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."

At last Universal has released a non-animated catalog title on UHD Blu-ray that is truly a leap in the right direction. Even the Oscar winning DP, Roger Deakins, who worked on The Big Lebowski, stated this 4k transfer from the OCN is much closer to the intended look of the film. There is a substantial uptick in detail and color stability with no apparent overuse of digital noise reduction and grain "management" and is far better than the prior abominable Blu-ray. Is it a totally perfect restoration? Probably not, but outside of a 4k showcase run at a premiere theater supervised by the Coen Brothers themselves, this is the best TBL has ever looked on consumer media. Come party with the Dude in 4k! It's far out, man!

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.

The Big Lebowski finally has a release that looks like a movie. I've seen this film in every iteration since catching it at a second run theater in 1998, and it's always been a bummer to see Joel and Ethan Coen's stoner classic look waxy and digital on DVD and Blu-Ray. For once, the 4k disc looks like something shot on film without smoothed over faces and sharp edges. And on the off chance that's still what you want, the included Blu-Ray is the same old disc, so best of both worlds? I'll take the UHD - it really ties the room together.

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.

Jeff `The Dude' Leboswki is mistaken for Jeffrey Lebowski, who is The Big Lebowski. Which explains why he's roughed up and has his precious rug peed on. In search of recompense, The Dude tracks down his namesake, who offers him a job. His wife has been kidnapped and he needs a reliable bagman. Aided and hindered by his pals Walter Sobchak, a Vietnam vet, and Donny, master of stupidity. Wikipedia helped me to CTRL-C.