We ever have a Big Lebowski thread? That has to be one of my favorite films. It’s as close to perfect as a movie can be. There’s not a single moment that seems off-key.
And John Turturro as Jesus Quintana – what does he have, about 90 seconds of screen time? Has there ever been a more memorable 90 seconds? The Coen Brothers are so great. I can watch this movie once a week.
The Dude and Walter are the greatest implied married couple in all of film history. (OK, I’m not in a position to defend that – they’re my favorite, though).
“Obviously, you’re not a golfer.”
[size=2]doh, forgot my Lebowski quote the first time out![/size]
Best movie evar.There’s not a single flat scene.My dad gave me a newspaper clipping a few weeks ago from the Louisville newspaper which described what is apparently an annual pilgrimage to meet and bowl with the inspiration for Jeffrey Lebowski.He has been friends with the Coens since around '81(I believe they met in college),and he helped finance their early film efforts.He is 53 years old now,and in the newspaper clipping he looked quite a bit like Jeff Bridges in the film.
“Your revolution is over,Lebowski–the bums lost!”
My favorite Coen Bros movie, and one of my favorite movies in general.
John Goodman, Turturro, Buscemi, Jeff Bridges–all of them are amazing.
“You want a toe? I can get you a toe. Believe me. There are ways, Dude.”
I passed over this one when it came to the theaters; the title failed to inspire my interest. But with all the praise on this board, I rented it from Netflix. Then I watched it again, the next day.
What a terrific movie – not only because I have a couple old friends who embody “dudism,” but that reason alone would be enough. I bought it a few days after renting and have since recommended to anyone who will listen.
A couple points: What the hell was Sam Elliot doing there? The Coen brothers said the reason was that they “liked his voice,” but, uh, what? I don’t understand the purpose of the strangely omniscient character – rightfully named, “The Stranger.” And they should have brought the rug back at the end of the film (again, discussed by the brothers in the DVD extra).
TBL was a very fun movie to see with a lot of good lines… I’m almost afraid to see it again though. I suspect that knowing what iwll happen will reduce the surreal oddness, and expose more of the movie’s flaws.
Speaking of seeing a movie over again ruining it, I saw Le Chevre, a slapstick comedy, in the theatres a long time ago and laughed through the entire movie. Then a few years later I saw it again and it seemed unfunny, forced, and stupid. It was an amazing difference.
Jack, that just doesn’t sound possible. It’s a fantastic title!
Jack, that just doesn’t sound possible. It’s a fantastic title![/quote]
Yeah, yeah. What with all the bowling and John Goodman in the previews (that’s all I remember from the theater trailer), I thought it was just some stupid film about a fat, midwestern guy who whiles away his time swilling Michelobe, watching football in a recliner that always has a faint, flatulent odor.
But I was probably projecting a bit. I tend to do that.
I should also mention I didn’t know the Coen brothers from the Pep Boys, at the time. That changed after I saw Fargo on video.
My experience was just the opposite. Saw it in the theater, was like “huh, weird. Kinda funny, I guess.” Was only lukewarm on it. But, when I picked up a DVD player, I bought the DVD to watch with my bowling-crazy friend, figured it’d be worth the lark.
The second time through blew me away. TBL is like your crufty friend who, once you got to know him, turned out to be one of the funniest, smartest people you’ve ever met. But you weren’t quite sure at first.
The first time through, you’re just shaking the film’s hand. The second time through, you’re not trying to track the plot, since you already know what happens, and you realize just how fucking genius the characters, writing, directing, and acting really are.
(disclaimer: Lebowski is one of my favorites, so I’m a little biased here. Wait, no, it’s one of my favorites because it’s great)
“Say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, but at least it’s an ethos.”
I’ve found that, in general, the Coen Brothers movies (or some of them at least), for me, require at least two viewings to begin appreciating–because the first time through I’m just trying to balance what is on screen with my expectations going in. And expectations are not a trustworthy thing to bring in to a Coen Bros movie. I actually was seriously disappointed by both Fargo and The Man Who Wasn’t There on first viewing, only to realize later how brilliant they were. Now I watch Fargo and I can’t believe I didn’t “get it” the first time.
But The Big Lebowski I fell in love with on first viewing and still worship.
The Dude Abides.
I’m with Andrew.The first time I saw The Big Lebowski,I thought it was amusing,but I wasn’t blown away or anything.The second time I watched it I thought it was the funniest movie I’d ever seen.I’ve probably watched it thirty times now,and it’s still hilarious every time,even though I know virtually every line by heart.In the newspaper article I mentioned above,Jeff Bridges commented that he rarely watches any of his movies if he happens to stumble across them on TV,but if he comes across Lebowski,he gets hooked and watches the entire film.He said he has to see Turturro lick the bowling ball.
“Walter,I love you,but sooner or later you’re gonna have to face the fact that you’re a goddamn moron!”
The Big Lebowski is an awesome film, though I think I’d have to pick Oh Brother, Where Art Thou as my Coen Brothers favorite. That movie seems to get better every time I see it.
He said he has to see Turturro lick the bowling ball.
Ha ha – yeah, a classic moment. I love him in this movie.
About Sam Eliott, who knows why he’s in there, other than perhaps to lend the cadence of a tall tale to the movie, but he’s perfect. I’m not sure the Coen Brothers could even articulate why he appears in the movie instead of just being a narrator. They seem to operate on instinct a lot.
I love the Big L too. It’s a movie that cannot fail to bring a smile to my face. I’ve invented a Big Lebowski drinking game. Obviously, you have to be drinking White Russians. It’s very simple. You drink whenever one of these things happens:
The Dude takes a drink
The Dude says “white russian” or “caucasian”
A strike is bowled
The word “fuck” is spoken. This can be modified to every third “fuck” if you are getting too drunk. If you lose count though, you have to drink.
Walter mentions Vietnam.
The Dude’s car is damaged.
The Dude says his own name.
As for what The Stranger is doing in the movie, this is my theory: The Big Lebowski is a spoof of film noire, and one of the conventions it is spoofing is the narration by the hardboiled P.I. at the center of the story. So instead of that, we’ve got some random cowboy from Out West, (which is actually East from L.A. (“What is that, some Eastern thing?” “You could say that”)) telling The Dude’s story as if it was a heroic tale from the Old West.
Exactly. The more I see it, the more I love it, and the more I laugh. Man, every time the “Dude” crashes into that garbage can…
This movie is great. I was watching it again with some friends (some who had seen it… others who hadnt) and lets just say we were walking around saying:
“Thats right man… nobody fucks with the Jesus”
for weeks after that… good times. :D
“You can imagine where it goes from here.”
“He fixes the cable?”
“I’ve come to fix deine cable”
“Son, this is what happens when you FUCK A STRANGER UP THE ASS!”
Ok, bookmark this page. It’s a random Big Lebowski quote generator.