The Big Lebowski (1998)

The Big Lebowski (1998)

starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore

directed by Joel Coen

117 minutes

Jeff Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), who prefers to be called The Dude, gets roughed up by two thugs who have mistaken him for another Jeff Lebowski, aka the Big Lebowski. The Dude goes to see the Big Lebowski hoping to get some restitution for his rug on which one of the thugs peed.

The Big Lebowski at first doesn't want to have anything to do with the dude but after Bunny, the Big Lebowski's trophy wife, is kidnapped, he asks The Dude to help him out by taking the ransom money to the kidnappers. The Big Lebowski offers to compensate The Dude for completing this task.

The Dude agrees to do it but things get a little complicated after his friend Walter (John Goodman) insists on coming along for the handoff. Walter has ideas of his own as to how they should handle the handoff and interferes with The Dude's assignment such that the kidnappers do not get their hands on the money.

Things get a lot more complicated after The Dude's car gets stolen while he and Walter are bowling. The case with the ransom money in it was in his car when it was taken. He gets the car back but the case is missing.

Things get even more complicated after Maude Lebowski (Julianne Moore), the Big Lebowski's daughter, thinking that the Dude has handed off the money, asks for his help in getting it back from the kidnappers. She is convinced that Bunny faked the kidnapping and that the money is just to help Bunny payoff her debts.

Thoughts

This is at least the third time I have seen this movie. I first saw it in the theater when it was first released. I also watched it at home in 2008 on Netflix. This time around I watched it at the AFI Silver. I recall enjoying it the first time around but being a little confused by what happened. I don't recall if I was any less confused when I watched it in 2008.

There are a number of familiar faces in small roles in this film including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tara Reid, John Turturro, Peter Stormare, and Flea.

I really enjoyed watching this film once again. It was great to see it on the big screen for the first time in more than 25 years. I think all the performances were good to great. I love the twists and turns that story takes. I'm not sure it all adds up but I had so much fun watching it and laughed so much that I'm willing give it a pass on those shortcomings.

The Big Lewbowski is up there with Miller's Crossing and Fargo as one of my favorite Coen Brothers movies and one that I can see myself watching on a regular basis.