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Movies / Upcoming / The Big Lebowski
The Big Lebowski

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The Big Lebowski (1998)

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Reviews Counted:72

Fresh:56

Rotten:16

Average Rating:7.1/10

Consensus: Typically stunning visuals and sharp dialogue from the Coen Brothers, brought to life with strong performances from Goodman and Bridges.

Runtime: 1 hr 58 mins

Genre: Comedies

US Box Office: $0

Synopsis: The Coen brothers have done it again. Mixing in Leninist philosophy, mistaken identity, crazy characters, a kidnapping plot, and a deep love of bowling, they have unleashed upon an unsuspecting... The Coen brothers have done it again. Mixing in Leninist philosophy, mistaken identity, crazy characters, a kidnapping plot, and a deep love of bowling, they have unleashed upon an unsuspecting world the many glories of THE BIG LEBOWSKI. Jeff Bridges plays Jeff Lebowski, known as the Dude, a laid-back, easygoing burnout who happens to have the same name as a millionaire whose wife owes a lot of dangerous people a whole bunch of money--resulting in the Dude having his rug soiled, sending him spiraling into the Los Angeles underworld. The film is beautiful to look at, especially the scenes in the bowling alley, which feature a vast array of bizarre characters--including Steve Buscemi, John Turturro, Sam Elliott, and the movie-stealing, riotously funny John Goodman as the Dude's crazy best buddy. As usual in Coen brothers films (BARTON FINK, RAISING ARIZONA), the dialogue is hysterically warped; the plot is confusing, complicated, and kinetic; the soundtrack is virtually another character; and the acting is weirdly stellar. THE BIG LEBOWSKI is yet another thoroughly entertaining foray into the strange and fascinating world ruled by Joel and Ethan Coen. [More]

Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi

Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, David Huddleston, John Turturro, Peter Stormare, David Thewlis, Ben Gazzara, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tara Reid, Flea, Torsten Voges, Philip Moon, Mark Pellegrino, Jack Kehler, Aimee Mann, Asia Carrera, Jerry Haleva

Director: Joel Coen

Director: Joel Coen
Producer: Ethan Coen, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan
Screenwriter: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Composer: Carter Burwell

[See More Credits]

Reviews for The Big Lebowski

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
03/14/05
Garth Franklin
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: In Film Australia | comment Comment
01/01/00
Luke Buckmaster
Luke Buckmaster
In Film Australia
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It may not be Fargo, but you’ll be swept away by the sheer nonsensical, farcical wonder of it all.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
01/01/00
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

To what do we owe the pleasure of the Coen Brothers' new joie de vivre and love for their fellow man?

Full Review Source: City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul | comment Comment
08/21/09
Rob Nelson
Rob Nelson
City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul

Stylish and wickedly funny black comedy illuminated by a great performance from Jeff Bridges, and loaded with all the Coen brothers' trademark wit and flair.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/06/08
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

As with Raising Arizona, The Big Lebowski gives us a protagonist whose dopey innocence seems to be his only protection from the real world.

Full Review Source: KPBS.org | comment Comment
11/17/07
Beth Accomando
Beth Accomando
KPBS.org

If it's all supposed to be in fun, why does it feel so much like an insult?

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment 11 Comments
11/07/07
Ken Fox
Ken Fox
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Adds up to considerably less than the sum of its often scintillating parts.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment 8 Comments
11/07/07
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Bridges does more with his deflated body language than many comedians can manage by chewing the furniture.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
07/23/07
Rob Gonsalves
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

If nothing else, the Dude speaks for me when appraises the music of the Eagles.

Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) | comment Comment
07/11/07
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

The result is a lot of laughs and a feeling of awe toward the craftsmanship involved. I doubt that there'll be anything else like it the rest of this year.

Full Review Source: New York Observer | comment Comment
04/27/07
Andrew Sarris
Andrew Sarris
New York Observer

Far from being shallow pastiche, it's actually about something: what it means to be a man, to be a friend, and to be a 'hero' for a particular time and place.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out

This deliberately messay comedy stars Jeff Bridges as a slack-brained pothead, but the funniest turn is given by John Turturro as a gay Latino bowler who urges his ball with sexy thrusts of his pelvis.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment 1 Comment
04/13/06
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

It's pretty much impossible not to love The Dude.

Full Review Source: FulvueDrive-in.com | comment Comment
02/20/06
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
FulvueDrive-in.com

It's the actors that make this film: without the perfect casting ... and without their perfect comic timing, it wouldn't work. But it does work, every minute.

Full Review Source: Goatdog's Movies | comment Comment
12/18/05
Michael W. Phillips, Jr.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr.
Goatdog's Movies

Joel and Ethan Cohen are in the midst of just such a golden streak right now.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Merle Bertrand
Merle Bertrand
Film Threat

After seeing and enjoying Lebowksi at least four times over the years, I can plainly see why the movie freaks have embraced this off-kilter comedy so enthusiastically.

Full Review Source: DVD Clinic | comment Comment
10/27/05
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
DVD Clinic

In many ways, The Big Lebowski has surpassed Fargo as the Coens' high-water mark.

Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | comment 1 Comment
08/05/05
Phil Villarreal
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star

Jeff Bridges as The Dude is stroke of casting genius.

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
04/09/05
Robin Clifford
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews

No, it's no Fargo. It's the most flamboyant, erratic, spontaneous movie the Coens have ever made.

Full Review Source: Looking Closer | comment Comment
02/26/05
Jeffrey Overstreet
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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all

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