I saw it the first time I wanted to become the Dude. Steve Buscemi is also great in a more relaxed comedic role opposed to his normal freaky type characters. Very original and funny.

Lets go bowling...

This is my most favorite film of all times. Even the good all russian movies, most of which I watch and like, can't beat this one. I watched "The Big Lebowski" about 15 times in the past year. I know the whole movie, I know what's gonna happen when and who's going to say what, etc, but I still enjoy it! When I first watched it, I was kinda shocked by the language they used (I wasn't used to that), but despite that I was laughing hard throughout the whole movie.

Now there are a couple of things you gotta understand about this movie. First of all, the cursing in this movie is on purpose, it's not because the makers of this film just decided that everyone should curse. That's just who they are and how they talk. Second, don't take it very seriously. The whole feeling of the movie dissappears if you take it seriously. Like somebody here said the movie has a paper-thin plot. It doesn't, really, it's just very light. I can't really explain it, but the whole movie holds that sense of "lightness" - probably how the Dude feels most of the time.

Just plain fun

Don't try to read too deeply within the plotline of this movie. Don't try to analize the characters and their relevance. This movie was made to be just plain fun. Jeff Bridges probably gives his best performance since RANCHO DELUXE as The Dude an unemployed ex war demonstrator who happens to excel in the SoCal Bowling league. Even though we never see him roll a ball. John Goodman plays his 'friend' Walter, a war veteran who justifies his every arguement with the fact that he 'watched his buddies die face down in the muck in Vietnam!' He rails against Dude for using the term 'Chinamen' as being politically incorrect, but then goes off about the German bowling scheduler Burkholter. Everythings a wonderful contradiction with this guy. Throw in Walters' poor sidekick Donnie(Steve Buscemi)and you have a completeley inane bowling team of the blind leading the blind.
The storyline is The Dude gets mistaken for Jeffrey Lebowski a wealthy achiever whos wife owes money to smut producer Jackey Treehorn. From this premise we are treated to a plethora of wacky characters...Maude, the Big Lebowskis' sister known for her feministic art; the German punk band AUTOBHAN also known as the belivers of nothing who claim to have kidnapped the Big Lebowskis' wife and are sending body parts until the ransom is paid; and the scene stealing Jesus (John Torturo)a competing bowler who besides being a pederast "can really roll man"; the above mentioned Jackey Treehorn who can mix a mean caucasion and has heard all those kidnapping stories, "so just save it". He just wants the money owed to him by Mrs. Lebowski. This leads to an encounter with the Malibu chief of police and an Eagles playing cab driver. A 'fellow private dick' working for the Knutesens.
Add to this a narrator who shows up a time or two on camera as 'The Stranger'and you can't help but ask 'why?'. Answer: Don't ask.
It's just plain fun.

One of the funniest movies.

The Big Lebowski is great. And who wouldn't want it in a bowling ball? If you want a movie that gets funnier every time you watch it, this is for you.

A comedic Masterpiece.

This is by far the funniest movie I've seen in a long time. It's also the most original and creative of the Coen Brothers' films. If you like sarcastic humor, or flat-out violent in your-face comedy, I suggest this film. Don't miss the hilarious scenes inside the character's local bowling alley, or John Goodman's hilarious performance, as a "Jewish" friend of the Dude. My grade: 10/10

I knew this movie was special from the beginning

I knew there was something uniquely appealing about The Big Lebowski after seeing the previews back in 1998. I saw it in the theaters and haven't stopped watching since. A wonderful comedy with Jeff Bridges giving an absolutely great performance of "The Dude". I personally really like the supporting role of Julianne Moore as Maude, such dry wit, marvelous. I can't think of any movie to compare this to, but I do know that all my friends at college enjoy this movie. Share this film with your friends and I suspect the same will happen.

Never Stopped Laughing

Missed seeing this very entertaining film with Jeff Bridges, (Jeffrey Lebowski, The Dude) and John Goodman, (Walter Sobchak) who are great pals and bowl using every curse word ever used and even more! Jeffrey Lebowski is a very lazy guy and loves to drink White Russians and manages to get himself involved with a kidnapping of a young girl, named Bunny, (Tara Reid) who is married to a very rich older man. A woman named Maude Lebowski, (Julianne Moore) wants to have a baby and she decides to make love to Jeffrey who is not his wife and never intends to marry a man, rather way out in left field scene. Steve Busemi, (Jeffrey Lebowski) gives a great supporting role. This is a great comedy filled with all kinds of surprises and plenty of shocking words thrown back and forth with each of the actors.