Film Review – Louise Lay – 18/9/98
1998-USA-127 min. Joel and Ethan Cohen – Director/Producer/Screen writers
Is The Big Lebowski just another zany bowling-noir film? At 127 minutes, the latest offering by the enigmatic, Joel and Ethan Coen (director/writers of Fargo, Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, and The Hudsucker Proxy), could turn ‘dullsville’ bowling into the new ‘hip-cool’ pastime for the ‘retro’ generation, discovering the sport for the first time.
The Coens, with characteristic quirkiness, continue to demonstrate their contempt for the conventions of the Hollywood feature film. The Big Lebowski, set in L.A. in 1991,the year of the Gulf War, presents us with the usual assortment of everyday Coenesque characters; the losers, the eccentrics, and the just plain weirdos. It is no accident that the nature of chance in a bowling alley, finds parallels in the life of the main character, the Dude (Jeff Bridges), variously known as Duder, His Dudeness, or El Duderino. Actually the Dude is an overweight, lazy, laid-back, out-of-shape 70’s throwback, rarely without a drink or a joint in his hand, and about to embark on an episode with more than a few similarities to a bad acid trip.
In typically slothful form, the Dude starts the day much as he usually does, reaching for the bottle to concoct his poison. Only this day, his ritual is interrupted by the intrusion of a couple of brain-dead heavies who have mistaken the Dude for the other Jeffrey Lebowski; millionaire, humanitarian, high- achiever, and the antithesis of the Dude.
Like the domino effect of the bowling ball on a set of ten pins, the simple act of one of the heavies urinating on the Dude’s only rug propels him on a bizarre journey of deception, drinking, punch-ups, double dealing, driving, more drinking, more punch-ups, kidnapping, drinking and dope smoking, pornography, heavier drinking, hallucinations and some serious bowling.
“When I first read the script,” says Jeff Bridges,” I felt as if I was born to play the Dude. I understand the man inside out. I suppose there’s a side of me that, had I not been an actor, might have lived a life the Dude.” Really Jeff, how interesting!
The net result is typical of past efforts by the Coen Brothers – visually exotic (bowling paraphernalia never looked more sensuous), and musically cool (Bob Dylan’s never sounded better, and dig the Creedence Clearwater Revival tracks!) However, just like the nihilists in the film, The Big Lebowski suffers from the absence of a cohesive plot structure. Yes,it does contain some amusing dialogue, but after the six millionth expletive it’s a little tedious, and lacks the engaging nature of the Coen’s last feature, Fargo.
The story, although simple, gets bogged down with too many incidentals and fails to give a satisfying platform for many of the characters that have appeared in other Coen films. In particular, the very talented Steve Buscemi whose role of Donny, the ex -surfer, fall guy never reaches the tragi-comedic heights of his previous part in Fargo. On the other hand, John Goodman puts in a good performance and, is perfectly cast as Walter, the psychotic, bi- polar, ex- Vietnam vet – a man with an anger management problem the size of a tsunami.
Amusing performances are given by Ben Gazarra as Jackie Treehorn, the porno film maker who is owed money by the Big Lebowski’s wife, and John Turturro as Jesus Quintana, the gay poser who challenges the Dude and his buddies where it matters most, in the bowling lanes. Oh, Saddam puts in an appearance too!
Sadly, the female characters are rather one-dimensional. You’ve got Bunny Lebowski (Tara Reid), a bimbo, porno-queen, reluctantly married to the wheelchair-bound, millionaire Big Lebowski . Then there’s the millionaire’s daughter, Maude (Julianne Moore) a nympho, performance artist looking for some male sperm. Again disappointing, since it seemed that the Coens had turned a corner in their female characterisation with the wonderfully unassuming yet perceptive, female police chief (Frances McDormand) in Fargo.
The Big Lebowski, promises much but delivers a big letdown for all but the most devoted of Coen followers. In the words of the Dude,” It’s a bummer man.”
