Film Review: The Big Lebowski

"Let Me Explain Something To You. I Am Not "Mr. Lebowski". You're Mr. Lebowski. I'm The Dude..."

Unbelievably, The Big Lebowski is twenty years old. As we all hide under our bed sheets and weep at the quick turn around and passing of two decades, Joel and Ethan Coen's cult comedy classic returns to cinemas for one night only, offering the chance to witness the iconic presence of Jeff Bridge's (Hell or High Water) Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski stroll around 1990's Los Angeles slobbering White Russian's and dozing around in flip flips upon the big screen. With the Coen's undoubtedly supplying some of the best examples of  modern cinema throughout the past three decades, with Fargo, Inside Llewyn Davis and No Country For Old Men being my personal favourite trio, The Big Lebowski has always remained the primary Coen release which a high percentage of cinephiles always relate to the swiftest. Whether it be the film's endless array of quotes which falls only second to Pulp Fiction in terms of hit count from the 90's, the hilarious comedic performances from its' brilliant cast or the tonal balance between crime, drama and zaniness, The Big Lebowski is indeed endlessly watchable and thoroughly entertaining but ultimately does fall short of being masterpiece as it remains the one Coen release which still hasn't completely and entirely won me over. 

With a narrative which becomes entangled within a eclectic array of plot threads which seems to mirror the care-free, bohemian nature of the film's leading Lebowski, the Coen's movie centrally focuses on a bizarre case of mistaken identity as Bridge's The Dude is introduced in a hilarious attempt to procure funds on behalf of Ben Gazzara's (Dogville) criminal overlord Jackie Treehorn. With the real Lebowski being uncovered as David Huddleston's (Blazing Saddles) wheelchair bound millionaire, The Dude quickly becomes embroiled in kidnap plots, bowling tournaments and the over-bearing, manic nature of John Goodman's (Argo) Walter, whose on-screen relationship with Steve Buscemi's (Reservoir Dogs) Donnie undeniably ranks up there with one of the most misunderstood bromances of the modern era. Whilst the laughs and giggles are quick-quipped and constant and the performances all fall into a Coen-inspired level of ripeness, The Big Lebowski still to this day remains on the zanier side of the Coen's back catalogue, and even when the film is nowhere near the sheer wackiness of The Hudsucker Proxy or Burn After Reading, the Coen's most famous venture still remains slightly too overbearing to be considered at all in any way flawless, but with a rewatchability factor which makes it undeniably entertaining, The Big Lebowski is back for one night only and deserves to be admired once again. Yeah, well, that's just like, my opinion, man.

Overall Score: 8/10