The Big Lebowski

Not all superheroes wear capes – some wear bathrobes. When I grow up, I want to be like the Dude. Until them, I will imbibe his wisdom and a White Russian during the regular annual review of the holy scripture of Dudeism on New Year’s Eve at the Aero cinema in Prague.  ——— Otherwise, The Big Lebowski is not only grand entertainment that never loses its appeal, which is thanks to the brilliant casting of an outlandish bunch of likably oddball characters, but it is also the most cunning and most clever neo-noir film that Joel and Ethan Coen have come up with. (01/10/2023)

Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! That the Coen brothers can create lovely characters is something I’ve known for a long time, but they have really outdone themselves here. Big Lebowski is something that Czech filmmakers should watch to realise that there is another kind of easygoing comedy than the good-old “about ordinary people”. Yeah, and if I had to choose between the Dudeists and the Fargoists, I would join the former. (30/11/2008)

Acting is great, humor is fine, but overall, there is a big question mark. Everyone is scruffy, lisping, and just strange, and I somehow can't enjoy the story and sometimes even the lines amidst all of it. From a film, with the reputation of a Coen masterpiece, I would expect more than just - however fast-paced - amusing bizarreness. (21/07/2006)

The absurdity across the board applied directly and only to Dude Lebowski himself keeps me quite grounded for once instead of cheering. It's not that Jeff Bridges isn't cool, or that I don't want to go bowling or taste White Russian, but this time I didn't have as much fun as I expected, even though it is filmed in the way in which only the Coen brothers can do it. And maybe that's the problem... my problem. (07/01/2007)

The story is crafted to perfection; it perfectly combines a wet carpet, a kidnapping, blackmail, and vaginal art; there are well-written and well-cast characters, with one supporting role actually becoming a cult figure – yes, it’s Jesus Quintana. The Coen brothers (who are still brothers, even though it's no longer trendy) almost made me want to throw on a bathrobe, mix a White Russian, put on my headphones, and listen to the sounds of a bowling tournament or whales singing. (27/09/2021)