March 1999

The Big Lebowski
Reviewed by Roger Kanno
DVD Format

Overall Enjoyment:
Picture Quality:
Sound Quality:
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Starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi

Directed by Joel Coen

Theatrical Release: 1998
DVD Release: 1998
Dolby Digital 5.1
Widescreen/Full Screen

The Big Lebowski is brought to us by the Coen brothers, whose previous film was the highly acclaimed Fargo. While Fargo was a dark and complex story that some may have found disturbing, The Big Lebowski is much lighter fare that reunites the Coens with many of the same actors from their previous films.

Jeff Bridges plays Jeff Lebowski who is better known as "the Dude," a scruffy burnout whose main purpose in life seems to be bowling and drinking anything that contains Kahlua. When the Dude is mistaken for another Jeff Lebowski, an apparently wealthy businessman, his life becomes a hopelessly complex series of improbable events.

The storyline of the Big Lebowski does not make much sense, but then it doesn't have to. The plot is mostly an excuse to put the Dude in outrageous situations so that he and the other characters can deliver some sharp dialogue. Bridges plays the Dude effectively by downplaying the character so that he does not become annoying. Although Julianne Moore is sometimes a bit over the top as a feminist performance artist, she plays well opposite the often confused Dude. John Goodman is the standout amongst the cast members as the Dude's Vietnam-veteran bowling buddy who is wound just a little bit too tight. Other regulars from previous Coen brothers films are Steve Buscemi and John Turturro, who seem somewhat out of place here. Sam Elliott plays some sort of cowboy narrator who seems totally disjointed from the rest of the film. Even the Coen brothers admit to being unsure of his purpose in the film during an interview that is included in the extras. And finally, porn queen and Internet webmaster Asia Carrera makes a cameo appearance alongside Peter Stormare, who plays a German nihilist.

The best moments of the film often involve a rant by John Goodman's character about Vietnam or a bewildered Dude trying to make sense of the events unfolding around him, as in the scene where nihilists show up at his apartment with a ferret. Although The Big Lebowski is sometimes hilarious, there are not enough outrageous scenes or clever dialogue to prevent lulls in the film.

Technically, The Big Lebowski is an outstanding disc. The picture is pristine with excellent detail and bold, beautifully saturated colors. During the opening sequence when the Dude is shopping at a grocery store, the detail shown in items in the dairy case is startling. The scenes in the bowling alley are also noteworthy not only for the excellent picture quality, but for the innovative camera work.

The audio quality, although good, is not up to the standards of the video transfer. The soundstage is heavily weighted towards the front with very little use of the surrounds. However, the stereo score is well recorded with a country-and-western flavor that I actually enjoyed. Dialogue is intelligible and well crafted, often taking on the ambience of the spaces in which the scenes occur. Sam Elliott's monologues are a special treat -- his deep, throaty voice and southern drawl will give your center-channel speaker and amplification a real workout. The extras on this disc consist of an interview with the Coen brothers, a theatrical trailer, and cast and filmmaker biographies. The menus feature neon artwork and a bowling theme that are very well done. Both widescreen and full-screen versions are contained on the same side of this dual-layer disc.

It may not be fair to compare The Big Lebowski to the Coen brothers' earlier films, but the comparisons are inevitable. Ultimately, the Big Lebowski cannot live up to the standards of Fargo and Barton Fink, but it does deliver a few good laughs and features some fine performances on a very high-quality DVD.

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