The Big Lebowski [WS] [Collector's Edition] [DVD] [1998]

“The Big Lebowski” is an . . . odd film, to say the least, and that’s pretty much universally agreed upon. The key element here is, then, does its oddness appeal to you personally? If it does, you’ll love this movie. If it doesn’t, you’ll probably end up hating it, or at the least be very, very confused. The Cohen brothers have a history of odd, artsy films that can be funny as well as confusing. This comedy (and it is a bit of a stretch to label it as such) is a cult-classic from 1998. It follows the story of Jeffery “The Dude” Lebowski, played by Jeff Bridges, an unemployed amateur bowler and professional slacker, as he gets mixed up in a complicated case of kidnapping and mistaken identity, among many other things. Trying to explain the narrative beyond that is a Herculean task in and of itself, as its complication surpasses even Dan Brown or Nolan levels. In one sense, it’s a slice-of-life tale about the Dude, but it’s a particularly strange slice here. A lot of things happen, not always related to each other or even in a logical sequence. That, though, is where most of the comedy comes in this film; the sheer oddity of the situations, the characters, and most importantly, those characters’ reactions to those situations. I would not say that for me personally, that this film was hilarious, but I also wouldn’t say it was terrible either, as I did laugh quite a bit during. This really is one of those films that is experienced and liked on a person-to-person basis. There is a lot here that is pointless: some characters, most dialogue, several scenes and sequences; all of which adds up to essentially nothing. But this film’s lack of a point is the point itself. This is great if this works for you, but disastrous if it doesn’t. Bridges is great as the Dude, and it was one of those performances where it was so good, it seems like it wasn’t really acting and that is what the actor is really like. He’s likable in his own loserly way. John Goodman plays the Dude’s best friend Walter, who is immediately unlikable; you wonder why the Dude puts up with him. The rest of the actors and characters, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Julliane Moore, Tara Reid, Steve Buscemi, are all memorable in their own eccentricities but episodic in their appearances and unimportant in their significance. Again though, their pointlessness is their point. There are other good things to be had in this film. The cinematography is really good and creative in some spots, particularly in the dream sequences, which are arguably the best scenes in the film. It’s like I said, this film is best taken on an individual basis. I can see why some people like it, and I can also certainly see why some people hate it. Personally, I liked it well enough; I don’t love it, and certainly wouldn’t rank it among my favorite films or even comedies, but it’s far from terrible; it was entertaining enough to find amusing. You may like its strangeness and eccentricity; you may hate its pointlessness and unfocused narrative. You may love its memorable and quirky characters; you may hate its confusing structure. Take it at your own pace. Like it or not, either way, I’m sure the Dude will abide.

Essential. There is no alternative, there is no substitute. This is the Cohen Bros.' 5th Symphony. Take the whacky humor Raising Arizona, the iconography of Fargo, the huge characters of No Country, and the meandering convoluted yet simply awesome storyline of O' Brother and you have the best comedy of our Generation. And it's only gotten better with time. Every sentence in this movie is quotable, more so than Rocky Horror Picture Show. This release is unique in that it also has the DVD. There's been like four releases of Big Lebowski on Blu-ray, but this one has both formats still available. The picture (like all of Universal's outings) is incredible, even the CGI dream sequences which are over 15 years old now. Audio is great and very easy to hear. The special features are pretty lengthy in this release. You can check them individually on Bluray.com for specificity, but rest assured this is a comprehensive look back at the movie's success. You have to get this if you haven't picked it up already. There's a word for people who don't own The Big Lebowski yet. "Amateurs."

This movie is a classic! Fairly timeless, it still works and the acting is superb. Typical Cohen Bros movie, it doesn't start, go or end as you think it might, but that's what you signed up for! The Steel Case edition is gorgeous, I'm a sucker for this style of case anyway. The inside is sparse, there're no extras in there except the digital copy sheet, seems like a missed opportunity to put a booklet or something in there. However, there's plenty of extras on the discs and since this kit includes Blu-ray, DVD and Digital download, it's fairly complete. For those who care about such things, there's no extra content on the digital download, it's just the movie. You'll need the discs to access the rest of the content.

This movie became a phenomenon once people finally came around and with good reason. The Cohen's created a film that, though admittedly ripe with period references, has a timeless anti-hero quality that is less reminiscent of american cinema than of the great American novel. Like any work of art there are layers and interpretations that certainly exceed what is on the surface. I have spoke to many fans of this film and the range of interpretation is incredible. I have heard it likened to biblical parables and classic stories and have heard almost universally that the film is very, very re-watchable. I think this particular set is a necessary purchase for anyone that loves the movie and wants to make the statement that it is not a simple "watch and forget flik" but rather it is a piece of contemporary art that displays fully what modern cinema could and probably should be.

If you’re anything like me, after the first viewing you’ll be wondering what you just watched. Nothing will make sense and yet you’ll still be left wondering what everyone is talking about. On the second viewing, everything will make sense. The very basic story will be in your face and you’ll wonder how you didn’t see it. You’ll realize how funny it is and finally get it. This is a movie for any time, any mood. I can’t recommend this enough to those that have not seen it. John Goodman a stand out in a film full of stand out performances.

I'm so awesome and this movie is so awesome, that I bought this DVD twice! Well, I actually forgot I bought it the first time, so now I'm going to gift the other copy to someone else. It doesn't matter anyway. You can't buy this movie enough because it is that good. It is another one of those movies that when someone walks into your place and sees that you own it, if they ever get angry with you over anything for the rest of your life, they remember back to the moment they realized you own this movie. You are forever more worth being friends with, no matter what happens.

The Big Lebowski somehow became a household "word" within a few years of its release. How? Why? Who cares, man? A comedy of the ridiculous, as only the Coen Brothers can do, replete with its own set of neo-icons of idiocy & democracy deserves everything it is: one of the best modern comedies. Period. The steelbook edition includes killer new bowling artwork, all the extras from the deluxe editions past AND a digital HD copy via Ultraviolet/iTunes. Universal has stepped up their game & do not appear to be relenting with their recent wave of catalogue reissues. And this, my friends & dudes, is a prime example.

This movie isn't for everyone, and wasn't a success during its theatrical run. It's since become one of the biggest cult comedy classics of all time. Jeff Bridges is perfectly cast as The Dude, and there are strong supporting performances throughout, particularly by John Goodman and Steve Buscemi. Highly recommended if you like offbeat comedy. The picture and sound are both great, and there are a pretty thorough set of extras to give you more insight into the film. The only thing missing is a director's commentary, but the Coen brothers don't do those.