Take one look at this pre-millennium undemanding
example of an alternative lifestyle dressed in his
bowling shirt and well-worn shorts, toting both a lay-
back joint and the easy attitude of a survivor, as he
The Big Lebowski.
© Polygram Film Entertainment
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faces dreadful calamities that unexpectedly pop-up in
the life of a regular guy who just wants to get on with it
(or not, as the case may be) and you will soon to come
to the realization, as the Coen bros. obviously have,
that "the dude abides". The ball starts rolling this time
around when two petty gangster-types shove the
Dude's head into his own (a nice personal touch) toilet
bowl and then proceed to piss all over his rug. The
only mistake he made was being born with the same
name as somebody else. Mistaken identity, it would
seem, can not only make you rich; in the wrong circles,
it could quite possibly kill you. Twists and turns "a-la-
Coen" throughout the world of an ex-seeker of the
psychedelic 70's lead our Lebowski (Jeff Bridges)
through what must often seem to him like a bad
flashback. The Jeffrey Lebowski with whose life he has
become unexpectedly and incontrovertibly entangled is
an aging millionaire from Pasadena with a
sophisticated daughter called Maude (Julianne Moore)
who's got what it takes and a wife named Bunny (Tara
Reid) that's too hot to trot.
Once the Dude visits Daddy Bigbucks and their worlds
collide, the ensuing trail opens up to reveal extortion,
double-crosses, deceptions, and embezzlement, with
an adequate sprinkling of sex and dope. In other
words, go to this film expecting a good time. Along for
the ride is the Dude's right-hand man, Walter (John
Goodman), who's the kind of guy that, once having
made a decision, follows it through to the end, no
matter how bitter or ill advised. Nam has a lot to
answer for, and that also includes the way Walter
thinks (if that word is the operative word). Their other
bowling buddy and good time companion is Donny
(Steve Buscemi), an ex-surfer (sort of speaks for itself,
doesn't it?). Naturally, mucho other fantastic
characters appear throughout (as can be expected of
the Coen creations) and not least memorable among
the entourage is Jesus Quintana (John Turturro), the
flashy bowler with the sleek azure jumpsuit, the tawdry
hairnet and the tongue of questionably taste. It's all
sort of like Raymond Chandler goes Busby Burkeley or
Chinatown meets Cheech and Chong.
Among numerous stars putting in appearances are Ben
Gazzara, David Thewlis, David Huddleston and Sam
Elliott. Instead of listing all the tech credits (be assured
that all the ingredients, as usual, are plus points), let
me just make a special mention of DP Roger Deakins
for the beautifully framed images of all the cast and
crew's fabulous work.
A DON'T MISS
It only seems suitable to leave all you sidekicks with
this to think about: Would you believe everything a
Stranger tells you?
© 1994-2006 The Green Hartnett
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