Watch The Big Lebowski

The Big Lebowski is a comedy film from 1998, directed and produced by the Coen brothers, Ethan and Joel. The movie stars Jeff Bridges as Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, an unemployed and laid-back slacker who loves to drink White Russians and bowl with his buddies. John Goodman plays Walter Sobchak, The Dude's volatile and argumentative Vietnam War veteran friend, and Julianne Moore portrays Maude Lebowski, a seductive and eccentric artist who is also the daughter of the titular billionaire.

The film is set in Los Angeles in the early 1990s, and it follows The Dude as he gets embroiled in an absurd and convoluted plot involving mistaken identity, kidnapping, and a missing ransom. The story kicks off when two hooligans break into The Dude's apartment and mistake him for the other Jeffrey Lebowski, a wealthy banker who is also known as "The Big Lebowski". The thugs want money that they believe the banker's wife, Bunny, owes them, but The Dude insists that he is not the right Lebowski and has no money to give.

Despite this, The Dude decides to seek out The Big Lebowski to get some answers and maybe even a compensation for the rug that the thugs urinated on. However, things take a surreal and unpredictable turn when The Big Lebowski offers The Dude a job to deliver the ransom money for his kidnapped wife, in exchange for a hefty reward. The Dude agrees to help, but soon realizes that he is in way over his head, as he encounters a motley cast of characters who have their own agendas and rivalries.

Throughout the movie, The Dude and his friends engage in witty banter, slapstick humor, and random musings that reflect their laid-back and non-conformist attitudes. The movie also features dream sequences, trippy visuals, and references to pop culture and classic cinema, such as The Big Sleep and Apocalypse Now. The soundtrack of the film is a mix of rock, folk, and psychedelic tunes that enhance the movie's offbeat and retro vibe.

One of the main themes of the movie is the contrast between the lowbrow and the highbrow culture, as well as the critique of the American capitalist system and its obsession with wealth, power and status. The Dude, as a self-proclaimed "achiever", represents a counter-culture rebel who values relaxation, friendship, and bowling over materialistic ambitions. In contrast, The Big Lebowski and his enablers embody the greed, corruption, and hypocrisy of the elite class, who exploit the less fortunate and resort to violence and deception to preserve their privileges.

Another aspect of the movie that stands out is the performances of the main actors, especially Jeff Bridges, who infuses The Dude with a unique blend of humor, melancholy, and Zen philosophy. Bridges' portrayal of The Dude has become iconic and influential, and has spawned a cult following of fans who dress up as The Dude and organize Lebowski Fests around the world. John Goodman also delivers a memorable performance as the loud and belligerent Walter, who is both a loyal friend and a liability to The Dude. Julianne Moore's Maude is a quirky and enigmatic character, who adds a touch of surrealism and sexuality to the movie.

In conclusion, The Big Lebowski is a quirky, funny, and surreal movie that defies categorization and expectations. It has been praised for its originality, its memorable characters, its witty dialogue, and its themes of anti-heroism and subversion. It has also been criticized for its meandering plot, its misogyny, and its indulgence in stoner humor. However, it remains a landmark of the Coen brothers' oeuvre, and a beloved classic of the cult cinema.

The Big Lebowski is a 1998 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 58 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.1 and a MetaScore of 71.