The Big Lebowski (1998)

Directed by Joel Coen
Written by Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
Starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, David Huddleston

My Advice: Wait for MST3K.

Okay, let me try to tell you what this is about.  The Dude (Bridges) is just that, The Dude.  His real last name happens to be Lebowski, which he shares with a rather affluent gentleman (Huddleston).  As a result, some random thugs come and piddle on his rug, of which he is very fond.  So he goes out to find vengeance, or at least another rug, and comes into contact with nihilists, porn industry magnates, performance artists, random cowboys, and psychotic bowlers.

What he does not come into contact with, however, is an interesting film.  This movie seems to me almost a mishmash of the worst bits that were left out of previous Coen Brothers outings.  The Dude wanders from scene to scene, encountering the aforementioned neverending stream of supposedly interesting and quirky characters.  Well, they nailed quirky right on the head at least.  It's a cornucopia of boredom that stretches on for two hours until finally they decide to make it into some kind of kidnap mystery which is silly, even for the film.

Bridges meanders through the film with little oomph, his partner Goodman trying his best to be interesting even when the material isn't.  Buscemi is absolutely wasted as the third member of the Bridges/Goodman bowling team, since all he's there for is to be told to shut up.  In fact, there aren't really any characters of note except for Jesus (John Turturro), the aforementioned psychotic bowler who you wish was the star of the film.  It's a shame that there is really nothing worthwhile in this film, but I guess even genius is allowed to screw-up every once in a while.  Can't wait for the next film, guys.  Could have passed on this one.

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