The Big Lebowski Movie Review 1997

Jeff Lebowski (Bridges), a stuck-in-the-'70s stoner who insists on being called "the Dude" and loves to go bowling, is mistaken for a wheelchair-bound millionaire of the same name, and suffers a beating at the hands of thugs who are after money owed by the rich Lebowski's slutty wife. Dude is drawn into kidnapping, the attempted scamming of payoff money, and more bowling. While this may seem like plot-a-plenty, it's mainly a showcase for the Coen brothers' unique texturing of style and quirky-but-deep characters. Goodman is loud and funny as a Vietnam vet who takes any opportunity to pull a gun or explode into DI-like obscenities. Turturro steals his scenes as a pervert rival bowler who loves skintight lilac jumpsuits and polishing his ball. The showpiece is an amazing musical-bowling-fantasy sequence that would've made Busby Berkeley proud.

Distribution

USA Home Entertainment, 1 W. Forest, Englewood, NJ 07631-4004, Phone: (201)871-1000, URL: http://www.polygram-us.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 117 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Comic Adventure, Kidnapped!, Scams, Stings & Cons, Mistaken Identity, Bowling, Physical Problems, Drug Use & Abuse, On the Rocks, L.A.

Screenplay

Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Cast

Jack Kehler, Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, Peter Stormare, David Huddleston, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Flea, Leon Russom, Sam Elliott, John Turturro, David Thewlis, Ben Gazzara, Tara Reid

Cinematography

Roger Deakins

Director

Joel Coen

Music

Carter Burwell

Producer

Ethan Coen, Working Title Productions, Polygram Filmed Entertainment