The Big Lebowski

It took me quite a while to realise what a creative and clever style of humour The Big Lebowski has. The script seems to be nothing but a showcase for all those amazing actors to display the bizarreness and exaggeration of their creations, but lacking substance. Yet the plot is packed to bursting with so many excellent gags, subtly hinted at or potential twists and a unique parody of many established narrative techniques, all while perfectly retaining its own distinctive face and, most importantly, never ceasing to surprise – rarely have I felt such a palpable joy in a film's sheer narrative, in the creation of witty retorts or one-liners, or in the direction of the actors themselves, whose performances really beg for their own lengthy commentary. Jeff "The Dude" Bridges clearly moves up to one of my favourite movie characters, John Goodman complements him brilliantly, and at times Philip Seymour Hoffman, who has this funniest role in his life, also speaks out vehemently. There is no need to talk about the amazingly inventive cinematography or the wicked soundtrack, they are par for the course with the Coens... 90% (06/05/2011)

A film with one of the most beautiful, saddest and most inconspicuous characters in history - Donny Steve Buscemi. Alongside the noisy Walter-Jeff duo, the poor, pinned-down Donny barely gets a word in (shut the fuck up, Donny!), yet he's a silent testament to the Coen brothers' genius as the creators of the characters. I personally vote to rename the film from "The Big Lebowski" to "Quiet Donny" because I am moved to tears by Steve Buscemi's humble face. A beautiful comedy, beautifully constructed and with humor you can't get wrong. (27/01/2004)

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. (29/11/2008)

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)

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. (30/09/2023)