The Awkward Movie Challenge: The Big Lebowski
Jeffrey:
Man. As I was watching this movie last night, Mike, I kept thinking that you must be sitting at home having the experience of a lifetime finally grasping the greatness of The Big Lebowski. It is surprising to me that, of all the movies we agree on, this is the one where we just can’t find common ground. You love the Coen Brothers, we have a very similar sense of humor, and The Big Lebowski is pure entertainment from start to finish. What is not to like?
I saw The Big Lebowski in the theater when it came out. Critics hated it. I loved it. When it turned into a huge cult phenomenon, I felt vindicated. No journalists have contacted me to talk about my incredible foresight, but don’t let that fool you. They know.
Just a bunch of dudes.
This is going to be a somewhat weak response, because the only thing I can really say in The Big Lebowski‘s defense is: you either get it or you don’t. If you can watch the movie and not want to repeat every line back at the screen with giddy joy, then there’s nothing I can say that will convince you. If it doesn’t make you laugh, it’s not for you. If you don’t even crack a smile watching John Turturro’s slow-motion ball waxing dance, then it’s not within my power to make you do so. No matter how many times I say “don’t fuck with the Jesus,” if you don’t think that is a funny-ass line, we will just always stand on opposite sides of the fence.
Me, I think The Big Lebowski is a gas from start to finish. Granted, the plot relies on the Coens’ tried and true (some might say only) storyline of one man getting in over his head in a world he doesn’t quite understand. True, the dream sequences are not particularly necessary. No, it is not one of the Coens’ big idea movies. But it’s Fun with a capital F-U.
You’re right that the Dude is not an incredibly interesting character … but that is exactly what makes him interesting. In a world of heroes and villains and larger-than-life figures, the Dude is just some guy who wants people to leave him alone so he can do his thing. And no matter how much shit he goes through, he never becomes cynical. He just abides.
Man. How can anyone not love the Jesus?
The charm of The Big Lebowski is difficult to pinpoint. It has what the French call “I don’t know what.” I can’t say it’s filled with great jokes, but I laugh all the way through it. I don’t really care where the story is going, but I can’t wait to see what happens next. You’re right, it’s a lark, it’s a farce, it’s a cartoon, and that’s what makes it such a joy to watch. I personally don’t need a moral when I’ve got this many great actors together in one place, giving it their all and having a ball. And unlike many Coen brothers films (and I think the Coen brothers are the greatest living American filmmakers), it does not ever feel cold. I agree that the Coens have a habit of piling on the wacky when they don’t know where else to go, but the wacky in The Big Lebowski is a-ok in my book. And highly deserving of a most righteous 5 1/2 pizza reward.
Any Lebowski fans or haters out there? Why or why not? I’d love to hear from you in the comments … I’m having a hard time articulating what makes this movie so great.
But for the record … I don’t really get the appeal of Some Like It Hot, either.
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Conflict of interest: my nephew Elliot has started doing art direction for the Cohens and likes them slot I've only seen the wonderful Fargo.
1I'm floored you don't like this, Mike. This is one of my favorite comedies of the 90's. That said, this is indeed a je ne sais quoi thing.
2Well, I'm glad that both you and Jeffrey agree that the movie is basically a "you get it or you don't" kind of thing and that there isn't some magic key to its brilliance that is simply over my head. At the same time, I still kind of wish I could be one of those goofballs in the sunglasses and cardigans, because it's probably going to be a long time before I'll be able to wear my Dan Hedaya suit at 'Blood Simple Fest'.
3Goodman's performance was Oscar-worthy.
4I'm with Mike. Most of my friends down here are Labowski nuts, and that fact makes me take their movie reviews with a grain hotty salt. I, too, saw this in the theater, and was utterly underwhelmed. I rewatched it recently to see if my opinion changed, and found a couple lines moderately amusing. I MAY have even laughed once. But I really can't get how people love this movie.
5Is there some hyperbole in that, though? Or would you really question a friend's taste based on a difference in one movie? I feel like I have people whose opinions I respect (my friends, certain critics) and people whose opinions I don't respect (Sarah Palin). That's more of the dividing line for me. And if I disagree with Segretto, say, on one movie, it makes me curious to know what he sees in the movie and I don't ... it doesn't make me question his ability to watch a movie and evaluate it according to what he's demonstrated time and again to be a knowledgeable and open perspective. Especially with "The Big Lebowski" ... if you know the Coens are masterful filmmakers ... and I would hope no one would disagree with that assessment ... AND that this film in particular has a gigantic cult ... is there not a point where you think, "hmm, maybe I should give my friends & the rest of the world the benefit of the doubt on this one"?
To me, it's a pretty important personality test. I prefer to think, "that movie is not for me," than "that movie is not good." I mean, unless it's "Rachel Getting Married," which we can all agree is a terrible movie. I just personally don't have that kind of unwavering confidence in my opinion. And there are a lot of great movies that just haven't hit me the right way on the first or even second viewing - Magnolia, for example. My favorite records are often albums that don't jump out at me at first, but reveal their secrets over time. So I have a hard time ever saying, "Final verdict: bad movie."
There are even movies that I hold out judgment on, imagining I will eventually figure it out. "There Will Be Blood," for example. (What is it with P.T. Anderson?) I didn't like it. I've seen it twice, and I had problems with it each time. But so many people whose opinions I respect like it, that I assume it just hasn't crept under my skin yet the way it should. I like it by proxy.
Maybe that's a wishy-washy way of viewing art. But I think the whole reason I watch movies and listen to music is to have that moment of connection with the other people who are listening to and watching the same things ... even when we disagree, art is the lens through which I can get a greater understanding of how other people see the world. So I can see how it's mildly irritating when I feel one way and my friend feels another, but I think that's a great catalyst for a discussion of how we think the way we do, in the ultimate quest to reach a greater understanding. No question, agreement creates a nice feeling of connection. But reaching understanding in disagreement often feels more rewarding.
61) I love phone autocorrect typos. I think I meant "of" when my phone decided I was saying "hotty," but I don't know how it made that jump.
2) Honestly... if you find The Big Lebowski hilarious, your sense of humor works in a very different way than mine does, so your "this is hilarious" advice goes through a filter that someone who doesn't think "The Big Lebowski is hilarious" isn't subjected to. I doubt I really use that filter to weight their reviews much, but it's more that, when I see something else they think is hilarious and can't see any humor in it or at most a little, I'm not surprised (recent example: being introduced to "Look Around You," which that group likes almost as much as bowling and making The Dude references, and yet I couldn't see anything even vaguely funny about).
It's been driving me crazy, though. There have been so many movies that people have strong reactions about, that I can't understand how someone could have a strong reaction. "Lost in Translation" was a big one on that scale. That was an utterly and completely ok movie. It wasn't great, and it wasn't terrible, and I couldn't see how anyone could put it on either of those extremes... but I'd been told time and again that I'd either love it or hate it. How? And then there's "There Will Be Blood" and "No Country for Old Men," two movies I found utterly unenjoyable which so many people loved. I'm still convinced those got their reputations purely through powerful marketing and I somehow missed that campaign, because I can't see how actually watching them without already having your mind made up that you like them could switch you to that setting.
My feelings on the opinions people have about those three movies are much stronger than my feelings about The Big Lebowski, but it's in the same vein. I just don't get how people can care so much about such a solidly "ok" movie.
7Are there any movies that you've changed your mind about after subsequent viewings or thinking more about them?
8Oh, and btw... I made friends watch LA Story, one of the greatest comedies of all time... and they thought it was meh. I know it's not just Other People who like movies that some people can't see the same beauty in. It's just strange to me that TBL gets so many people that way.
9There have definitely been movies that I've changed my mind about. Beetlejuice was a prime example of that. I thought it was mediocre the first time I saw it, but I swear it's funnier with each viewing.
That's why I gave TBL another chance; I hoped it'd Beetlejuice me. But it was still just mediocre.
10Holy crap, somehow I never noticed you guys have threaded replies, even though you use them. Will be better about that going forward :)
11just finished watching it again. well, no, not really, i gave up after they smash that red sports car. it's just agonizing, such a boring, unfunny movie. I really do not understand the appeal. And - Coen brothers are easily my favorite filmmakers. Oh Brother, Fargo, No Country, Raising Arizona, Hudsucker, Burn After Reading, Blood Simple, Intolerable Cruelty... just so many brilliant, brilliant films. But Lebowsky just does not gel, it falls flat. I tried, man... I tried.
12You had me until "Intolerable Cruelty."
13It's a dialogue movie, and you get it or you don't. Its not totally unclever (the vladimir lenin part is pretty funny). oh well, to each his own
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