13. The Big Lebowski - Dir. The Coen Brothers
My first experience with the Coen Brothers was in the early '90s with Barton Fink. On a whim, my girlfriend and I rented it - I've been an admirer ever since. Fargo was my first theatrical Coen-experience, soon followed by The Big Lebowski. Ah yes, The Big Lebowski. It is strange, but this film has become a sort of icon for guys my age. I don't know when it happened, or really why, but the popularity of this film seemed to enter the zeitgeist of web-culture, and riding on the crest of a meme, The Dude entered the hearts and minds of the mainstream film culture and serious film fans alike.
When I first watched it, I didn't care for it, much. It was no Fargo, that was for sure. I remember leaving the theatre just slightly bemused. But then a strange thing happened upon its arrival on video. I ended buying a used copy, along with a used copy of Miller's Crossing, and the next time I watched it something had clicked. It was a strange experience, but I totally fell in love with the film. For me, this is one of those films that is better when you know what's coming next. The anticipation of The Dude's blunders, missteps, adventures, quips and quirks greatly enhanced my enjoyment of it.
I had also gotten into Raymond Chandler, Elmore Leonard and other hardboiled detective fiction in between my first and second viewings, and I think this also helped me appreciate it more. At its core, TBL is a modern film noir, its a hardboiled detective story with the suave hardboiled dick replaced by a pot-smoking, carefree, relic of the 1960s.
The film also perfectly captures the romantic feelings of Southern California. There is a a great deal of attention paid to place and time, and I think the film, as outlandish as it is, is a wonderful snapshot of 1990s America, or at least the America found in the city of dreams.
The film also possesses a mythical quality to it. In this regards, it reminds me of a Leone film. It almost has a feeling of magical realism. The two dream sequences are expertly executed and add a fantastical element to the Dude's quest. The opening narration by Sam Elliot sets a tone that invokes a mythical tone, and when his character appears before the Dude like some modern sage, I felt a strong sense that there was something divine about his presence.
The Big Lebowski is simply a film that I can turn to at almost any time, in bits and pieces, or as a whole, and enjoy myself in the process. It is well written, well shot, and well acted. It is funny, endlessly quotable (much to the chagrin of many I'm sure), and entertaining. It also has a fantastic soundtrack that perfectly captures the personality of the film's main character - it's his mix tap, the soundtrack to the Dude's life. The Coens totally nailed it with this film, and I think it is perfect in every way.
