| Product: |
The Big Lebowski (DVD) |
| Date: |
08/11/06 (201 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Exceptionally funny, great acting performances, memorable dialogue
Disadvantages: Few special features, story is a little silly
--------Introduction--------
This is a film written by Joel and Ethan Coen (Raising Arizona (1987), Miller’s Crossing (1990)), and directed by Joel Coen. This comedy, released in 1998, is the follow–up to the critically acclaimed and Academy Award winning Fargo (1996), but sadly was a theatrical flop. Nonetheless The Big Lebowski has enjoyed cult status, and there is even a bowling event celebrating the film called the Lebowski Fest. The review will be of the Region 2 Special Edition DVD released April 3rd 2006.
--------The Storyline--------
Set around the start of the 1990s, the film starts with two thugs roughing up laid-back Jeffrey ‘The Dude’ Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) in his home. These thugs do this in an effort to claim a debt created by Lebowski’s wife. Whilst in The Dude’s residence, one of the hooligans pushes his head down the toilet whilst the other urinates on the living room rug. The Dude is rather upset by what happens to his rug as, ‘That rug really tied the room together’. These thugs soon realise they have made a serious blunder. It becomes apparent from the tatty apartment that The Dude is not the multi-millionaire Jeffrey ‘The Big Lebowski’ Lebowski (David Huddleston) they seek.
The Dude visits The Big Lebowski seeking a replacement rug as compensation, but the millionaire is not convinced this is his problem and refuses. Nonetheless The Dude is not deterred and still manages to leave The Big Lebowski’s house with a rug in hand with a spot of deception.
Ten-pin bowling is something that The Dude loves to participate in. Despite being described as ‘the laziest man in Los Angeles County’ by the narrator at the beginning of the film, The Dude makes the effort to regularly play with his bowling buddies, Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) and Donny (Steve Buscemi). Walter is a security storeowner, and Donny is an unintelligent ex surfer.
The Big Lebowski later contacts The Dude stating his trophy wife, Bunny (Tara Reid), has been kidnapped. The wheelchair bound multi-millionaire tells The Dude it may or may not be the thugs who soiled Dude’s rug who are responsible for this heinous act. Thus The Dude is given a $1 million ransom to drop off in return for Bunny, and worryingly told, ‘her life is in your hands, Dude’. Unfortunately despite this being a solo mission, Walter involves himself insisting they should keep the money, and accordingly both he and The Dude mess the task up, dropping off laundry instead of money.
After this, The Big Lebowski’s painter daughter, Maude (Julianne Moore), wants the ransom money returned to her part of the family, believing the kidnapping is an elaborate hoax. In addition, The Dude’s car containing the money is stolen, adding further complications to the unfolding story. Other weird and wonderful character to keep an eye open for include German nihilist punks, a porn entrepreneur, and an attacking marmot. And before any one asks, I am not kidding!!!
--------My opinion--------
The Big Lebowski, a film based loosely on Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep (1946), is a real triumph in terms of its humour and use of language. You will find yourself quoting lines from the movie amongst friends and family. For example, upon watching this for the first time, the words ‘dude’, ‘man’ and ‘the dude abides’ were used a great deal in my vocabulary the following day. Other quotes cannot be written down in full in this family friendly review and quoting too many lines could spoil the film a tad, but you can be certain you will find some of the dialogue most memorable.
An unemployed, cannabis smoking, White Russian drinking, lazy slob like The Dude would not be the type of character that would first come to mind as one that could be likeable. However Jeff Bridges performance is so strong that viewers will warm to The Dude without doubt. For instance, it is great fun how The Dude is prepared to walk into his local supermarket wearing a bathrobe and sandals, and pay for drinks with a cheque for 69 cents.
John Goodman is superb in this film and provides many laugh out loud moments. He plays the Vietnam War veteran with serious anger management problems so convincingly that it is very hard to see how any one else could have played the role of Walter. One second he is calm, the next he is screaming lines about his experiences in ‘Nam, and soon after his mood switches back to composed. An illustration of this is whilst at the bowling alley, Walter believes a competitor has stepped over the foul line and proceeds to react in an over the top gun wielding fashion.
Personally it would have been great to see a little more screen time for Steve Buscemi’s character since he provides so much humour in other films such as Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Fargo. Nevertheless the acting scenes he partakes in, mainly interrupting conversation between The Dude and Walter are definitely impressive, where what he says seems to be ignored.
Even the minor characters are weird and wonderfully acted, despite limited screen time. There is the flamboyant sex offender Jesus Quintana, played by John Turturro, showing off his bowling skills to The Dude, Walter and Donny who each react with some comical facial expressions. Also the recently Oscar winning actor, Philip Seymour Hoffmann is amusing as Brandt, the nerdy assistant of The Big Lebowski. The narrator, Sam Elliott, known in the picture as The Stranger, has a very distinguished voice, and it is enjoyable how the Coen brothers poke fun at how other movies use narrative so seriously.
Further aspects of the film that provide much pleasure are the surreal dreams throughout. For example, we witness a bizarre vision of Maude in a Viking outfit as a bowling goddess. Such scenes must be seen to be truly appreciated, and prove that the Coen brothers have great imaginations, and do not conform to traditional movie making rules. The incredible soundtrack is also well worth mentioning. There are tracks from Bob Dylan, Kenny Rogers and Creedence. The music works well and set the tone for the scenes they are played in.
Picture quality on this DVD is very good right the way through. It looks sharp and the colours are bright. This is since it is a digitally remastered anamorphic transfer, and a marked improvement over the previous standard transfer DVD release of 1999. The sound quality is also to a high standard with no obvious problems at all. It is presented with a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix (in English, French, German and Spanish).
A complaint for some that watch this film will be just how outrageous the storyline is. What happens as the film unwinds is we are occasionally introduced to characters for no apparent reason. Furthermore some will be a little uncomfortable with the amount of swearing. The ‘f’ word and its variations are used over 250 times, so if you are easily offended they it may be best to avoid watching this movie. Personally a bit of swearing and a slightly convoluted story do not concern me. Far more important is the answer to the question, ‘is this comedy funny?’ and The Big Lebowski is undeniably that, therefore getting two thumbs up from me.
--------DVD Special Features--------
This Special Edition contains a spoof introduction from film historian Mortimer Young, which is slightly entertaining. There is a Making Of The Big Lebowski documentary (approximately 30 minutes in length), providing some interviews with members of the cast, like Bridges and Goodman, as well as the Coen Brothers. Additionally Jeff Bridges Photography is featured, which contains a rare look at numerous photographs that Bridges took during the film’s production. Furthermore there are Production Notes, providing some supplementary comments about The Big Lebowski. To be fair the amount of special features is exceptionally limited, and the ones included add nothing to further your enjoyment of the movie. For example a directors commentary would have been a welcome addition. In short, the special features do not warrant the DVD being called a ‘Special Edition’. Still, it is all about the film, and that is nothing short of fantastic.
--------Final thoughts--------
If you want to watch a film that is funny and creative from start to finish then look no further than The Big Lebowski. It can be watched time after time and gets better, the acting is sensational, and is a remarkably clever film. For me, this has to be regarded as a must buy for anybody’s DVD collection. Those interested can purchase the film at hmv.co.uk for the incredibly appealing sum of Ł6.99.
>My rating: 8/10
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Technical details:
Certificate: 18 years and over
Screen: Widescreen Anamorphic 1.85:1
Languages: English; French; German; Spanish - Dolby Digital (5.1)
Subtitles: English for the hard of hearing, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Dutch and Portuguese
Duration: 1hr 52mins approx.
Region: 2,4, 5 - PAL
Summary: Great comedy from the Coen brothers!!
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