MYST#5: The Big Lebowski

The Big Lebowski
Review by Nicky Nocerino
Movies have had a profound impact in their century of existence. They have evolved as both entertainment and art in ways that were unimaginable when Blacksmith Scene first hit the public. No matter how you look at it, the undeniable fact is that movies are important. With this in mind I would have to say that The Big Lebowski is the least important movie of all time, and because of this it is also one of the best.
     Directed By the Coen Brothers, The Big Lebowski is the story of the Dude(Jeff Bridges), who is mistaken for a much wealthier man who shares his name and is dragged into a kidnapping plot. This seems like a rather simple premise, but it soon goes out of control, building and building until it all comes out to....... nothing. That's right by from the time this movie begins to the time it ends nothing has changed, no one has grown, it was all just a bunch of stuff happening, and the world will continue on just as it did before. In fact, I would go so far to say that you could have taken pretty much any plot line or story thread out of this movie, and it still would have been pretty much the same. Now I think you can see why I would call this movie unimportant.
     I also called this movie one of the best, which might seem weird that it could hold such a position beings so unimportant, but it is here that things get more interesting. This movie is unimportant because most of life is unimportant, its just a bunch of stuff happening. There are bits of tragedy, bits of comedy, but really in the end it all comes out to nothing. Because of this when we see the Dude go through his misadventures we can sympathize with him, and can even learn from him. He may be lazy, but he's not stupid he understands that he is lazy and is content with that. He keeps to himself, doesn't hurt anybody, and if he can he'll go out of his way to help people a little bit. Even when tragedy strikes he won't torn up, he just keeps going in the best way he can, and we all can learn a little something from that. The movie says it best with one phrase "the Dude abides".

     With simultaneously so little and so much going on at once it is hard to pin down where the genius lies, but a good amount lies in the cast. John Goodman nails his role as the Dudes friend Walt, making him an extremely memorable character, and the same goes to Sam Elliot as the Stranger. However, the standout performance is Jeff Bridges, so much so that I will always remember him as the Dude, and as an actor it has been his defining role.
     All in all, this is one of my favorite movies of all time. There is no way I could do it justice, hell people have written whole books on this movie. I recommend that that everyone sees this movie, and if I had to make a list of movies to see before you die this would be on it. I give it 7 pluses and zero minuses.

Plot	+
Characters	+
Acting	+
Music	+
Cinematography	+
Effects	=
Style	+
Personal enjoyment	+

Trailer: